Spooktacular Halloween Events in Burlington, Ontario

Well, it’s that time of year again: the leaves have changed; pumpkin is once again appreciated as an acceptable coffee ingredient and Canadians everywhere are reluctantly stowing away their bathing suits in favour of Mum’s home-made cable-knit sweaters. There’s no doubt about it, with this nip in the air and the ever-comforting smell of damp leaves and steaming cider, this is the time of year to celebrate fun, family and all things cozy; however, let’s not get too comfortable yet because October 31^st is right around the corner, and it won’t be long before the sense of security that accompanies turkey dinners and toasty fires is interrupted by the incredible fun, fear and festivity that is Halloween in Burlington, Ontario!

Now, some people are of the belief that Halloween is a one-day-a-year festivity. To them we at Tourism Burlington say “Nay! Halloween is not to be confined to 24 hours; it is to be celebrated all month long!” Fortunately, the folks at there are lots of great attractions that share this philosophy and provide many occasions on which to celebrate the upcoming fright-night. Outdoorsy ghouls and goblins will enjoy some great events happening around Burlington.

Streetcar Museum

Saturday October 20th and 27^th, take a trip to the Halton Radial Railway for their Halloween Spooktacular.  Walk through the haunted car barn and travel in the old, creaky streetcars along the mainline. Costumes encouraged, reservations not required.  

Bronte Creek Provincial Park’s Camper Halloween on Saturday Oct 20th is a great opportunity to not only get in that last bit of fall camping but also to decorate your campsite, trick or treat and take in a special guided walk.

Springridge Farm

Weekends at Springridge Farm are home to the Harvest Festival. Visit the farm market, take a pony ride, see a professional puppet show, or take a wagon ride to the 5-acre corn trail. More adventurous guests might wish to explore the Boo Barn, monkey around on the Spiderweb Climber, or try their hand at making it through the Witch’s Mouth Corn Maze, and don’t forget to dress up and participate in the Halloween Parade on October 28^th.

Families will also get a kick out of the Spooktacular Hallowe’en at Mountsberg Conservation on the weekend of October 20-21 and October 27-28. Romp around the haunted playbarn and participate in the skeleton scavenger hunt plus so much more all included in regular park admission rates.  While you are there take some time to explore the park and enjoy the remaining fall colours.

The Hallowe’en Carnival on Sunday October 28th at Ireland House will feature lots of activities and entertainment for young and old. Learn more about historical mourning traditions or, on a sweeter note, learn how candy was made in the past. The price of admission includes treat bags for all kids & a pumpkin per family while supplies last so be sure to get there early for a fun-filled day.

If you are sports-minded don’t worry there are some Hallowe’en themed events that will get your blood pumping.  On Saturday October 27th join the walking dead for the Zombie Race, a 5km obstacle course at Kelso Conservation.  You will be challenged both mentally and physically as you race against the clock and well as dodging hundreds of brain-hungry, virus infected zombies.  Sounds like fun right?

Pumpkin Summit 8k

The next day runners will be able to race zombie free in the Pumpkin Summit 8k also at Kelso Conservation. This on trail race starts with an ascent up the ski hill and then on to the flat terrain of the wooded trails of Kelso.  This will challenge both novice runners and more experienced racers and the view of the fall colours from the top of the hill is amazing. Kids will enjoy the pumpkin rolling contest where after hiking uphill they get to send their pumpkins rolling down the slope. 

Finally, we can’t forget the trick-or-treating itself.

Bring the family to Downtown Burlington on Saturday October 27th for Treats in the Streets.  Put on your costume and treat or treat through the streets of downtown at participating businesses.  The fun doesn’t end there you can also enjoy pancakes from local restaurants in Civic Square, entertainment at various locations, Hallowe’en activities and more. 

Visit Mapleview Centre on Monday October 29^th for their 14^th Annual Safe Trick-or-Treat where “the kids will love the candy and you’ll love the fashion.”  Plus kids can create a personalized flip book or have some fun at the Play-doh™ play centre.

Hallowe'en on Seneca Ave

On Halloween night stop by Seneca Avenue, Burlington’s busiest Halloween street, which typically hosts up to 400 trick-or-treaters between 5 and 8pm! Children, their parents and pets from all over the city flock to this street, so much so that the City has ensured that it is safely blocked off from traffic to guarantee a risk-free and fun-filled night for all. Previous years have included a robotic gorilla, a haunted house, a large projector and hay-bail seating for Harry Potter movie screenings, free popcorn and, of course, some truly amazing costumes. This turns the street into a safe and fun-filled street party where families gather to share the night.

All of us at Tourism Burlington wish you a SPOOKTACULAR Hallowe’en!

Falling into nature and falling in love

“Can he give you a kiss?”

It wasn’t the first thing I expected to hear when my family and I reached Kelso Conservation Park on this chilly but beautiful Saturday afternoon. Then again, I didn’t expect to be greeted by a three foot fork-tongued grizzly lizard named Oreo. The charming fellow was part of the reptile show at Kelso over the Thanksgiving weekend and one of many activities that are part of Conservation Halton’s Fall Into Nature festival.

My daughters Emma and Katie and I laughed as we reeled back when Oreo’s tongue darted toward us. Oreo is owned by “Adventure Ed” who brought his Safari Science show to Kelso for the event, which continues this weekend.

My family and I had been looking forward to checking out the cornucopia of events at Halton’s six parks (Kelso, Hilton Falls, Mountsberg, Rattlesnake Point, Crawford Lake and Mount Nemo), especially since the escarpment is now ablaze in full fall foliage. The events continue October 13 and 14, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

We were looking forward to rediscovering some of the parks in the area which we don’t always get to. What we didn’t expect - and I’m embarrassed to admit this since I grew up in Burlington - was that we would discover a treasure trove of natural gems we never knew existed.

The list of activities was long - wagon rides, pumpkin painting, chair lift rides, bird of prey shows, and, of course, hiking. We decided to start our adventure at Kelso and, after greeting Oreo, headed over to the chair lift for a ride up the hill.

There was a brisk wind and I was glad we were wearing mitts but the panoramic view of nature in all its fall glory was well worth it. It was spectacular seeing the escarpment lit up in an artist’s palette of reds, yellows and golds.

The girls then did some pumpkin painting and then we popped in for some hot apple cider as we waited for the Arashido-Taiko Japanese drummers to play. The drummers looked chilly in their light clothing, especially those in sandals, but warmed up as they vigorously pounded their drums.

The next stop was Hilton Falls Conservation Area, a five minute drive away. I’m ashamed to admit I’ve never been, especially now that I’ve seen what it has to offer. After Emma and Katie made their own pine cone bird feeders, we headed to the trails.

“Boy, you would think we’d have to go up north to find this but it’s all here,” said my husband, Mike.

So true. The trails were breathtaking in their beauty; the archway of trees, the beaver pond, the carpet of colourful leaves. If Spielberg designed a Hollywood set of the perfect hiking path, he couldn’t have created anything as beautiful as this.

The scenery kept us going as we made the 8-kilometre hike to the waterfall and back. By the time we arrived back at our car it was after five so we headed home to rest up for Sunday when we planned to take in Mountsberg and Crawford Lake.

While Mountsberg is known for its wonderful Birds of Prey show, we also had a delightful visit with a corral full of charming goats. My Katie swears one of them winked at her. Emma spotted the most beautiful grey horse in a nearby fenced area who we learned was a 21-year-old Percheron, a breed that originated from northern France.

“She looks like a statue,” said Katie, as we gazed at the beautiful still creature.

Next we tried our hand at painting the mural of large farm animals on the side of the barn. We headed for the wagon that would take us to see the bisons. As we rode along the bumpy trail, resource interpreter Erica Lagios explained to us that bisons are the largest mammals on the planet and that they once numbered in the 30 to 60 million range but by the late 1800’s there were only 600 left.

Due to conservation efforts, they are back up to around 25,000 and Mountsberg has ten of them. That includes a very macho-looking fellow named Steve, who has a wicked set of bangs that flopped up and down when he loped toward our wagon.

The bisons obviously love the mix of grain and molasses Erica feeds them. My daughters laughed as Steve’s bangs bounced up and down like an overteased hairdo as he ran toward us, obviously looking for more granola.

“Wow, where else can you get this close to bisons,” I said to my daughters.

After our ride, we headed to the bird sanctuary where we met Echo, the owl and Duchess, the kestrel falcon and learned how they are cared for.

Back in the car, we headed off to Crawford Lake to see the longhouses. Chief Topleaf had drawn a crowd as he shared stories about First Nations culture.

After a quick game of lacrosse, which showed off my less than athletic abilities at the game, it was time for a walk around the lake. For all the fun activities we enjoyed, the best part of each park for us was the natural beauty of the surroundings and Crawford Lake was no exception.

It’s an absolutely gorgeous area and we were again reminded again of the hidden gems around us here in Burlington.

As we walked along the wooden boardwalk that wound through the trees, we could hear the lovely sounds of The Playford Players on the hammer dulcimer and guitar. There was nothing quite like seeing the reflection of those trees on the lake while being serenaded by the music.

From the smiling goats and majestic bisons of Mountsberg, to hiking the boardwalk around Crawford Lake, and the breathtaking trails of Hilton, I can’t think of a better way to spend a weekend.

----------------------

SIDEBAR

On October 13 and 14 you can experience Fall into Nature by bus. It will run from 10.30 a.m. to 4.30 p.m., starting at Kelso Conservation Area Info. tent. It includes a chairlift ride followed by a BBQ lunch then at 12.30 the bus will leave for Crawford Lake. At 2.30 you’re off to Mountsberg for a birds of prey demonstration and wildlife walk. The bus will leave for Kelso at 4 p.m. and arrive at 4.30 p.m.

Cost is $36 per person plus HST. Reserve your seat by calling 905-336-6684 or register online at www.fallintonature.ca. 

Guest Blogger - Denise Davy

"Denise Davy is a freelance writer who has lived in Burlington for more than 40 years. She is an award-winning writer who wrote news stories, feature articles and columns for The Hamilton Spectator for 26 years. She has travelled extensively and visited India, China, Japan and the Caribbean, thanks to being honoured with three national journalism fellowships. She now specializes in writing about travel, parenting, and health and women's issues. She is proud to call Burlington her home and lives here with her husband and their two beautiful daughters."  You can contact Denise through her web site and blog at www.denisedavy.com

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

Burlington - what we are thankful for

It seems like just yesterday that summer ended and we bid adieu to our student travel counselors but now I look at the calendar and realize that Thanksgiving is just around the corner.  By the nature of the name of Thanksgiving you know what to expect and I am no different, taking some time to reflect and be grateful for all that I have both in a physical and emotional sense.  And while I am thankful for the obvious things (health, family, friends…) I am also aware that there is a lot we can be thankful for living in a country like Canada and in the city of Burlington.

Here are some of the things we at Tourism Burlington are thankful for (in no particular order)

photo courtesy Dan Banko

Our walkable downtown - There are not a great deal of cities that boast such a beautiful and vibrant downtown and while that might seem somewhat trivial, I think it is one of the most appealing things about our city.  Our downtown is ripe with amazing eateries, one of a kind boutiques and shops, and plays host to many events throughout the year.

 

Our fabulous Performing Arts Centre – In only its second season the Burlington Performing Arts Centre has already had over 30,000 people come through its doors to experience a wide range of music, dance and theatre.  The upcoming year will be no exception with a terrific line-up of performers and new programming such as the “Classically Yours…” and Theatre series that will engage and entice visitors both new and returning.

Our sports community – Burlington is home to an active sporting community at all levels of sport.  Our city is host to hundreds of tournaments, runs and competitions throughout the year including the annual Santa 5k, Shoe hockey tournament, Spring Cup Gymnastics Invitational and more.

Our festivals and events – with Lake Ontario as a backdrop, Spencer Smith Park is home to many events such as the ever popular Sound of Music Festival and Ribfest but it doesn’t end there, Burlington has great events throughout the year.  You can explore fall colours at Fall in Nature, welcome Santa at the Holiday Parade, stroll through the gardens during the spring bloom celebratons at the Royal Botanical Gardens and during the summer there are always lots of events to choose from.  We would also be remiss if we didn’t thank all the hard-working volunteers that make these festivals and events happen.  

Our great outdoors – Burlington is fortunate to be just a stone throw away from some of the prettiest natural areas in Ontario.  With a beautiful waterfront, hundreds of kilometers of hiking trails, six conservation areas and a Provincial Park there is ample opportunity to get out and enjoy the great outdoors.  From the weekend explorer to the avid adventurer, there is something for everyone.  

Our heritage – Burlington has a rich history and is home to two museums that reflect our unique heritage.  You can pick up a copy of the heritage walking tours at our Visitor Centre then stroll the downtown or art centre neighbourhood on a self-guided tour (outside only) of the many historic properties in our core. 

Photo courtesy of Rolly Astrom

Our arts community – not many people know but the Burlington Art Centre is home to the world’s largest collection of contemporary Canadian ceramics and is home to seven guilds. They regularly features exhibitions in various mediums in addition to their permanent collection.  In addition to The BAC, Burlington has a large arts community of working artists and studios.  Art in Action has a studio tour in November each year which gives residents and visitors to get up close and personal with local artists.  There are also several other studios, galleries and shops that are open to the public and operate year round including Artists Walk in historic Village Sqaure.

Our culinary scene – Burlington is becoming known as a dining destination with the variety and unique offerings of larger metropolitan cities combined with the accessibility and service of a small town.  We have amazing chefs working magic in their kitchens and offering up gourmet fare.  From the culinary stylings of Chef Matteo at Blacktree to the local fare from Chef Tobias at Red Canoe Bistro and Chef Andrew at Spencers on the Waterfont you are sure to find something to suit your tastes at any budget.

We want to wish you a happy Thanksgiving from all of us here at Tourism and if you need assistance finding great things to see and do in Burlington drop by our Visitor Centre, give us a call or visit our website.

Celebrate both Sports and Culture in Burlington

The week of September 24-30 is a busy one across Canada and here in Burlington as we are celebrating both National Sports Day and Culture Days. 

In Burlington we are so fortunate to have a thriving sports and cultural community which has helped establish our city as the 2^nd best place to live and raise kids in Canada. 

Sports Week and National Sports Day

Sports Day in Canada held on Saturday, September 29, 2012 is a national celebration of sport, from grassroots to high-performance levels, in communities across the country. Sports Day in Canada is presented by CBC Sports, ParticipACTION and True Sport and is guided by a committee of national sporting organizations and their networks of coaches, athletes and enthusiasts across the country. It’s an opportunity for all Canadians to celebrate the power of sport to build community, fortify our national spirit and facilitate healthy, active living.

The Burlington Sport Alliance (BSA) has planned a week full of activities to promote sport participation.  They kicked off the week by hosting a Time Out Sport Networking luncheon on Monday Sept. 24 where they had two inspiring guest speakers.  Dr. Greg Wells was a CTV 2012 Olympic Commentator, Superbodies Segments – scientist & extreme human physiologist,  and author of Superbodies – Peak Performance Secrets from the World’s Best Athletes.  Kerry Goulet  was a former pro hockey player, and is founder of stopconcussions.com – an educational website to raise awareness of the impact of concussions on youth and co-author with former NHL player Keith Primeau of Concussed.  I enjoyed the tips and messages from both speakers and picked up the book on concussions for my husband and son who are minor hockey coaches.  Also this week Kicks For Kids will be having an Open House on Wednesday Sept. 26th, 2012 from 6 – 8 p.m. 

Tansley Woods Pool

The BSA is encouraging everyone to wear their sport jackets, or  jerseys to work or school on Friday Sept 28..... celebrating NATIONAL JERSEY DAY.  Let’s make Burlington an even more sport conscience, active city.  Then on Saturday a number of activities are happening to celebrate National Sports Day.  Opening ceremonies will take place in the lobby of Tansley Woods Community Centre at 12:45 p.m. will be followed by a variety of "try-it" activities and sport exhibits for the community to participate in.  Bring the family out to try a new sport or play an old favourite for free.  Learn about the wide range of sport programs and services available in our own community. Leisure swimming at Tansley Woods and skating sessions at Mainway Arena will be open to the public free of charge.

Sports Day Itinerary - September 29th

·         Burlington Sport Hall of Fame – unveiling 10 a.m. 414 Locust St.

·         Mayor’s walk (Mainway Arena to Tansley Woods Community Centre): 12:00 – 12:45 pm

·         Opening Ceremony (Tansley Woods Community Centre): 12:45 – 1:00 pm

·         Tansley Foyer and Community Room 1/2: 12:00 – 5:00 pm
Tansley Double Gym: 1:00 – 2:30, 4:00 – 5:00 pm
Tansley Pool: 1:30 – 6:00pm

·         Tansley Baseball Diamond: 12:00 – 5:00 pm
Tansley Soccer Field: 12:00 – 5:00 pm
Mainway Ice pad A: 1:00 – 4:00 pm

---

Culture Days

Whatever your passion or curiosity, indulge it during Culture Days, Canada’s annual country-wide celebration of arts and culture, returning this fall for it’s third edition from Friday, September 28 – Sunday, September 30, 2012.

Culture Days will be celebrated in hundreds of cities and towns from coast to coast to coast, with thousands of free activities from a wide range of disciplines including: visual arts, music, dance, theatre, architecture, heritage, film and video, literature, culinary arts and new media.  1.2 million Canadians participated in over 6,000 activities spanning over 800 communities during Culture Days 2011. The momentum continues to build in year three and participation in Culture Days 2012 is anticipated to surpass last year’s.

In Burlington the major cultural groups have come together to promote a number of cultural activities including:

• ·         ZimSculpt –The award-winning Zimbabwean stone sculpture exhibit, ZimSculpt, returns to Royal Botanical Gardens on Friday Sept. 28
• ·         Human Library at Central Library on Saturday Sept. 29 – 11 incredible stories – one unforgettable day.  talk with living books! Select from one of our human 'books'—local people with very interesting stories to tell—for a short loan period at the library. We'll have 'books' for both children and adults
• ·         Tottering Biped at Burlington Art Centre on Saturday Sept. 29 - 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 - Have fun with the Fall Harvest Obstacle Course and Games, Pony Rides (12-3pm), Junior Farmer Competitions and Games, Fair-Style Activities, Historic Cooking and Horticultural society arrangements.  There will be animal exhibits and special farm displays! Check out the Trifles & Treasures Bazaar
• ·         Culture Days at The Burlington Performing Arts centre on Sunday Sept. 30 - Music of Elton John, Frankie Valli and Whitney Houston. Buskers, clowns and more
• ·         War of 1812-14 Commemoration plus find Hidden Gems scavenger hunt, and other fun activities at Tourism Burlington all weekend
• ·         Burlington Art Centre Exhibits and Demonstrations all weekend plus Reid Flock and David Thai: Neo Modernism: Burlington Art Centre - 1:30 p.m.

Get out this weekend and enjoy the many free activities organized by local cultural organizations.  For more information visit burlington.ca/culturedays.

TourBurlGrl

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 15^th 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!