The long-standing relationship between the National Capital Commission and the Canadian Tulip Festival is changing.
Organizers say the festival's 60th edition will be staged at community sites around Ottawa and not on NCC land.
The high cost of hosting events on NCC property is being identified as the reason for the decision. Organizers say negotiations have been underway for months but that the issue of high fees couldn't be resolved.
Festival officials say the cost to repair the grass, provide toilet facilities and policing is too much.
"We easily pay $100,000 for these costs and for small non-profit charitable organization like Tulip Festival that tries to do a lot with limited resources, that's a lot of money," said festival chair David Luxton.
Some business groups are already eyeing the opportunity to draw the Tulip Festival crowds to their part of town.
"We have a stage built, wide sidewalks, lots of space, got Adult High School auditorium, many spots we could host events," said Lori Mellor of the Preston Street BIA.
Traditionally the NCC plants about one million tulip bulbs each year, and will continue to do so.
With a report from CTV Ottawa's Joanne Schnurr
