On Saturday, October 3 and Sunday, October 4, 2026 – Telling Tales presents the 18th anniversary of their Telling Tales Festival. This annual outdoor literary festival features Canada’s leading children’s authors, illustrators, storytellers and musicians – plus book signings, activities, performers, local artisans and vendors, and more! Presented at Royal Botanical Gardens Hendrie Park.

The best of Canada’s children’s literary talent – in a beautiful natural setting

Join 50 of Canada’s finest children’s authors and illustrators, along with 20 storytelling presentations by local multidisciplinary artists, including musicians, dancers, performing artists and spoken word performers. Enjoy story readings, sculpture walks, creative workshops, theatrical productions, live music and more. On the lawn or under a tent, participate together with the whole family!

Telling Tales’ interactive and engaging author and illustrator programming spotlights new Canadian children’s books via a reading and on-theme activity stations – and is designed to allow children of all neurotypes and abilities to engage with literary programming in their own way.

“Telling Tales believes in creating meaningful connections with the natural world. Finding the ‘awe’ in nature—like discovering a story that speaks to you—can encourage creativity and emotional growth.”

– Telling Tales

Internationally acclaimed headliners on the Main Stage daily

The perfect opportunity to bring the whole family together for storytime reading!

Saturday, October 3 @ 12:15 PM ET: Storytime with Barbara Reid. Join author and illustrator Barbara Reid in the headliner presentation on the Main Stage. You absolutely do not want to miss this 45-minute presentation with iconic storyteller as she shares her new picture book The Story Hunter. Get a peek behind the scenes of Barbara’s creation process! Following the presentation, meet Barbara and get your book signed at A Different Drummer Books’ Autograph Tent.

Sunday, October 4 @ 12:15 PM ET: Storytime with Danny Ramadan. Join author Danny Ramadan in the headliner presentation on the Main Stage. You don’t want to miss this 45-minute dynamic presentation featuring Salma the Syrian Chef. Following the presentation, meet Danny and get your book signed at A Different Drummer Books’ Autograph Tent.

Two days of free family fun for all ages – great tales never grow old!

See the full schedule here. Visit individual tent pages for artist and presentation details:

• Main Stage (All ages): Features daily Festival Headliner book presentations at 12:15 PM ET (see details above), and a variety of high-energy musical and movement-based performances geared to the youngest audience members. Bring a blanket for lawn seating and be ready to get up and dance!
• Creativity Zones (All ages): Head to one of the Creativity Zones to enjoy multi-media arts activities presented by partnered local arts and literacy organizations.
• Read Together Tent (Ages 0-6): Features accessible storytimes and interactive activities for the whole family. Children are invited to engage in stories through movement, sorting stations, arts and crafts, and more while authors and illustrators share their beautiful picture books. These presentations are sure to inspire connections with stories for children and guardians alike.
• Early Reader Tent (Ages 6-8): Features accessible readings and hands-on activities for children ages 6 to 8. Children are invited to engage in stories through sensory play, STREAM activities, crafts, dance and writing workshops, and more. All of this while authors and illustrators share their early readers, graphic novels and picture books. These presentations are sure to inspire even the most reluctant reader.
• Preteen Tent (Ages 9-12): Features accessible readings and hands-on activities for children ages 9 to 12. Audiences are invited to engage in stories through crafting, writing workshops, drawing and more. All of this while presenters share their poetry, graphic novels, non-fiction and more. These presentations are sure to give preteens something to talk about.
• Young Adult Tent (Ages 13+): Features accessible readings, panels and conversations for youth ages 13+. Audiences are invited to engage in conversations with authors and artists taking on topics like activism, comics, identity politics, becoming an author, romance, horror and more! Meet Canada’s leading Young Adult fiction and non-fiction authors and illustrators.

But, wait – there’s more!

In between events, there’s lots to see and do – check it out here. Activities include:

• Free access to the Royal Botanical Gardens. Register for the opportunity to see these amazing gardens brought to life with the magic of children’s literature.
• Book swap & shop | Échange et achat de livres. Bring your old books and trade them in for new-to-you stories. With French books available in partnership with Centre francophone Hamilton.
• Author signings. Meet your favourite authors in person following each festival presentation!
• Multidisciplinary performers. Catch live music, puppet shows and dance, all at Telling Tales!
• Interactive walks and activities. Join guided story walks, play games at their vendor tents, sing a song with their musicians or join the Word Scramble Scavenger Hunt (Scavenger Hunt is on Saturday, October 3 only).
• Local artisans and vendors. Visit the Exhibitors to peruse local talent and support local artists.

Telling Tales’ partnership with Royal Botanical Gardens (RBG) provides the perfect opportunity to connect children and their families with stories, nature and art.

“The Telling Tales Festival helped inspire a love of reading in our household by making stories feel alive. Instead of books being something you just read quietly, the festival showed us that stories can be shared, performed, and felt. Listening to authors speak about their characters and seeing children gather around with curiosity made reading feel exciting and meaningful. It showed us that books can be companions, teachers, and a source of comfort. It encouraged us to read together more often, talk about feelings and ideas from stories, and celebrate imagination in our home.”

– Festival attendee, 2025

About Telling Tales Festival

Telling Tales Festival began as a Rotary project, based on the simple idea of creating a festival where children and the books they love were the main attraction – and where homegrown Canadian authors, illustrators and storytellers would be spotlighted and given the opportunity to connect with fans and new audiences. Since its launch in 2009, Telling Tales Festival has evolved from a magical one-day event at Westfield Heritage Village to a glorious two-day event at the world-renowned Hendrie Park, Royal Botanical Gardens. Beyond the fall festival, Telling Tales works with school and community partners to deliver year-round in-person and virtual outreach programs that represent our rich cultural history. Read more about them here.

(Photo credits: Cover of Salma the Syrian Chef by Danny Ramadan. Illustrated by Anna Bron. Published by Annick Press.)

 

Event details

Hosted by: Telling Tales

Type of event: children’s literary festival

Headliners: Barbara Reid & Danny Ramadan 

Presenters: See the list of presenters here

Exhibitors: See the list of exhibitors here

Dates: Saturday, October 3 & Sunday, October 4, 2026

Times: The Festival is open from 9:30 AM ET – 5:00 PM ET daily, with time ticketing windows (see below – last entry @ 3:30 PM ET). Please see the Festival Schedule for individual event times.

Daily time ticketing windows:

• 9:30 to 10:30 AM
• 10:30 to 11:30 AM
• 11:30 AM to 12:30 PM
• 12:30 to 1:30 PM
• 1:30 to 2:30 PM
• 2:30 to 3:30 PM (final entry @ 3:30 PM)

When planning your visit, please note that you may arrive at any time within your entry window (indicated on your ticket) and stay as long as you like.

Duration: Most presentations are 30 – 45 minutes long. Please consult individual presentations.

Cost: Free admission – see the registration link below.

Location: Royal Botanical Gardens, Hendrie Park, 680 Plains Road West, Burlington, ON, L7T 4H4, Canada.

Festival map & downloadable info: See the Festival map and access downloadable versions of the Festival Schedule, Program & map here.

Festival FAQ: Find answers to frequently asked questions, including parking availability and how to participate in the Scavenger Hunt, here.

Video: Scroll down to watch the 2025 recap video.

Booking link: Register here. This event is time-ticketed; select an entry window when you register. You may arrive at any time within your entry window (indicated on your ticket) and stay as long as you like.

Contact details: Telling Tales, Contact form & info, tellingtales.org

 

Content warning: Please consult the individual events for age recommendations.

Accessibility: Telling Tales is held at the Royal Botanical Gardens (RBG). The RBG is a mostly accessible site with accessible parking spaces and large, paved pathways through key areas of the gardens. Other gardens are accessible by fine-gravel paths or grassy areas, which may become difficult to navigate in the case of rain. For more information, visit the RBG website. Telling Tales’ interactive and engaging author and illustrator programming is designed to allow children of all neurotypes and abilities to engage with literary programming in their own way. More info here.