| Membership | Price |
|---|---|
| Student | $55/year |
| Single | $85/year |
| Single Plus | $120/year |
| Family | $130/year |
| Family Plus | $175/year |
| Contributing | $250/year |
| Supporting | $500/year |
| Sustaining | $1,000/year |
| Benefactor's Circle | $2,500/year |
| Director's Circle | $5,000/year |
| President's Circle | $10,000/year |
Bloom Celebrations
Bloom Celebrations
Celebrate bloom season with tours, discovery stations and entertainment in RBG’s signature collections including Lilacs, Iris, Peonies, and Roses.
Lilac Celebration
Late May; Arboretum
Visitors to RBG can experience one of the largest and most magnificent and diverse collections in the world as it reaches peak bloom.
Sponsored by:
Iris and Peony Celebration
June, Laking Garden
Visitors to Laking Garden will be with mesmerized by brilliant colour combinations as its iris and peonies collections reach peak bloom.
Planted in 1947, the iris collection was RBG’s first herbaceous collection of importance with the main focus on tall bearded iris. The garden also features a broad selection of tree and herbaceous peony cultivars, as well as several ancestral wild species.
Rose Celebration
Late June; Hendrie Park
Whether for their rich history, folklore, or fragrant beauty, garden roses are loved around the world. Originating from wild species found across Asia, Europe and North America, their cultivation and breeding has evolved along with human society for centuries. Check back for exact dates!
While wandering through this two-acre garden we hope you’ll stop and smell the roses, explore their rich past, and discover how, like us all, they are changing for a sustainable future.
Activities, Entertainment and Tours
Enjoy daily tours, discovery carts, and extra weekend entertainment during RBG’s bloom celebrations! Check the events calendar before your visit for a schedule and activity descriptions.
Event FAQ
Have a question about these events? Click the topics below for more information. If you have a question that is not answered, give us a call at 905-527-1158.
Admission
Included in your General Admission or RBG Membership.
Your general admission includes access to all 5 garden areas for the day, a parking pass, as well as any discovery activities and entertainment running as part of the bloom festival. General admission tickets are available online or upon arrival.
Weather
RBG’s bloom festivals are held rain or shine and is 100% outdoors, so come prepared for the weather! RBG reserves the right to cancel the event due to inclement weather.
Directions & Parking
Lilac Festival: held at the Arboretum, 11 Old Guelph Road, Hamilton Ontario. Parking is available on-site.
Iris and Peony Festival: held at Laking Garden, 1260 Spring Gardens Road, Burlington Ontario. Limited parking is available in the upper parking lot (off Plains Road W., West of RBG Centre) or Lower Parking Lot (along Spring Gardens Road).
Rose Festival: held in Hendrie Park. Please enter through RBG Centre at 680 Plains Road, Burlington (where parking is available). This garden is located along bus routs for Burlington Transit and Hamilton Transit, with stops a short distance from the entrance. See rbg.ca/directions for more details.
Food
Enjoy one of RBG’s restaurants for lunch during your visit!.
RBG restaurants are available during lunch hours only. May require travelling to a different garden area to access. Reservations suggested.
Event Timing and Length
All garden areas are open 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily during bloom season. For a full schedule of activities, see the events calendar.
Accessibility
Lilac Festival: The upper area of the Lilac Dell is accessible by a fine-gravel path, through the Lilac Walk. Accessing the lower part of the lilac dell includes descending a long sloped, grassy hill.
Iris and Peony Festival: The iris and peony collection are surrounded by grassy areas. The central access to the collections does include stairs, though a long sloped pathway is available down the southwest side of the garden.
Rose Festival: The NEW Rose Garden includes wide, accessible pathways throughout the entire collection. Accessing the garden does include a ~0.2km walk from RBG Centre (including stairs or elevator through the Atrium).
Pets / Service Animals
Well-behaved dogs are welcome in all our oudoor garden areas, but must remain leashed at all times. Any pets found disrupting the event or other guests may be asked to leave. Pets are not permitted inside RBG Centre, except to access Hendrie Park.
