By visiting this Website, you agree to the use of essential + preferences Cookies. If you want to opt in to statistics Cookies to have your Website visit analyzed, check the box below & click ‘Submit’. We do not track your visit if you leave the box unchecked. For more details, see our Cookie Policy.

Image featuring text and illustration. The top half of a black orb shape, sitting among several small green and blue overlapping partial orb shapes. Along the top of the black orb are houses and apartment buildings - and it has the words Telling Tales Festival Oct 4 & 5 on the front of it. Various plants, animals and insects frolic among the orbs, and a long vine extends from the mid-left, with a woman and man sitting on it. Dialogue bubbles, from the woman at the top left: Friends! From an insect at the top right: Families! From a mouse at the bottom right: Stories!
Image featuring text and illustration. The top half of a black orb shape, sitting among several small green and blue overlapping partial orb shapes. Along the top of the black orb are houses and apartment buildings - and it has the words Telling Tales Festival Oct 4 & 5 on the front of it. Various plants, animals and insects frolic among the orbs, and a long vine extends from the mid-left, with a woman and man sitting on it. Dialogue bubbles, from the woman at the top left: Friends! From an insect at the top right: Families! From a mouse at the bottom right: Stories!

2 days, 5 stages 2 days, 5 stages

& 50+ presenters at an annual children’s literary festival, held outdoors in a beautiful garden park.

Home Events Reading Telling Tales Festival 2025

Telling Tales Festival 2025

On Saturday, October 4 and Sunday, October 5, 2025 – Telling Tales presents the 17th anniversary Telling Tales Festival at the Royal Botanical Gardens’ Hendrie Park. This annual outdoor literary festival features Canada’s leading children’s authors, illustrators and storytellers – plus book signings, activities, performers, local artisans and vendors, and more!

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 multi-disciplinary 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 at 12:15 pm

Saturday, October 4 @ 12:15 PM ET: Storytime & Throat Singing featuring Tanya Tagaq & Charlotte Qamaniq. Join acclaimed Inuk author and throat singer Tanya Tagaq, and Inuk performance artist and throat singer Charlotte Qamaniq, in this headliner presentation on the Main Stage. You do not want to miss this 45-minute presentation, featuring Tanya’s new picture book I Would Give You My Tail and a special throat singing performance. A feast for the whole family’s ears!

Sunday, October 5 @ 12:15 PM ET: Storytime with Matthew Forsythe. Join author and illustrator Matthew Forsythe in this 45-minute headliner presentation on the Main Stage. Get a peek into the world and work of one the brilliant creatives involved in Adventure Time (lead designer) and Netflix’s The Midnight Gospel (character designer). Featuring Matthew’s latest picture book, Aggie and the Ghost, this is a perfect opportunity to bring the whole family together for storytime reading.

Medium close-up of an Inuk woman with long honey brown hair, dressed in a floral patterned parka in greens, blues and purples with a fur-lined hood pulled over her head, smiling at us as she stands in a forest. Snow and bare trees in the background.

(Photo credits: Tanya Tagaq. Photo by Mike Clark.)

Two days of festival fun

See the full schedule (with map) here. Visit the 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.

Illustrated book cover, mainly in blues and lavender, with the title Aggie and the Ghost at the top. A child wearing a hooded coat, scarf and rain boots walks in the rain, a small whisp of a ghost floating behind them. At the bottom: Matthew Forsythe.

(Photo credits: Cover of Matthew Forsythe’s Aggie and the Ghost, published by Simon & Schuster Canada.)

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!
  • Wandering characters. Meet your favourite storybook characters as they come to life!
  • Multidisciplinary performers. Catch live music, puppet shows and dance, all at Telling Tales!
  • Interactive walks and activities. Join guided story walks, play games at our vendor tents or sing a song with their musicians.
  • 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 Festival offers free shuttle bus service from downtown Hamilton.

“My kids were very inspired to meet the authors. It was neat to hear them asking questions to the authors and learning that they could too be authors one day.”

– Festival attendee, 2024

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. The project quickly won the support of a record number of clubs in the Hamilton-Burlington area. Schools, libraries, like-minded organizations and volunteers jumped on board to build a community genuinely committed to raising readers. 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.

Poster image featuring text and illustration on a black background. The illustration at the top features the top half of a black orb shape, sitting among several small green and blue overlapping partial orb shapes. Along the top of the black orb are houses and apartment buildings - and it has the words Telling Tales Festival Oct 4 & 5 on the front of it. Various plants, animals and insects frolic among the orbs, and a long vine extends from the mid-left, with a woman and man sitting on it. Dialogue bubbles, from the woman at the top left: Friends! From an insect at the top right: Families! From a mouse at the bottom right: Stories! Below the image: The Telling Tales logo. Royal Botanical Gardens | Hendrie Park. Free Entry with Registration. @TellingTalesOrg | TellingTales.org For all ages, because great tales never grow old. A row of sponsor logos at the bottom.

(Photo credits: Telling Tales.)

 

Event details

Hosted by: Telling Tales 

Type of event: children’s literary festival

Presenters: See the list of presenters here 

Exhibitors: See the list of exhibitors here

Dates: Saturday, October 4 & Sunday, October 5, 2025

Start time: 10:00 AM ET – please see the Festival Program for individual event times. Time Ticketing:

  • 9:45 to 10:45 AM
  • 10:45 to 11:45 AM
  • 11:45 AM to 12:45 PM
  • 12:45 to 1:45 PM
  • 1:45 to 2:45 PM
  • 2:45 to 3:45 PM (final entry 3:45 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: 7 hours each day (till 5:00 PM ET)

Cost: Free admission – see the registration link below.

Location: Royal Botanical Gardens, Hendrie Park, 680 Plains Road West, Burlington, ON, L7T 4H4, Canada. Find directions, plus accommodation & parking info here.

Free shuttle bus service: From downtown Hamilton – info here.

Video: Scroll down to watch the video.

Booking link: Register here.

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.