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TRAFFIC DISRUPTION MARCH 24: the Around the Bay Race route will result in closed lanes along Plains Road W. and York Boulevard. Expect traffic delays and plan accordingly. Details at bayrace.com

Winter Exhibit

Nature’s Superheroes: Life at the Limits

January 27 to April 21, 2024; RBG Centre
A time-ticketed exhibit

Are you ready to meet our super-natural Superheroes?
Some plants and animals look extraordinary to us, but their unusual features usually address the most ordinary of tasks: to reproduce, breathe and move around, sense the world, or find food and safety. From mountaintops to ocean depths, get ready to explore nature’s most astounding adaptations for life in our planet’s most extreme environments.

Nature’s Superheroes: Life at the Limits is organized by the American Museum of Natural History, New York (amnh.org)

Exhibit recommended for school-aged children and life-long learners.

March Break Hours

Open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (final entry 4 p.m.) March 9 to 16! Pre-book your tickets to avoid disappointment.

Learn more about what’s happening this March Break at: rbg.ca/march-break-fun-at-rbg

Generously supported by:

The Hamilton Spectator

The Catherine and Maxwell Meighen Foundation

stoneridge insurance brokers

About the Exhibit

Nature's Superheroes, life at the limits

Nature’s Superheroes: Life at the Limits is organized by the American Museum of Natural History, New York (amnh.org).

Life is full of unexpected wonders. Over billions of years, living things have evolved from simple cells into an awe-inspiring array of life forms—a spectacle of colours, textures, behaviours, specialized parts and exacting skills. Some species are familiar. But others are so amazing that they test the limits of our imagination.

No matter how extraordinary certain plants and animals seem to us, their unusual features often address the most ordinary of tasks: To reproduce, breathe and move around. To sense the world. To find food and safety. The living things you will see respond to these basic challenges in extremely inventive ways.

  • Pink axolotl in an aquarium tank
  • Three children and a toddler sitting on top of a giant beetle model and posing for a photo
  • Aerial view looking into the Nature's Superheroes exhibit. Children are engaging with RBG staff members and learning about the exhibit.
  • Hammerhead shark model closeup with exhibit full of people in the background

Winter Exhibit Timed-Tickets

This is a time-ticketed exhibition and pre-registration is required.

Category Ticket Price
Adult $19.50 (+HST & Service Fee)
Senior (Age 65+) $16.50 (+HST & Service Fee)
Student (Age 13 to 17 OR with valid student I.D.) $16.50 (+HST & Service Fee)
Child (Age 3-12) $11.50 (+HST & Service Fee)
Infant / Toddler (Age 0-2) FREE
(registration still required)
RBG Members*
A number of tickets appropriate to your membership type
Included in your membership
(registration still required)

Ticketing Details & Terms

  • Tickets are non-refundable and final sale. After a purchase is complete, the tickets are the property of the ticket holder, and RBG will be unable to accommodate any date or time changes.
  • Garden admission discounts and coupons are not applicable to this ticketed event.
  • RBG Members must present membership card upon entry.

*Accessing your Member Tickets

To access your member tickets, simply log in to your RBG online account using the email address associated with your membership. Once logged in, visit the registration page and your member tickets will be available.

Do NOT make a new account; any new account created will not have access to your member benefits, including your member tickets.

Unsure which email is associated with your membership? Get in touch with the membership team.

Not yet a member? To access member tickets on a brand new membership, simply purchase the membership in its own order, log out, log back in, and your member tickets will be available!

Selecting an Appropriate Number of Membership Tickets

Members are eligible for a number of reduced priced tickets according to your membership type (see below). To find your membership type, check your membership card or log in to your account.

  • Single: 1
  • Single Plus: up to 2
  • Family: up to 2 adults and 6 children
  • Family Plus: up to 4 adults and 6 children

Should your order go through with an inappropriate number of tickets, RBG guest services will be in touch to make the appropriate adjustments.

How To Activate Your Account

  1. Visit secure.rbg.ca/account/login
  2. Enter your email address and “submit” (NOTE: RBG members must use the email associated with their current membership)
  3. Check your email for a link to reset your password
  4. Log in with your new credentials and check your account information. Ensure your updated membership is showing.

Members, if you are no longer available to attend your selected date and time, we ask that you cancel your order with at least 24 hours notice, to allow others the opportunity to visit the exhibit. Please do not book further timeslots without canceling your original order. Thank you.

Looking to gift this experience?

Give the gift of Nature’s Superheroes by purchasing a gift certificate!

Discovery @ RBG

Join us for interactive programs and activities to extend your visit. Watch our website and social media for special programs offered on weekends and holidays (including P.A. Days).

Weekday programming runs Monday to Friday except on Halton and Hamilton P.A. Days, holidays, and March Break when the weekend schedule will apply.

Weekday Schedule

  • 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Discovery Station
  • 10:30 a.m. Turtle Talk
  • 2:00 p.m. Animal Encounters

Weekend* Schedule

  • 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Discovery Station
  • 10:30 a.m. Puppet Show
  • 11:30 a.m. Animal Encounters
  • 12:30 p.m. Discovery Show
  • 1:30 p.m. Animal Encounters
  • 2:30 p.m. Discovery Show
  • 3:30 p.m. Animal Encounters
  • 4:30 p.m. Storytime

*Also runs holidays and March Break. An additional Animal Encounter show runs at 9:30 a.m. on dates the exhibit opens at 9 a.m. (Feb 16, March 9-17)

Weekend programming also runs: February 16, 19, March 1, 11-15, 29, April 1, 8.

RBG Centre at Royal Botanical Gardens

Find this exhibit at RBG Centre, 680 Plains Rd W, Burlington, ON.

More to Do at RBG Centre

Your exhibit tickets also include access to the spaces below (Greenhouse Café items available for purchase). Want to learn more about what’s happening at RBG during your visit? Check out rbg.ca/events

Looking for a 19+ Option?

RBG After Dark: Nature’s Superheroes

February 8, March 7, April 4 2024
6 to 10 p.m.; RBG Centre

Exhibit F.A.Q.s

Have a question about RBG’s winter exhibit? Click the topics below for more information. If you have a question that is not answered, give us a call at 905-527-1158.

Tickets

This is a time-ticketed exhibition and pre-registration is required. Tickets will only be available at the door when capacity allows.

Winter exhibit is included in your RBG Membership, registration still required. Become a member for unlimited visits to the garden all year long! Members must present membership card upon entry.

What is included?

Your ticket provides entry to the winter exhibit and also provides access to RBG’s other spaces for the same day (see seasonal hours).

Additional activities may be available for an additional cost. See the full calendar to learn more about what’s happening during your visit.

Food, drink, and purchases at Shop at the Gardens are available for additional costs.

Arrival / Entry

When planning your visit, please note that you may arrive at any time within your timeslot (indicated on your ticket). Different arrival times allows RBG to offer a better overall experience by reducing lineups. You can expect to spend approximately 1 hour at this experience. When you arrive at RBG Centre (680 Plains Road W., Burlington) for your start time you will be greeted by our staff team who will check you in and direct you to the exhibit.

You will be required to present your pre-purchased tickets upon arrival, either printed out or digitally on your personal device. Each ticket will be scanned. The confirmation receipt is not a ticket. Your tickets were sent to you as an attachment in the confirmation e-mail you received after booking.

Food & Drink

Please note that food and drink is not permitted inside the exhibit.

The Greenhouse Café
Open daily from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

RBG’s Greenhouse Café offers a new fast-casual menu featuring a full complement of wine and beer, coffee and tea, ready made sandwiches and salads, homemade soups, and our signature Teahouse Scones. Enjoy a quick and nutritious bite to take away or sit down and enjoy your meal!

Browse Menu

Tea House at the Turner Pavilion
Open Wednesday to Sunday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Reservations recommended)

Surrounded by Hendrie Park‘s innovative Rose Garden, the newly renovated Tea House offers an ideal spot to relax in nature’s tranquility while enjoying lunch, afternoon tea, or a sweet treat.

Browse Menu

Directions & Parking

This event is held inside RBG Centre at 680 Plains Road W. Burlington Ontario. Parking is included, available in the large lot at RBG Centre. 

RBG Centre is located along bus routes for Burlington Transit, with stops a short distance from the entrance.

See directions and parking for more details.

Accessibility

RBG Centre is accessible, with a ramp and elevators. Accessible parking spaces are available outside RBG Centre.

RBG welcomes the use of personal assistive devices that allow visitors to enjoy our facilities and services. RBG has a limited number of wheelchairs available for loan at the RBG Centre. Wheelchairs are available on a first-come basis and may not be reserved in advance. It is recommended that guests bring their own wheelchairs.

Learn more about Accessibility at RBG. If you have any further questions about accessibility at this event please contact us by phone (905-527-1158) or by email at info@rbg.ca.

Pets & Service Animals

With the exception of service animals, personal dogs/cats/animals are not permitted in RBG’s indoor spaces.

Pets are welcome in RBG’s outdoor spaces during regular operating hours so long as they remain leashed. Please be responsible and clean up after your pets.

What do I do if I feel ill?

As part of our commitment and shared responsibility for the health and safety of our guests, staff and volunteers, we ask that event attendees perform a self-assessment to help reduce the spread of COVID – 19 prior to entering the event. Should you feel ill please stay home and contact your health care provider. Your tickets can be transferred to other family members or friends (no transfer fee required). 

Ontario COVID-19 Self-Assessment

How to cancel a free member order?

If you are unable to attend on a date you have booked tickets as a member, please send a cancellation request through the online form.

Terms & Conditions

Tickets purchased to the winter exhibit are final sale and non-refundable. Tickets for this experience can be transferred to someone else if you can no longer attend the experience. Please keep your tickets and confirmation: it is proof of your purchase and allows entry into the experience.

Liability: RBG assumes no responsibility for loss or damage to property, or for personal injury or mishap; all activities are at the risk of the participant.

Filming/Photography Release: Please be advised that all photos, audio-video, and static images taken at this experience may be used for exhibit, reproduction, and/or distribution for RBG related promotional use, including all forms of print, television advertisement, social media and /or website display. In consideration of your participation as a guest or attendee of this experience, you authorize Royal Botanical Gardens, its legal representatives, suppliers, invited media and assigns unrestricted right and permission to copyright and use such photos and images under their sole discretion. Royal Botanical Gardens, its legal representatives, suppliers, invited media and assigns are released without limitation of any claims for libel or invasion of privacy.

By purchasing tickets and participating in this experience on RBG properties, you are agreeing to the above release for yourself, and on behalf of your guests.

Support Conservation at RBG

These conservation projects are possible thanks to the generous support of RBG Members and donors. With a donation to Growing up Green, you can ensure an active, vibrant and healthy future for the children of today and tomorrow through our horticultural and conservation projects.