Planning for Summer

When scheduling my family's weekends away and summer vacation, there are a few things happening in and around Ottawa that I try not to miss:

• Tulip Festival, May 7-24th, this year commemorating 65 years since the liberation of the Netherlands, www.tulipfestival.ca
• The Ottawa International Children's Festival, May 26-30, LeBreton Flats Park, Tickets are on sale now and the headline shows often do sell out, www.ottawachildrensfestival.ca/
• Westfest (of course), June 11-13, www.westfest.ca/.
• Puppets Up! in Almonte, Aug. 7-8, Almonte, http://www.puppetsup.ca/, an absolute favorite of mine.