By Staff
November 19th, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
Holiday magic returns Royal Botanical Gardens (RBG) with Holiday Traditions, RBG’s annual seasonal celebration, entertaining visitors from Saturday, November 17th to January 6th.
North Pole adventures at Hendrie Park include Visits with Santa (drop-in, Wednesdays, November 21 to December 19, Fridays November 23 and December 7), and Santa’s Signature Experience (November 17 to December 23), a separately ticketed event including an hour of programming, and a return trip on the RBG Express train experience.
Escarpment Train Exhibit takes place in the old Tea House at the Rock Garden.
At the picturesque David Braley and Nancy Gordon Rock Garden, Winter Lights at the Rock leads visitors through a winter wonderland with thousands of festive lights, Christmas melodies, food and drink around the firepit and the Escarpment Train Exhibit. This unique holiday experience provides a special evening to capture those perfect holiday memories.
Holiday Traditions is also home to three train experiences. In addition to the RBG Express ride-on train, Canada’s largest botanical train show at RBG Centre features numerous Canadian landmarks constructed from over seven tons of cedar slabs, 3,000 pounds of rock and 250 feet of track, and nestled amongst hundreds of live plants.
The Escarpment Train Exhibit at Rock Garden is the newest locomotive attraction, a “G scale” model set that illustrates three eras of locomotion history. The Escarpment Train Exhibit is available as part of general admission on weekends, or as part of Winter Lights at the Rock.
Weekends are filled with seasonal activities, children’s entertainment and local school and adult choirs. Special events include two evenings of Fest of Ales, a unique celebration of craft beer (December 6 and 7), Brunch with Santa (December 8, 9 and 16), and evening entertainment as part of Winter Lights at the Rock. Winter Lights at the Rock is sponsored by Colliers Project Leaders.
Winter Lights at the Rock
Thursdays to Sundays*, November 17 to December 30 (*some date restrictions apply)
6 to 9 p.m.; Rock Garden
Tickets required: rbg.ca/winterlights
Botanical Train Display
November 17 to January 6
10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; RBG Centre
Included in general admission or membership. rbg.ca/trains
Escarpment Train Exhibit
Escarpment Train Exhibit
Weekends, November 17 to December 24
10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Rock Garden
Included in general admission or membership. rbg.ca/trains
Entertainment: Cartoon Bob
Saturday and Sunday
11 a.m. to 2 p.m.; RBG Centre
Included in general admission or membership.
See weekend entertainment schedule at rbg.ca/holiday-entertainment
Storytime
Saturday and Sunday
10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.; RBG Centre
Included in general admission or membership.
See weekend activity schedule at rbg.ca/holiday-activities
Winter Walks
Winter Walks
Saturday and Sunday
11:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.; Hendrie Park
Included in general admission or membership.
Train Scavenger Hunts / Activity Book
Daily
10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; RBG Centre
Included in general admission or membership.
