Toronto 
Royal Botanical Gardens is a beautiful place to visit any time of the year. Come Christmas, and this beautiful garden becomes all the more spectacular with the wonders of winter.
“Singing Tree” at Winter Wonders; Credit: Royal Botanical Gardens
Winter Wonders
The Royal Botanical Gardens will enchant visitors with its seasonal event, “Winter Wonders,” running Thursdays to Sundays from November 27, 2025, to January 4, 2026. Held in Hendrie Park, the event transforms the gardens into a festive landscape featuring dazzling light displays, interactive displays, roaming entertainers, and fire pits.
The Tree Love installation, introduced at Winter Wonders in 2024, expands this year from a single illuminated tree to a set of three. Created by ZEM of Kitchener, Ontario, the installation uses lighting technology attached to living trees to show how they respond to human interaction. When visitors place their arms around the trees, the lights change in response, illustrating the relationship between people and the natural environment.
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Indoors, guests can enjoy vibrant holiday botanical arrangements, the whimsical Botanical Train Display, and live music. Highlights include the Mediterranean Garden and Breezeway, offering a cozy escape from the winter chill. This 1.5 km route will take approximately 1 to 2 hours to finish.
A new feature at Winter Wonders this year is an outdoor market in Hendrie Park, offering handmade items from local makers. Vendors include Meii Studio, June Make, Rob Raeside Glass Art, Jelly Brothers and Studio Beulah Art, with additional artisans appearing on a rotating schedule.
Credit: Royal Botanical Gardens
Before you head out for the night, be sure to check out the Botanical Train display. Set against a seasonal backdrop, the display features model trains amongst famous Canadian landmarks from coast to coast. The display will be open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and during Winter Wonder hours from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Entry is free with Winter Wonders admission.
Escarpment Train Exhibit
The Escarpment Train Exhibit, hosted at the Rock Garden, offers visitors a detailed exploration of Canada’s railroad history through a “G scale” model train experience. The exhibit highlights locomotion from three pivotal eras: the steam engines of the late 1800s, the streamlined trains of the 1930s, and modern diesel engines from the 1960s to today.
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Displayed indoors at the Robert Stipe Garden House, visitors must walk through the Rock Garden to access the exhibit. It is open 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., on Saturdays and Sundays from November 29, 2025, to January 4, 2026, as well as on Friday, January 2nd.
Santa’s Brunch
Royal Botanical Gardens will host Santa’s Brunch on December 6 to 7, 13 to 14, 2025, with two seatings: 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Guests can enjoy a festive buffet with vegan, gluten-free, and nut-free options while Santa and Mrs. Claus visit tables for photos and holiday cheer.
The tickets to the brunch will also include admission to the RBG Centre and Hendrie Park for the day.
Credit: Royal Botanical Gardens
Ride the RBG Express
The wintery beauty of Hendrie Park is best enjoyed with a train ride around the garden. The RBG Express will run daily from November 27th until January 4th from 10:15 a.m. to 2:45 p.m. There will be no rides on December 24, 25, 26, or January 1. Tickets can be purchased at the door. A round trip through beautiful Hendrie Park will cost $10 per train car for a maximum of 4 people per car.
Garden Shop
Credit: Royal Botanical Gardens
The Garden Shop offers a selection of decor, goods, and unique items by local artisans that are ideal for gifting. Located in the RBG Centre, the shops are open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
