Featured Events

the Artisan Bazaar logo

The Artisan Bazaar

April 19 and 20

10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; RBG Centre

Meet over 75 unique local artisans showcasing their heart-felt creations. Find beautiful hand-crafted jewellery, hand-poured candles, organic skin-care, unique wood-crafts, baked goods and tasty treats, original home décor, one-of-a-kind cards and original paintings...and so much more. $5 entry.

This is a third-party event. Please contact the event organizers for more information.

 Third-party rental, not included in your general admission. Free entry for RBG Members.

looking down at a freshly planted seedling

Earth Day Tree Planting at Churchill Park

Saturday April 20

10 a.m. to 2 p.m.; Churchill Park

Celebrate Earth Day by planting a tree as we continue our multi year forest revitalization project for Cootes Paradise. This years project site will be at the north end of Churchill Park were we will plant nearly 700 native trees and shrubs.

 Please Register

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strawberry cut into a flower

Easter Brunch

Sunday April 21 - SOLD OUT

Seatings at 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.; RBG Centre

Celebrate Easter at RBG! Stroll through the Gardens and join us for a delicious spread. Reservations required.

 SOLD OUT

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grouping of small pink flowers

Plant Faire

Saturday April 27

9 a.m. to 2 p.m.; RBG Centre

Start off the gardening season right with our third annual Plant Faire! Shop local vendors, hear from gardening experts, and more!

 Free Admission

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selection of breakfast foods arranged on blue plates

Jazz Brunch Concert Series

Sundays, April 28

11 a.m. to 1 p.m.; Rock Garden

Sunday Brunches never “sounded” so sweet! Enjoy a delicious brunch complemented by the tranquility of the historic Rock Garden at the Royal Botanical Gardens and the sweet sounds of live entertainment.

 Reservations Required

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small purple wildflowers

Wildflower Odyssey Weekend

Saturday May 4 and Sunday May 5

9:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.

Come on a Wildflower Odyssey in Royal Botanical Gardens’ nature sanctuaries, where over 20% of Canada’s wild plant species grow. Discover the variety of wildflowers along our trails, learn about their ecological and cultural significance, the challenges they face and what you can do to help. During each hike, you can do your part by participating in a garlic mustard pull, removing an invasive plant that threatens native wildflowers.

 Free Hike, Pre-Registration Required

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pouring tea with gloves into flowery cups

Mother's Day Weekend Afternoon Tea

Saturday May 11 - SOLD OUT!

Seatings at 1 p.m. and 4:30 p.m.; Rock Garden

Show Mom how much you care and treat her to an afternoon tea. Enjoy a variety of tea sandwiches, scones, and mini pastries.

 SOLD OUT

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waffles with icing sugar and berries

Mother's Day Brunch

Sunday May 12 - SOLD OUT

Seatings at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m.; RBG Centre

Treat Mom to a day at the Gardens. Enjoy a delicious brunch and tour the spring blossoms.

 SOLD OUT

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pink lilacs in bloom

Lilac Festival

May - exact dates TBD!

10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Arboretum

Visitors to RBG can experience one of the largest and most magnificent and diverse collections in the world as it reaches peak bloom. Join us for tours, entertainment, and more! Check back for more information.

 Included in your General Admission or Membership

model locomotive coming through tunnel

Escarpment Train Exhibit

May 18 to 20

10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Rock Garden

RBG’s newest train experience takes you on a journey through four seasons of whimsical Canadian landscapes while telling the story of how railroads shaped our history. 

 Included in your General Admission or Membership

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turtle sitting on a log

Biodiversity Celebration

Saturday May 25

10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Arboretum

There is no better place to celebrate the diversity of life than Royal Botanical Gardens, Canada’s biodiversity hotspot. Join us for a day of exploration and hands-on fun with local animals, plants, and ecosystems. Children’s activities, special visitors from the animal kingdom, guided tours, and much more await you on this activity-packed celebration of the International Day for Biological Diversity

 Included in your General Admission or Membership

pink lily in bloom

Garden Clubs of Ontario Triennial Show

May 29 and 30

Wednesday 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; RBG Centre
Thursday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; RBG Centre

Enjoy this beautiful floral show by the Garden Clubs of Ontario. 2019 theme: Music in Bloom.

 Included in your General Admission or Membership

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purple and white bearded iris

Iris and Peony Festival

June - exact dates TBD!

10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Laking Garden

Visitors to Laking Garden will be with mesmerized by brilliant colour combinations as its iris and peonies collections reach peak bloom. Join us for tours, entertainment, and more! Check back for more information.

 Included in your General Admission or Membership

jim cuddy headshot

Benefit Concert: The Jim Cuddy Band and HPO

Sunday June 2

8 p.m.; Hendrie Park

RBG launches its Garden Music Nights concert series with an unforgettable performance from The Jim Cuddy Band and Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra, outdoors in the beautiful Hendrie Park. Tickets now available!

 Event Tickets Required

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purple and white bearded iris

Rose Festival

June - exact dates TBD!

10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Hendrie Park

Experience the new rose garden in its second year, as these visitor-favourite blooms fill Hendrie Park with colour and fragrance. Join us for tours, entertainment, and more! Check back for more information.

 Included in your General Admission or Membership

purple allium blooms

Special Garden Tour

Tuesday June 25

8:45 to 5 p.m.; Offsite tour, meet at RBG Centre

RBG's Special Garden Tour committee have organized a bus tour of residential gardens in the Cambridge/Paris area. Our lineup for this years` garden tour will feature gardens in the Paris, Cambridge and Copetown areas. Some of the highlights include a secret garden in the ruins of an old barn, an English Arts and Craft style garden, a garden that showcases over eleven different types of Japanese maples, and more that is sure to please many different tastes.

 SOLD OUT

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bonsai tree on display

Bonsai Society Spring Exhibit

June 29 and 30

10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; RBG Centre

Bonsai aren’t just those little plants at the garden centre – join us and experience the beauty of trees up close with 60+ bonsai in all shapes and sizes. Members of the Bonsai Society at the RBG will be on hand to answer questions and share their love of trees in miniature with this display from their private collections.

 Included in your General Admission or Membership

two musicians playing outdoors in the Rose Garden Tent

Garden Music Nights

Tuesdays and Wednesdays, July and August

6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.; Hendrie Park

An RBG tradition continues with another stunning lineup of entertainment returning to the Hendrie Park stage. Check back for the summer lineup!

 Included in your General Admission or Membership

women in costume reading from a book for a crowd out in the forest

The Spirits of Paradise

July 5 to 7, 12 to 14

Hendrie Valley

What if you could travel back in time? What would you see and who would you meet? Royal Botanical Gardens, in association with The Players’ Guild of Hamilton, presents The Spirits of Paradise. Directed by David Dayler, this 1.5 hour moving theatre experience will help you understand how this landscape has changed over the last two centuries through the eyes of people who have influenced its history. Check back for exact performance times and ticket information.

 Event Tickets Required

person looking at a quilt

The Strumbellas with Special Guests Dan Mangan, Donovan Woods & Dizzy

Saturday July 6

3 p.m.; Arboretum

Get in the summer spirit with The Strumbellas! The Strumbellas, Dan Mangan, Donavan Woods & Dizzy are set to play a one-off concert set against the outdoor splendour of The Arboretum.

This is a third-party event. Please contact event organizers for more information.

 Event Tickets Required

sunflower fairy talking to child

Enchanted Garden Weekend

August 3 to 5

Calling all gnomes, fairies, pixies, and sprites! Make your way to Royal Botanical Gardens where a touch of magic awaits you. Check back for more information.

actor standing out outdoor stage in front of a crowd

Shakespeare at the Rock

August 12 to 16, 19 to 23, 26 to 30

The historic Rock Garden provides the perfect atmosphere for a night of inspiring theatre under the stars. Check back for more information.

 Event Tickets Required