This stunning 40-room Ontario castle is hosting flowery experiences and live theatre in a historic setting
Add a trip to this national historic site to your summer list of things to do.
Looking for an outdoor summer road trip idea that’s within an hour west of Toronto?
Once a military encampment for British soldiers during the War of 1812, Dundurn National Historic Site or “Dundurn Castle” as the locals call it, is one of the City of Hamilton’s most popular tourist attractions.
Constructed in Italianate style, with ornate entryways and staggering columns, Dundurn Castle is a picturesque 18,000-square-foot and 40-room masterpiece that was finished in 1835.
With well-kept lawns, manicured gardens and sweeping views of Hamilton Harbour, it’s enjoyable year-round, but especially in the summertime, with several immersive events scheduled in the coming weeks and months that prove Hamilton deserves a spot on your warm-weather bucket list.
July garden experiences and flower bouquet workshops at Dundurn Castle
On July 18, the Dundurn National Historic Site will host a Flower Bouquet Experience, inviting visitors to traverse the beautiful blooms of Dundurn Castle’s Historic Kitchen Garden to pick and design a custom bouquet.
Once you’ve selected your flowers and arranged the stems, an expert florist will guide you through how to create an aesthetically-pleasing floral arrangement.
The flower bouquet workshop runs from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and costs $50 per person. It’s offered to visitors aged 14 and up. Pre-registration is required for this experience. This experience also returns on Sept. 5.
Looking to linger among the summer blooms?
On July 30, Dundurn Castle starts its extended morning hours in the Kitchen Garden at 10 a.m., inviting guests to revel in natural light, watch sleepy bees feast on pollen, and enjoy a moment of tranquillity before the day gets hot.
Extended morning hours in the garden will continue to run on the last Thursday of August and September. Free to wander, the garden is typically open Tuesdays to Saturdays from 12 to 4 p.m.
August castle tours, garden workshops and more
On Aug. 8 from 10 to 11 a.m., Dundurn Castle is hosting a guided tour of the Kitchen Garden, where guests will learn more about the history of the landscape, as well as what’s grown year-round, from heirloom fruits and vegetables to flowers.
Adult tickets are $9, youth and seniors are $7.75, children ages six to 12 are $5.50, and children aged five and under are free. You can register for this event here. This experience also returns on Sept. 12.
With tomato season in full swing in Ontario, there’s no better time to sink your teeth into one or two. On Aug. 16, the castle is hosting an Heirloom Tomato Experience that invites visitors to a hands-on garden workshop where they’ll sample heirloom varieties while learning about wild, ancient, and modern-day variations of this favourite summer fruit.
This workshop is open to those aged 14 and up, and costs $50 per person. The event runs from 10 to 11:30 a.m.
In the mood for some drama? On Aug. 17, the Toitering Biped Theatre will perform a reading of “Elizabeth Rex,” a play by Timothy Findley in which Queen Elizabeth I spends the night before the execution of the Earl of Essex talking with a dying actor who plays female roles in Shakespeare’s company.
Through their conversations, they explore identity, gender, power, and the roles people perform in both life and on stage. This free event (or pay what you can) is held in The Cockpit at Dundurn National Historic Site and takes place from 7 to 9 p.m.
Outside of the themed events, the Kitchen Garden is open now through mid-October for free self-guided tours. Additionally, tours of Dundurn Castle’s interior also run Tuesday to Sunday from noon to 4 p.m. with adult admission priced at $16.75 per person.
By Christine Roberti, Torontocom
