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Winter Wonders

Celebrate the Magic of the Season

December 5 to January 5 (Thursdays to Sundays)*

Experience the magic of the season at Royal Botanical Garden’s Winter Wonders! Hendrie Park transforms into a winter wonderland, featuring dazzling lights, festive installations, and enchanting displays.

Stroll through RBG’s scenic winter landscape to the backdrop of festive music while savouring warm holiday treats, guided by the glow of lights and twinkling stars. The magic continues indoors with seasonal décor, and vibrant plant displays in the rejuvenated Mediterranean Garden and the Breezeway. Delight in the whimsical Botanical Train Display featuring model trains amongst famous Canadian landmarks from coast to coast and explore unique seasonal finds in the Gift Shop.

Generously Supported By:

TD logo
The Hamilton Spectator

Timed-tickets required. *Date exceptions apply. This is a time-ticketed experience. Upon registration you will be required to select an entry time.

Looking to gift this experience?

Give the gift of Winter Wonders by purchasing a gift certificate!

Winter Wonders Tickets

Timed-ticket entry required. Food and drink available for purchase throughout the experience.

Tickets available: Monday November 18, 11 a.m.
NOTE: a virtual waiting room will be in place. Depending on ticketing demand, the wait time may be significant. See the “waiting room” section below for more details.

Visitor Ticket Price (per person)
Adult $20 (+HST & $1 Service Fee)
Child (age 3 to 12) $16 (+HST & $1 Service Fee)
Infant / Toddler (age 0-2) FREE
RBG Members* $10 (+HST & $1 Service Fee)

*See your membership type for the number of guests eligible to purchase member tickets

*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.

Virtual Waiting Room

Our major events are incredibly popular and registration can feel competitive. To help manage site activity and make registration as fair as possible, RBG has implemented an online waiting room system.

The waiting room will open 1 hour prior to sale time. There is no benefit to joining the waiting room at 10 a.m. When the sale begins at 11 a.m., you will be randomly placed in an online queue, with a limited number of registrants let into the site at a time. Complete your purchase, and close the browser tab when complete.

PLEASE NOTE: Due to the popularity of this event and large number of individuals hoping to secure tickets, the waiting room time will likely be significant. Please factor a long wait into your planning.

Why use a virtual waiting room? A virtual queue allows a limited (and randomly selected) number of individuals into the ticket site at once. This practice:

  • prevents “cart-jacking” (a reduced number of individuals competing to add the same tickets to their carts at the same time)
  • ensures the ticketing site can operate without being overwhelmed by web traffic
  • accommodates those working with slower internet connections without fear of competing
  • creates a fairer system overall by randomly assigning places in the virtual line

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. See F.A.Q.s for weather policy.
  • Garden admission discounts and coupons are not applicable to this ticketed event. 
  • Everyone attending the event must have a ticket. You will not be admitted into the event without a ticket. Tickets will be scanned upon arrival.
  • Pre-registration is highly encouraged for this ticketed event. Visitor Experience may be able to accommodate walk ups if there are spaces available. 
  • Tickets provide access to RBG Centre and Hendrie Park during this event. Separate Garden Admission would be required for those wishing to visit any RBG garden areas during regular admission hours. 
  • Weather Policy: This even runs rain or shine. RBG reserves the right to cancel the event due to extreme inclement weather with little to no notice (ticket purchasers will be contacted by email). If the event is cancelled, you will receive a credit on your account that is equal to the amount of the original purchase. The credit can be applied towards a future Winter Wonders date of your choosing.

Thank You for Supporting RBG!

Royal Botanical Gardens is a registered charitable organization dedicated to connecting people, plants and place. By attending this event, you’re supporting our efforts in areas like plant science, conservation, horticulture and education.

2024 Operational Dates

  • December 5 to 8 (Thurs-Sun)
  • December 12 to 15 (Thurs-Sun)
  • December 19 to 23 (Thurs-Mon)
  • December 27 to 30 (Fri-Mon)
  • January 2 to 5 (Thurs-Sun)

This activity is NOT available: December 24, 25, 26, 31, January 1.

Tips for Visiting:

  • Upon registering you will be required to select an entry timeslot. You may arrive any time within this 1/2 hour entry window and stay as long as you’d like.
  • RBG Centre and Hendrie Park will be closed between 4 p.m. and 5 p.m. as our teams prepare for Winter Wonders. Visitors may wait for entry outside RBG Centre during this time.
  • Expect to spent approximately 1-2 hours at this experience.
  • Please leave your pets at home for this experience, pets are not permitted (service dogs excluded).
  • Outside food and beverage will not be permitted.
  • Please be aware that some areas of the garden contain fast moving, bright lights.

See our Frequently Asked Questions for more details to help you plan!

  • group of visitors at Winter Wonders in front of the Singing Tree
  • Children and parent watching a model Thomas the Tank engine moving through the botanical train display
  • Child standing under the floating lanterns at Winter Wonders
  • stilt walker dressed as jack frost with light-up juggling pins
  • white poinsettia in the foreground as part of the Breezeway display. Pink and red poinsettia are planted in the background.

What to Expect

Explore the wonders of Hendrie Park before warming up indoors with lots of seasonal fun!

Outdoors

  • Light Displays
  • The Singing Tree
  • Roaming Entertainers
  • Fire Pits
  • Food and Drink
    • “The Container”
    • Stations throughout the garden
  • and more!

Indoors

  • Botanical Train Display
  • Atrium Bar
    • Live musician
  • Holiday Botanical Displays
    • Throughout RBG Centre
    • In the Mediterranean Garden (greenhouse)
  • Garden Shop
  • and more!
  • Young girl posing in the centre of a snowflake light installation
  • hands warming over a propane firepit
  • Parents and young child admiring the bright light display at Winter Wonders.
  • visitor [posing under an arch of lights at Winter Wonders

Held in Hendrie Park

This display is placed in Hendrie Park. Enter at RBG Centre, 680 Plains Road W. Burlington. Parking is available on-site.

Daytime hours during Winter Wonders: Open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., last admission is at 3 p.m. The Gardens will reopen for Winter Wonders from 5 to 10 p.m. Winter Wonders tickets required.

See event F.A.Q. for parking and transit information.

  • Couple looking at each other lovingly while posing in front of large snowflake light installations
  • family walking into Hendrie Park during Winter Wonders with lights lining the entryway
  • Young woman smirking and looking off to the right. Rainbow lights shine across her face
  • singing tree light installation at Winter Wonders with a crowd singing below
  • Muskoka chairs around a small fire. A large christmas tree with lights in the background

Winter Wonders FAQ

Have a question about Winter Wonders? Click the topics below for more information. If you have a question that is not answered, give us a call at 905-527-1158 or send us a message.

Tickets

Pre-purchased tickets are required for this special event. Upon purchasing, you will be required to select an entry time. Tickets are final sale. When purchasing your tickets, please ensure you select the appropriate date/time, as switching your tickets after purchase will not be possible. Tickets are required for all in your party attending the event.

Access2 Cardholders: purchase ticket(s) for the cardholder online. For a complimentary ticket for your support person, either display your Access2Card upon arrival, OR get in touch prior to the event (via email or at 905-527-1158) and our Guest Services Centre can add an additional ticket to your order free of charge.

Accessing Member Tickets

To access your reduced-rate 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 check 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.

Gifting Winter Wonders Tickets

Looking to give an experience at Winter Wonders as a gift? You have 2 options available:

  1. Purchase tickets on their behalf for a specific date / time and forward the pdf tickets emailed at the time of purchase
  2. Purchase a digital gift certificate they can use to redeem for tickets on a day and time that works for them!

Note: gift certificates are not redeemable for food and beverage offerings at the event.

What's Included?

Your special event ticket to Winter Wonders gives you access to RBG Centre and Hendrie Park after 5 p.m. on the dates available. Access to the indoor Mediterranean Garden, the botanical train exhibit and seasonal displays are also included.   

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

Arrival and Entry Time

This event is time-ticketed. Please arrive at your scheduled time. You can expect to spend approximately 1 – 2 hours 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 outdoor experience.

Your tickets will be emailed to you as a pdf attachment shortly after online payment. You will be required to present these tickets upon arrival, either printed out or digitally on your personal device. 

The event concludes at 10 p.m.

Parking & Transit

This event is held in Hendrie Park – please enter through RBG Centre at 680 Plains Road W. Burlington Ontario. Parking is included, available in the large lot at RBG Centre. Additional parking is available in the small Cherry Hill parking lot (across the street), though this will require crossing the street and a short walk to RBG Centre for entry.

This garden is located along bus routes for Burlington Transit, with stops a short distance from the entrance. See rbg.ca/directions for more details.

Get there with GO!

Take the Lakeshore West Train Line. Disembark at Burlington Station and take Burlington Transit Route 1 Plains to Hamilton to RBG Centre.

Note: there are no buses servicing Aldershot station that make stops at RBG. For non-shuttle dates, be sure to plan your trip using Burlington station.

Food & Drink

Festive snacks will be available for purchase.  This is a licensed event; alcoholic beverages will be available for purchase for those age 19+. A valid I.D. is required for beverage purchase.  

Outside food and alcohol will not be permitted.

Washrooms

While enjoying the outdoor light display, washroom facilities are available in the Atrium at RBG Centre (lower level), at the Turner Pavilion Teahouse, and close to the Container.

Indoors, additional washrooms are available across from the Greenhouse Café (near the Botanical Train).

Weather Policy

Winter Wonders is held rain or shine. The majority of Winter Wonders is held outdoors, so come prepared for the weather!

RBG reserves the right to cancel the event due to extreme inclement weather with little to no notice (ticket purchasers will be contacted by email). If the event is cancelled, you will receive a credit on your account that is equal to the amount of the original purchase. The credit can be applied towards a future Winter Wonders date of your choosing.

Lighting

Pathways will be lit however there may be some darker patches. Please take your time and be mindful of your step. Appropriate footwear for walking on gravel pathways and turf are recommended, especially in snowy, wet conditions.

Pets & Service Animals

With the exception of service animals, personal dogs/cats/animals are not permitted during the evening portion of Winter Wonders.

Pets are welcome in RBG’s outdoor spaces between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. so long as they remain leashed. Please be responsible and clean up after your pets.

Accessibility

The experience takes visitors along wide, paved or gravel pathways. For those attending with a wheelchair, walker, or stroller, an outdoor model is recommended. Some benches will be available for those who need them. Accessible parking spaces are available outside RBG Centre. Visitors access the garden through RBG Centre, descending through the Atrium via stairs or an elevator. If you have any further questions about accessibility at this event please contact us by phone (905-527-1158) or use the form at rbg.ca/contact-events.

Terms & Conditions

  • Tickets purchased to RBG special events 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.
  • RBG reserves the right to cancel the event due to inclement weather with little to no notice. If the event is cancelled, you will receive a credit on your account that is equal to the amount of the original purchase. The credit can be applied towards a future Winter Wonders date of your choosing.