Welland has been dubbed the Rose City since the early twentieth century, and the annual Rose Festival in June is the city's biggest event. The festival runs for about two weeks and includes a parade, outdoor concerts, a carnation and craft fair, and various community events centered on Merritt Park and the downtown area.
The festival is very much a local affair — not the kind of polished tourist event you get in better-known Ontario cities — and is the better for it. The Rose Garden in Merritt Park is in bloom during June and provides a pleasant backdrop. If you are in the Niagara region during festival week, it is worth timing a visit to Welland to coincide with it.