Big summer concerts and events coming to Royal Botanical Gardens in Burlington

There’s more than just flowers blooming at Burlington’s Royal Botanical Gardens, which will be hosting some of the biggest summer events very soon.

A line-up of special events has been planned at Canada’s largest botanical garden, including outdoor concerts, fun family-friendly activities, and garden dinners accompanied by live music.

And of course, RBG remains one of the best places around to enjoy a meal or take a walk in their gardens and trails – even more so during the summer, when gorgeous flowers of all colours and types are in full bloom.

Here’s what’s happening at Royal Botanical Gardens this summer:

Dining al Fresco – Rose Garden Dinner
Friday, July 5 at Hendrie Park

RBG invites you to their captivating Rose Garden Dinner, where guests are taken on a culinary journey curated by Royal Botanical Gardens Chef Dave Favretto. Enjoy a one-of-a-kind dining experience accompanied by live string music and immersed in a picturesque rose garden.

Enchanted Garden
July 13 and 14 at the Rock Garden

Step into a world of magic and mischief deep within the recesses of the historic Rock Garden. Young explorers are invited to embark on a whimsical journey where they’ll discover dancing fairies, elves hiding among the ancient trees, gnomes protecting the garden beds, and playful sprites darting between the leaves. This magical event is recommended for families with children aged 3 to 8, and guests are encouraged to dress up in their most enchanting costumes!

Music in the Gardens

Bring a lawn chair or a blanket, grab a cold drink, and enjoy live performances from a variety of award-winning musicians in a lovely garden setting. Here’s the summer concert line-up at RBG, all happening at Hendrie Park:

• Basia Bulat – Wednesday, July 10
• The East Pointers – Thursday, Aug. 1
• Great Lake Swimmers – Wednesday, Aug. 14
• Sarah Harmer – Sunday, Aug. 25
• Feist – Thursday, Sept. 19

Food and drinks at RBG

When you want to stop for a bite to eat, Royal Botanical Gardens has you covered with great options at their newest restaurant, the Rock Garden Bistro. The French inspired menu features fresh, locally sourced ingredients (many of which are picked straight from their gardens!), with popular dishes like the Maple Dijon Chicken and the Ahi Watermelon Garden Bowl. The bistro’s outdoor patio provides a great view of the garden’s rejuvenated lower bowl, making it a perfect spot to relax.

More options are available at the Tea House overlooking Hendrie Park’s innovative Rose Garden, which offers a great spot to enjoy the surrounding nature while enjoying lunch, a cup of afternoon tea, and sweet treats including cakes, muffins and cookies. It’s recommended to reserve your seat in advance at both the Rock Garden Bistro and the Tea House, as they tend to get busy.

See what’s blooming this summer

The gardens are a must-see experience at RBG, especially as the warm summer air brings an explosion of beautiful colours to these popular flower beds. From roses and sunflowers to irises, lilies and hydrangea, RBG’s detailed blooming guide tells you which flowers are in bloom throughout the summer. Some flowers may have short bloom times, so keep an eye on RBG’s social media pages to check the best times to see your favourite flowers.

More to do at Royal Botanical Gardens

Even more events will be happening this summer at Royal Botanical Gardens, which features 2,400 acres of gardens and beautiful nature spanning Burlington and Hamilton.

Planned activities include summer canoe tours, yoga at the gardens, gardening sessions for kids, and much more.

Guests can also stop by the gift shop to pick up the perfect gifts for your loved ones or a souvenir to remind you of your visit. The Garden Shop features a huge selection of home décor, jewelry, fashion, gardening tools, nature books and more.

For more on everything happening at Royal Botanical Gardens, visit their website at rbg.ca and their Facebook, Instagram and Twitter pages.