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Experience Spring in Stratford!
The well-known arts and culture scene in Stratford truly comes alive in spring. Along with the festivals or outdoor arts and entertainment, the city of Stratford also comes to life in spring thanks to the greenery and gardens that decorate the city. On top of the manicured spaces to visit and explore in Stratford are all of the trails and untamed parts around Lake Victoria.
Stratford is easily a spring destination in southern Ontario and is easy to get to from a number of places. The city is almost equally distant from the shores of Lake Erie, Ontario, and Huron and is a short distance from London or Kitchener. What’s even more convenient about visiting Stratford is that it is a stop on the VIA Rail.
Welcome Spring With a Visit to Avon River
For many years, the annual swan parade in Stratford was one of the most unique parades in Canada when the swans were released from their winter home. While the parade was cancelled this year, head to the Avon River shores to see the swans enjoying their return to the river.
Doors Open
Doors Open Stratford returns April 18 and 19, 2026, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., opening 13 sites across the city after a 10-year break.
Visitors can explore landmarks for free, like City Hall, the Perth County Courthouse, and Gallery Stratford, or join guided walking tours. Some spaces reveal hidden histories, from historic inns to repurposed churches. Saturday evening also features Doors Open After Dark, with special events including a film screening, live experiences, and a ghost walk through Stratford’s past.
Live Music & Entertainment
A simple way to start exploring live music and entertainment around Stratford is with local venues, pubs or restaurants. But one of the biggest attractions in Stratford will also begin this spring, and it starts off a full three seasons of live entertainment!
- The Stratford Festival is a season and series of live theatre performances at four different stages: Festival, Avon, Tom Patterson, and Studio Theatres. This popular festival will feature Shakespearean plays and more from April to December.
- Stratford’s The Starlight host Live Music Saturdays all spring, as well as various other weekend shows.
Garden Tours of Stratford
Create a self-guided garden tour of Stratford; the city has over a dozen public gardens to visit! Notable highlights include the Shakespearean Gardens, those gardens for specific flowers, and an arboretum.
- Take a walk around Upper Queens Park to see multiple gardens like the Arthur Meighen Gardens or those at Confederation Park.
- Further along the river are the Ophelia Lazardis Garden and the Shakespeare Garden.
- There are about a dozen more to see around the city!
Explore the Nature & Recreation around Stratford
Stratford’s riverside location offers numerous places to explore nature, wild scenery, trails, or the waters. While known as an arts town, Stratford is a beautiful place for recreation of all kinds in spring, including hiking, wildlife viewing and birding, paddling, or cycling.
Plus, these cooler spring days, as compared to outdoor fun on a summer day, are a little more enjoyable without the intense heat.
- Embark on an adventure down the Avon River starting in May. You can choose between a guided tour or renting a pedal boat, or kayak. The Boathouse Riverside Patio offers delightful refreshments, perfect for a post-journey break.
- Whether you’d rather spectate or get involved, the city’s Light up the Night Kayaking Event is worth a visit. Each month, kayakers are given a theme to follow when it comes to lighting up their boats. And then the boats gather for a group paddle. These begin in May.
- On the southwest side of the city is the TJ Nolan Natural Area, with scenic woodland trails and riverside trails, as well as picnic facilities. The trails meander for about 4.5km.
- Stratford’s two closest Provincial Parks are Komoka to the south and Pinery to the west. Both are about an hour from the city. Spring activities at Komoka include hiking and biking near the Thames River, as well as fishing and paddling. Pinery is on the shores of Huron with 10km of sandy beach.
- The Wildwood Conservation Area is an outdoor person’s spring paradise with tons of places to hike, paddle, birdwatch, bike, and more. And it is only a 15-minute drive south of Stratford!
Guided & Self-Guided Stratford Tours
Stratford is an easy-to-navigate city with a central downtown area. Self-guided touring of the city may require a little pre-planning with maps, but it is easy enough to take on, with great sights to see, most of which are included in this list. Plus, these pre-planned or guided tours make the sightseeing a little more tailored to the unique parts of Stratford.
- Junction 56 Distillery hosts Guided Distillery Tasting Tours by request, as well as scheduled cocktail classes, workshops, and other events. The distillery creates whiskey, gin, and vodka.
- Explore the tastiest self-guided tour in Stratford by following the city’s Chocolate Trail. Stratford is home to an exceptional number of bakeries and chocolatiers. A large number of these locations are clustered near the corner of Huron and Ontario Street.
- “An Unexpected Journey” is the public guided tour offered by the Stratford’s Art of Ideas Gallery every Saturday, Sunday, and Monday.
Shopping in Stratford
Whether you’re a window shopper or someone after something particular, there are many shops and places to explore local creators, vendors, and more, in Stratford. A few of these shopping opportunities are only available seasonally as well, so take advantage at the start of the spring!
- Considered one of Ontario’s oldest markets, the Stratford Farmers’ Market provides year-round local shopping opportunities and over 40 vendors.
- Stratford’s Sunday Market is a seasonal and outdoor farmers’ market and opens in early May each year.
- Each May to October, Art in the Park Stratford is set up as an open-air market alongside the water on Lakeshore Drive.
- Downtown Stratford has a huge variety of local shops and boutiques within walking distance from one another; these include antique stores, gift shops, hobby stores, clothing and apparel, and chocolate and candy stores.
