Spring in Burlington Ontario

Spring in Burlington Ontario
Discover Burlington this Spring
Showing posts with label outdoor activities. Show all posts
Showing posts with label outdoor activities. Show all posts

Thursday, May 2, 2013

More than just Flowers – The Royal Botanical Gardens offer Paradise in our Backyard


Reflecting Pond at Royal Botanical Gardens
My passion for gardening started fairly young and came from my Scottish grandfather who lovingly tended our beds of roses, irises, peonies and perennials.  I recall doing a regular tour of our small backyard, marvelling at the fragrant roses, and the brilliant colour of the confetti irises.  When I got my own home, putting in gardens was my first priority and I poured over books and catalogues selecting things with little knowledge of their size, bloom time and invasion capacity!   I could have benefitted from the knowledge and inspiration from a visit to or taking a course from the Royal Botanical Gardens (RBG).  What a resource we have available in our own backyard! 

Now that I am working in tourism I am fortunate to visit the RBG regularly and always come away with a treasure, whether it is something for the garden from the gift shop, a new variety of perennial to plant in my garden or a future event I want to attend. Did you know you can call the gardening information service,  which is a help line for your gardening challenges.  Where was this 30 years ago when I planted snow in summer and it grew everywhere?!

For gardeners or admirers of beautiful things there is always something in bloom at the RBG.  Right now the magnolias are out in the Rock Garden and the forsythia is blooming throughout the gardens.  At the main RBG Centre the early tulips and bluebells are starting
Lilacs at the Royal Botanical Gardens
to burst with colour.  If you click on the bloom list which is updated regularly, you can discover what plants are in their full splendor. This week is the annual auxilary plant sale so it is a perfect time to buy something new for your garden or pick up that perfect mother’s day gift (how about brunch at the RBG?).  Later in May the Arboretum will be ablaze with a wide variety of lilac species – one of the most extensive in the world.  Being a May bride (a few years ago) we picked bunches of lilacs for our reception hall and now whenever I visit the arboretum it takes me back – the scent is intoxicating!  As the seasons progress don’t miss the peonies, irises, wisteria, perennials, roses, grasses, hostas, Veggie Village and more.  A handy tool for you to download is the visitor guide which highlights the blooms and includes garden maps. 

Cardinal at Royal Botanical Gardens
Even if gardening is not your favorite pastime there are many activities that will draw you to the RBG.  Hike along the 27 km of trails, and check out the Marshwalk Trail where you can view the Bald Eagles and their eaglets born this March.  Visit the Cootes Paradise fishway, pack a picnic and enjoy the natural areas, bird watch, try your hand at painting or photography with subject matter everywhere you look.  While visiting, stop in for refreshments at one of the three on-site restaurants. My personal favorite is the Rock Garden Teahouse with its lovely view over the gardens and it will be beautiful this week with all the tulips in bloom. 

If you plan to visit often for the blooms, festivals and courses your best value is to become a member of the RBG.   This entitles you to free admission, discounts on courses and services, member magazine and enewsletter and much more.  I hope someday soon to get in touch with my creative side by taking a watercolour course at the centre. 
You can get and stay connected with RBG in a number of ways through, Facebook, Twitter, Flickr, Youtube, or sign-up for their enewsletter

Enjoy a visit or two to the RBG, bring your friends and family and get inspired by the natural beauty around you.

tourburlgirl

Tuesday, March 26, 2013

Easter Events in Burlington


A sure sign of spring is the arrival of that cute little rabbit known as the Easter bunny.  For those with children you know that the excitement of searching for hidden treats from a furry little friend is second only to awaking Christmas morning.  For those looking to enjoy some family fun there are two great Easter themed events happening over Easter weekend.

Easter at Springridge Farm
Springridge Farm is starting off the year with their annual Easter Festival March 29-31, which includes an Easter Egg Hunt with the Easter Bunny, wagon rides and farm tours, face painting, and take home bunny ears to colour and wear.  Kids will love the puppet show “Peter Rabbit’s Eggcellent Easter Show and the fun farmyard which features the animal barn, giant sandbox, corn trail and straw bale jumping.  Enjoy lunch from the BBQ or pick something up in the café.  While you’re there be sure to check out the new spring home décor, and outdoor pansies for your garden – you won’t leave empty handed! 

Maple at Crawford Lake
Another great family fun event is the Easter egg extravaganza at Mountsberg Conservation Area running March 29-April 1.  Youngsters can join in the Easter egg hunt and children 10 years and up can participate in the Scavenger Hunt.  Other Easter activities include a colouring book station, bubble station, candy jar guess and Easter jeopardy.  Make sure to leave plenty of time to visit the playbarn, visit with the farm animals and check out the Raptor Centre.  Plus, as an added bonus you can visit Maple Town and enjoy all the sugar bush activities as well!

If you haven’t had a chance to get out and enjoy the maple syrup festivals you still have time, both Conservation Halton events at Mountsberg and Crawford Lake continue to April 7th and Bronte Creek Provincial Park runs weekends through to March 31.

Battle of the Titans at RBG
The Royal Botanical Gardens is the place to be for Easter Brunch.  You can stroll through the Gardens and catch some early blooms, then feast on a delicious Easter brunch, followed by a dino egg hunt with the Easter Bunny.  You will also have the opportunity to has just the right thing to get you eager to explore some history. Be sure to visit the Battle of the Titans before it becomes extinct on April 7th.  This event features a Tyrannosaurus Rex/Triceratops life size diorama and lots of fun & educational activities for kids and adults alike.

For those looking for a culinary delight consider the self-guided Burlington Chocolate Trail,
Casteleyn Easter Chocolate
Casteleyn Chocolates
a decadent day of all things chocolate in Burlington. 
 Check out the video of our day on the trail.  Be sure to visit the chocolatiers including Walker's Chocolates, Casteleyn Belgian Chocolatiers, and Purdy's Chocolates on the trail to pick up all your Easter goodies!  *please check individual hours of operation over the holiday weekend.

Sunday March 31st the following restaurants will be offering an Easter Brunch:

Holiday Inn Burlington Hotel and Conference Centre is featuring a wonderful combination of culinary specialties to appeal to everyone's appetites from 11am-1pm.  Call 905-639-4443 for reservations.

The Easter Champagne Sunday Brunch at Spencer’s on the Waterfront features an Easter egg hunt, live entertainment, bar service and a seafood extravaganza including lobster.  $47 per adult, $21 per child (4-12yrs), call 905.633.7494 for reservations.

Stone House Restaurant will feature a delectable Steak & Seafood Buffet from 11:30am-8:00pm. To reserve your table by calling 905-632-1316.

The Water St. Cooker  is having its annual Sunday Brunch (right through dinner), and reservations are filling up very fast.  Emma’s Backporch will be featuring breakfast until 2pm (reservations only).  Call 905.634.2084 to reserve.

Join Tyandaga Golf Course for
Easter Brunch. Seating times are 10:30a.m., 12p.m. or 1:30p.m. $29.99/Adult, $9.95/Child (5-12).  Call to make your reservation at 905.336.0006 ext 4, or 905.708.2913.

For those looking to stay active over Easter, consider signing up to participate in the Good Friday 5km, 10km and Kids’ Bunny Hop races.  The races begin on March 29th at 8:50am at Aldershot High School and you can find race details and registration information on their website.

Other great outdoor activities include visiting Conservation Halton Parks, Bronte Creek Provincial Park, or Royal Botanical Gardens all of which have excellent walking/hiking trails.  You can also head to the Burlington Waterfront to walk/bike along the scenic trail or visit one of our many parks to enjoy a day out.

Our visitor centre will be closed on Friday March 29th and Sunday March 31th and open regular hours on Saturday March 30th and Monday April 1st. Our administrative offices will be closed Friday-Monday over Easter.  You can also visit our website 24 hours a day or reach us on Twitter and Facebook.

Happy Easter!

Monday, February 11, 2013

Family Day in Burlington Ontario


No matter what the weather is on February 18th, there are lots of great activities to enjoy on Family Day.  You can spend time in Burlington or the surrounding area and be sure that the little ones have no reason to say “I’m bored.”

If the snow remains you can dig out those toboggans, ski’s, skates, or snowshoes, blow off the dust and put them to good use.  The Conservation Halton parks are a great place to hike, bird watch, enjoy nature, and use those snow toys. Please check individual park sites to find out what activities are available at each location.


Have you ever heard of Snowsnake?  I honestly had no idea what this was when it was first mentioned to me, but I found out that this is a traditional Iroquoian game taking place at Crawford Lake Conservation Area as part of their Snowflakes & Snowsnakes event.  This unique event includes winter survival hikes, legends in the longhouse, hemlock tea tasting, and much more.

If you are more interested in an event that includes snuggling up and keeping warm, you can head to Mountsberg Conservation Area for Tales by a Winter Fire starting at 10am. You will be able to toboggan, hike, and enjoy an outdoor bonfire and if you prefer not to trek through the woods, relax on a horse-drawn sleigh or wagon ride being offered ($) through the fields and forest. 


Glen Eden offers tubing, fresh slopes, and even nighttime lighting for those of us who want to sleep in.  Although I am not much of a skier, I was able to master the bunny hill at Glen Eden.  If you are looking for a challenge or just trying something new it is it is well worth it, with their Discover Skiing and Snowboarding packages, this is a day of fun which is easy to organize.

Bronte Creek is always an inviting location to spend the morning, afternoon, or evening!  With the Olympic-sized outdoor rink you can lace up your skates and enjoy the pleasure of skating outside from 9am-9:30pm.  I personally love this because my friends enjoy skating while I am more of a watcher.  No matter how many times I try, I can never seem to get the hang of things, which ends up with me falling down constantly.  So instead, I’d rather sit and sip on a cup of hot chocolate, while they enjoy themselves.  With heated change rooms, washrooms, music, skate rentals, farm and play barn open from 9am-4pm, this is something that both friends and family can enjoy together.  Sometimes I even bring my dog, Nyssa, to run free in the leash free areas.  She is just as much a part of my family as my younger sister! 

The Rotary Centennial Pond offers a stunning view of the waterfront to enjoy while you skate.  Public skating is open daily from 10am-10pm depending on the weather. Don’t worry if the weather is not looking great for outside skating, The Appleby Ice Centre will be open with drop in programs for the entire family.  Check the website for skate types and times.



If you prefer the indoors, why not spend some time at the pool.  Pull out the swimsuits, goggles, and nose plugs and splash around in the water with public swimming at Aldershot Pool or Angela Coughlan Pool. Check the website for swim types and times.


Have your kids saying “RARW” at the Royal Botanical Gardens – Battle of the Titans.  Visitors can learn about paleontology, see a Tyrannosaurus Rex/ Triceratops life size diorama, play dress up, see dino prints, or try the digital dig pit. On February 17th & 18th Dr. Phil Manning, an internationally renowned dinosaur hunter from the University of Manchester will be on-hand to answer any of your questions on these prehistoric creatures.  The RBG is an affordable day out at only $30.50 for a family of four.  Once you’ve had the opportunity to see through dino-vision and learn about dino-diets, you will likely become “dino-hungry.”  The Garden Café at the RBG is featuring a Family Day Feast feeds two adults and two children and includes a salad, entrée and drink for only $30 + HST. (reservations are recommended).

For those that are more dramatically inclined be sure to get your tickets for Sing-a-long A Sound of Music at the Burlington Performing Art Centre. This interactive screening event is complimented with onscreen lyrics, props, costumes, and vocal warm-ups.  Be sure to visit the website to get a real feel for this cool interactive event and for ticket information.  

If you need a little extra incentive to get out of bed on the 18th, the Burlington Chocolate Trail is a delectable treasure path Take your teen, best girlfriend or a special individual out to enjoy some decadent treats on this self-guided trail.  Is there anything better then spending the day with a little self enjoyment and chocolate - I don’t think so! 

Don’t worry about finding somewhere to eat on your day out, the restaurants of Burlington are always offering tasty meals. If you are looking for a prix fixe dining experience be sure to try one of more of the 23 restaurants participating in the Taste of Burlington from February 17 – March 10, 2013. 

Tourism Burlington will be open on Family Day from 9am-4pm,  and we are always available on the web, via Facebook or Twitter.

Whatever your plans are this Family Day we hope you enjoy your time together!

TourBurlGrl2

Friday, December 21, 2012

Things to do over the holidays in Burlington, ON


It’s a wonderful time of year: there’s a chill in the air, Christmas music playing at every turn, and we are all reminded of just how lucky we are to spend the holidays with our loved ones, even if it does result in a Griswald-esque season of frenzy. This being said, when Johnny Mathis wrote ‘It’s Beginning to Look A Lot like Christmas’, the wisdom of the lyric “and Mom and Dad can hardly wait for school to start again” has stood the test of time. It can be so difficult to find a way to keep the little ones entertained over the holiday season! Luckily, we’re happy to provide you with a list of recommended activities that are sure to keep the kids healthy, festive and MUCH too tired to stay up past their bedtime, no matter how many reindeer they hear on the roof.

This season Burlington is bustling with fun and physical activities that are perfect for the whole family: visit Rotary Centennial Pond at Discovery Landing or your local arena for free skating sponsored by Tim Hortons, or take a trip to Glen Eden to hit the slopes! And don’t forget to keep your eyes peeled for special gym & ice holiday rates, courtesy of the Parks & Recreation ‘Winter Break in the City’ program!

Another great location for spending a day outdoors is Bronte Creek Provincial Park where you can not only avoid the Mayan apocalypse, but also enjoy skating on their giant outdoor rink (skate rentals available), and if mother nature cooperates you can toboggan, enjoy the ski trails or Snowshoe.  The playbarn is always open and a great distraction for kids of all ages.  Don’t forget that their Homestead Christmas runs until December 23rd.

Time-travelling not your thing? Visit the Royal Botanical Gardens for a more contemporary celebration! Check out the RBG’s Christmas train set, stay for storytime and then head outside for a winter hike. You can even steal a little bit of time for yourself (and maybe a ‘holiday-sized’ brandy-and-eggnog) after dropping the kids off at one of the garden’s Winter Discovery Day Camps on January 2nd, 3rd and 4th!  And surely after all the time you will have had to relax, you’ll have all the energy in the world to take the family to Crawford Lake for a snowshoeing or cross country skiing expedition, Hilton Falls on December 22nd for Christmas on the Trails  or a hike at Mountsberg where you can learn about majestic birds of prey. Or—if you like the idea of a wintry escape with animal friends but prefer fur to feathers—don’t miss your chance to take a horse-drawn wagon ride through Mountsberg’s beautiful landscapes, followed my marshmallow roasting over an open fire starting January 12th. Bring your blanket and your camera, this is sure to be a beautiful family memory!

We know what you’re thinking: that all sounds amazing but what if the weather is bad? I can only keep the kids occupied with paper cutout snowflakes for so long!  Fear not, fellow Burlingtonian! Buy your tickets now for Aladdin at the Burlington Performing Arts Centre! This pantomime is geared towards kids but fun for all ages: be a part of the show with this interactive theatrical experience.

And while many of us will be heading back to work after the holidays, school aged children are off for another week which means trying to find fun activities to fill their days.  The Museums of Burlington are a great way to spend the day exploring the history of Burlington and two of it’s famous residents – Joseph Brant & the Irelands. If you kids are more interested in the arts consider a visit to the Burlington Art Centre which is home to the world’s largest collection of contemporary ceramics.  Plus they have recently opened the Creative Hub - the BAC Creative Hub located just off the Brock Lobby. Drop in and get creative.  Desks and chairs, art supplies, activity sheets and art books to inspire, and display space for artwork are all available. Free. Open to all ages during BAC hours.  On January 6th from 2-3pm you can participate in a free Guided tour led by a trained docent.  Plus there is a very cool exhibition in the Lee-Chin Family Gallery - Zoom: New Works by Reinhard Reitzenstein. The artist has a large visual representation of the Higgs boson particle (referred to in the media as the God particle) and electrons suspended from the ceiling, as well as photographs of oceans, landscapes and close ups of moss-wrapped stones dripping with moisture on the walls - from vastness to sub-atomic events.  Both the museums and the art centre are closed the week of Dec. 24-Jan. 1 and open regular hours starting January 2nd.

Of course, we would be remiss if we did not also relay the many choices for a family friendly New Years Eve. Visit the New Years Eve Hoopla at Conservation Halton for activities for the whole family including a wagon ride, puppet show, and a scavenger hunt, or enjoy the celebration at Central Park, where you and the family can look forward to free skating, a Mad Science activity station, games, and two fireworks displays.  You can also head to Bronte Creek Provincial Park who will be celebrating New Year’s Eve with some howl'n going on! The Park Naturalist will be leading evening hikes where visitors will learn to howl like coyotes and then gather round the bonfire for the Countdown for Kids!

If your little ones are getting to be not-so-little and have reached the dreaded “I can’t be seen with you in public!” age, send them off for a New Year’s Eve party of their own at Velocity, where kids between the ages of 8 and 14 can celebrate with a live DJ and free pizza in a safe, supervised environment. Finally, if after all this the kids have any energy left whatsoever, bring them over to Tansley Woods Community Centre on New Years Day from noon to 4pm where the fun continues! FREE swimming, a soccer skills workshop, a Wii games room, crafts and all sorts of entertainment make this party a must!

Remember to check the Burlington Events Calendar for new events, because there is always something new and exciting happening in Burlington! We wish you a fun-filled, safe and festive holiday season, and a happy New Year!

If you are looking for a listing of what is open & closed over the holidays visit our homepage for a downloadable PDF

Wishing you a very Happy New Year from all of us here at Tourism Burlington!

TourBurl Girl Elyse

Friday, October 5, 2012

What to do in Burlington on Thanksgiving Weekend


It’s the long weekend and you have three days to fill with family, fun and food…here are some of the great events happening this weekend:

ZimSculpt, Royal Botanical Gardens
Stone sculptures of Zimbabwe created right before your eyes.  The award-winning Zimbabwean stone sculpture exhibit, ZimSculpt at Royal Botanical Gardens runs to Monday October 8th. Mining the richness of Zimbabwe’s geology, featured artists Patrick Stephani and Passmore Mupindiko have created powerful works of art that depict the stories of the natural world and the culture and traditions of their home land, as well as abstract forms that are powerfully evocative. 
ZimSculpt, a non-political company based in Harare, Zimbabwe, represents over 100 sculptors from across the country. Royal Botanical Gardens is the exclusive Canadian host of this award-winning Zimbabwean stone art exhibit. Over 300 hand-made sculptures will accentuate the blooms of Hendrie Park, creating a unique outdoor gallery where visitors can view sculpture, meet the artists and purchase one of these remarkable works.

"Wrong for Each Other", Drama Centre – Oct 4-6     
A comedy by Norm Foster - Directed by Tom Mackan, Produced by Peter Malysewich
Widely praised, this terrific play comes with all of life's reality enough to keep audiences totally involved, laughing and deeply moved at the same time. When Foster gets his genius working on a relationship between a man and woman, the exploration grabs us and keeps us fully engaged. Rudy and Norah meet quite accidentally after over three years of divorce and they set off on a memory trip of discovery that is classic in its telling. This is a near masterpiece of writing with dialogue astounding in its understanding of people and how they cope. And don't forget, ever so funny and moving for all that. Ticket information available here

Saturdays in the Square, Civic Square
Walk, shop, and dine in our city's beautiful Downtown.  Playing Live in Civic Square, on Saturday October 6th - Aaron Griggs & Special Guest plus food from Downtown Bistro.
         
Fall into Nature, 6 Conservation Halton Parks
Conservation Halton's Fall into Nature festival celebrates the spectacular landscapes and colours of the Niagara Escarpment. It takes place over five days on two weekends in October – Thanksgiving weekend (October 6 to 8) and the weekend of October 13 and 14. Festival events run from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at all six of Conservation Halton's main parks: Crawford Lake, Hilton Falls, Kelso, Mountsberg, Mount Nemo and Rattlesnake Point Conservation Areas.   
Residents and visitors alike are invited to join us in celebrating autumn at this fun filled festival great for people of all ages.  Fall into Nature festival activities include:
·         Chairlift rides to the top of the escarpment with spectacular views
·         Self-guided and interpreter led tours through our many trails and landscapes
·         Wagon/tractor rides through the parks
·         Educational and interactive programs (visit an Iroquoian Village, learn about the science of nature)
·         Live performances (music, First Nations dancers)
·         Demonstrations (Bird of Prey shows, Reptile shows, mountain biking)
·         Various other activities (children's activities, BBQs, pumpkin picture patches)
·         And more!

Harvest Festival, Springridge Farm   

Weekends including Thanksgiving Monday. Harvest Festival activities are 10am until 4pm.  Admission: $10. per person, ages 2-92 (includes HST)

Springridge Harvest Festival is Great Fun for the whole family!  There is no charge to visit the farm market, bakery, gift shop.  

Climb to the escarpment lookout to view the fall colours too!

Families will enjoy:

A Professional Puppet Show "The Great Pumpkin Mix-Up"
·         Wagon ride to the 5-acre Corn Trail
·         Spooky Boo Barn
·         Spiderweb Climber
·         Farm Yard Pipe Slide
·         Access to the Fun Farm Yard: Farm Animal Barn, Escarpment Educational Lookout, Giant Sandbox, Plywood Milking Cow, Witches Mouth Corn Trail, Tricky Trails Corn Maze, Straw Bale Jumping & Pyramids
·         Optional Pony Rides $3 a child
·         Weekend BBQ

For more ideas on what to see and do visit us at our Visitor Centre open this weekend Saturday (10am-3pm), Sunday (10am-2pm) and Monday (10am-3pm) or on our website, twitter or facebook

Wednesday, September 12, 2012

Fall Fun in Burlington, Ontario


As we head into September and beyond, children are back to school and the days grow cooler but that doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t still be having fun!  Burlington is nestled along the Niagara Escarpment where the fall colours offer the perfect backdrop to many outdoor activities and events.  If you need some ideas and inspiration keep reading as we explore fall in Burlington/Halton.

With the extremely hot temperatures this summer, many apple farmers’ were concerned about their crops but that doesn’t mean you can’t get farm fresh apples at our local farmers’ markets, on-farm markets or if you fancy, you can visit one of the many pick your own farms located in the region.  For my family a trip to the apple orchards is a yearly tradition.  We scout for the best trees/fruit and then fill our bags with delicious juicy apples.  Even young children can join in the fun, last year my one-year old had a blast grabbing low hanging fruit and of course there is always the satisfaction of getting to bite into something you picked yourself.  For a complete list of farms and markets visit Halton Region, Simple Local webpage.

There is no better time to get outdoor than the fall, the leaves begin to change and you don’t have to worry about heat alerts.  With miles (kilometers just sounds odd doesn’t it) of hiking and biking trails both in urban and rural areas there is something for every level of outdoor enthusiast.  The parks of Conservation Halton offer ample opportunities to explore nature with trails at all six parks, rock-climbing at Rattlesnake Point and for families with kids consider Crawford Lake with its 15th century reconstructed Iroquoian Village or Mountsberg’s Raptor Centre.  The weekends of Oct 6-8 and 13-14 Conservation Halton parks celebrate the landscapes and colours of the Niagara Escarpment with a wide range of activities at their Fall into Nature event. 


Another great location for hitting the trails is Bronte Creek Provincial Park located on the border of Burlington.  If you are an angler you can fish in Bronte Creek for Bass, Perch and more.  Kids will enjoy the children’s playbarn for climbing, jumping and having fun followed by a visit with the barnyard animals.  If you are still keen to camp, Bronte Creek’s camping season runs to October 22 and for a spookacular experience join them on October 20th for Camper Halloween.



The trails of the Royal Botanical Gardens are a nature lover’s paradise.  Bird watchers can find over 250 species across the season and for those with a more floral inclination, the September wildflowers are in bloom.  If you would prefer a guided walk join the RBG for Back to Nature walks every Sunday until the end of the year.  Of course we would be remise if we didn’t mention Zimsculpt, a collection of hand-carved sculptures created by artists from Zimbabwe nestled in the gardens.  Read all about it here.

One of the annual rites of nature is the salmon spawning in Bronte Creek at Lowville Park.  It’s hard to believe that these Chinook salmon migrate upstream in our own backyard, it’s something really cool to see and the park is lovely for a walk/hike and picnic.   Check out this YouTube video with underwater footage following the salmon run in Lake Ontario tributaries, then head out to see it in person.


If you are looking to get out in the country and do some early holiday shopping consider a visit to the
Fall Farm Craft Show at Country Heritage Park running Sept 15/16.  There will be hundreds of juried vendors and with a $6 admission price it’s a bargain for those looking for a unique gift or something special for themselves.

For families there is no better way to spend a day on the farm then heading to Springridge Farm for their annual Harvest Festival.  The festival runs weekends from September  22 until October 28 and includes lots of great activities, wagon rides, access to the fun farm yard and so much more.  To get all the details visit their website.  Foodies, get excited as Springridge presents celebrity chef and author Michael Smith on Saturday September 22 for an author meet and greet and book signing.  I can tell you, I’ve been to these events at Springridge and they are awesome!  Plus, they are free to attend you just need to RSVP before it fills up.

Whatever your passion or curiosity, indulge it during Culture Days, Canada’s annual country-wide celebration of arts and culture running September 28 to September 30.  In Burlington the major cultural groups have come together to promote a number of cultural activities including:
  • ZimSculpt at RBG on Friday Sept. 28
  • Human Library at Central Library on Saturday Sept. 29 where you can “borrow” a living book for 30 minutes.  This is one of the most intriguing ideas I’ve ever seen and I can’t wait to try this.
  • Tottering Biped at Burlington Art Centre on Saturday Sept. 29 co-hosts the “Procession of the Species”, a community-arts based Earth Day celebration that focuses on community unity, environmental education and cultural exchange
  • Applefest Fall Fair at Ireland House on Sunday Sept. 30.  An old-fashioned country fair right in the city, including activities, entertainment, and more.
  • Culture Days at The Burlington Performing Arts centre on Sunday Sept. 30 complete with tours, activities and of course performing arts.
  • War of 1812-14 Commemoration at Tourism Burlington all weekend
  • Burlington Art Centre Exhibits and Demonstrations all weekend

Of course there are always new events popping up and we have lots of other great ideas for those wondering what to see and do in Burlington.  Drop by our visitor centre daily from 9am-4pm or visit us online any time.

Now get that sweater and start exploring!