Welcome to Telling Tales’ Main Stage! The festival’s Main Stage features our daily Festival Headliner book presentations at 12:15 pm, and a variety of high-energy musical and movement based performances geared to our youngest audience members. Bring a blanket for lawn seating and be ready to get up and dance!

On Saturday, this tent has ASL interpretation thanks to Deaf Services Canada (formerly Silent Voice) and Undivided Productions.

The Main Stage is located in RBG’s Marshall Field, East of the central Rose Garden. Lawn seating is available, with limited tent coverage.

Directly following Headline book presentations, head to A Different Drummer Books, Official Children’s Bookseller (located West of the Main Stage) to buy your favourite featured book and then to the Autograph Tent to have it signed by the presenters!

These presentations are designed for family audiences and would be most enjoyed by kids in the pre-school and early grades—children from birth to age 8.

Main Stage Presenter Line Up: Coming Soon!

Presentations

    October 3, 2026

  • Telling Tales Festival

    10:00 AM - 10:45 AM

    “Sing As You Are”- Hamilton Children’s Choir

    Royal Botanical Gardens

    Main Stage (All Ages)

    Age / Grade 0-3 / Early Years 4-6 / Kindergarten 6-8 / Grades 1-3 9-12 / Grades 4-6 12-14 / Grades 7-8 14+ / Grades 9+

    Sing As You Are is a fun, drop-in musical experience presented by the Hamilton Children’s Choir for kids of all […]

  • Telling Tales Festival

    12:15 PM - 1:00 PM

    Headliner: Storytime with Barbara Reid

    Royal Botanical Gardens

    Main Stage (All Ages)

    Age / Grade 0-3 / Early Years 4-6 / Kindergarten 6-8 / Grades 1-3 9-12 / Grades 4-6 12-14 / Grades 7-8 14+ / Grades 9+

    Join author and illustrator Barbara Reid in the headliner presentation on our Main Stage. You absolutely do not want to […]

  • Telling Tales Festival

    1:10 PM - 2:00 PM

    Tia McGraff Songs’n’Tails

    Royal Botanical Gardens

    Main Stage (All Ages)

    Age / Grade 0-3 / Early Years 4-6 / Kindergarten 6-8 / Grades 1-3 9-12 / Grades 4-6 12-14 / Grades 7-8 14+ / Grades 9+

    Join us on the Main Stage for an inspiring and heartwarming performance with Tia McGraff—an engaging children’s author, podcast host, […]

  • Telling Tales Festival

    4:00 PM - 4:45 PM

    Defining Movement Dance

    Royal Botanical Gardens

    Main Stage (All Ages)

    Age / Grade 0-3 / Early Years 4-6 / Kindergarten 6-8 / Grades 1-3 9-12 / Grades 4-6 12-14 / Grades 7-8 14+ / Grades 9+

    Join Josh Taylor from Defining Movement Dance on the Main Stage as he uses Hip-Hop dance to tell stories with […]

    • October 4, 2026

  • Telling Tales Festival

    10:00 AM - 10:45 AM

    Pete Ewins & Anna Broks

    Royal Botanical Gardens

    Main Stage (All Ages)

    Age / Grade 0-3 / Early Years 4-6 / Kindergarten 6-8 / Grades 1-3 9-12 / Grades 4-6 12-14 / Grades 7-8 14+ / Grades 9+

    Join us on the Main Stage for a lively and interactive performance with Pete & Anna— experienced musicians who over the […]

  • Telling Tales Festival

    12:15 PM - 1:00 PM

    Headliner: Storytime with Danny Ramadan

    Royal Botanical Gardens

    Main Stage (All Ages)

    Age / Grade 0-3 / Early Years 4-6 / Kindergarten 6-8 / Grades 1-3 9-12 / Grades 4-6 12-14 / Grades 7-8 14+ / Grades 9+

    Join author Danny Ramadan in the headliner presentation on our Main Stage. You absolutely do not want to miss this […]

  • Telling Tales Festival

    4:00 PM - 4:45 PM

    Hamilton Music Collective

    Royal Botanical Gardens

    Main Stage (All Ages)

    Age / Grade 0-3 / Early Years 4-6 / Kindergarten 6-8 / Grades 1-3 9-12 / Grades 4-6 12-14 / Grades 7-8 14+ / Grades 9+

    Get ready to move and groove at HMC’s Kids Dance Party — a high-energy event packed with dancing, games, and family-friendly music! […]