Join us for the 17th annual Telling Tales Festival at the Royal Botanical Gardens. Since 2008, this event has featured over 50 of Canada’s leading children’s authors, illustrators, and storytellers presenting in five vibrant tents!
Come to the 2025 festival for:
- 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.
Author Signings! Meet your favourite authors in person following each festival presentation!
- Wandering Characters! Meet your favourite storybook characters as they come to life!
- 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 our musicians.
- Local artisans and vendors! Visit our Exhibitors to peruse local talent and support local artists.
- AND MUCH MORE!
Two Days of Festival Fun
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’ partnership with Royal Botanical Gardens (RBG) provides the perfect opportunity to connect children and their families with stories, nature, and art.
Join Canada’s finest children’s authors & illustrators, along with local artists, performers, and RBG Ambassadors who will lead families in story readings, sculpture walks, creative workshops, music, and more!
2025 Schedule Coming Soon!
View our full season schedule for a complete listing of presentation times.
Thanks to our Sponsors! Telling Tales is a Canadian Registered Charity committed to delivering outstanding literary programming for children and youth that raises awareness of the importance of literacy in our communities. Telling Tales season is co-hosted by Hamilton Public Library, Rotary Clubs of Burlington and Hamilton, and Royal Botanical Gardens. Telling Tales is grateful for support from Ontario Arts Council, the Government of Ontario, Canada Council of the Arts, the Government of Canada, The City of Hamilton, EarlyON Child and Family Centre, City of Burlington, Access Storage, Cogeco, Burlington Public Library, Grant Thornton LLP, Hamilton Wentworth Catholic District School Board, Hamilton Wentworth District School Board, Hillfield Strathallan College, I Read Canadian, Leacross Foundation, Scholastic Canada, Silent Voice, TD Bank Group, Undivided Productions, The Dougher Community Fund, The Edith H. Turner Foundation Fund, Ontario Endowment for Children & Youth in Recreation Fund, and Field of Interest Funds at Hamilton Community Foundation, Burlington Community Foundation, Turkstra Family Foundation, Patrick J. McNally Foundation, The Michael Young Foundation, CHML Children’s Fund, and many local Rotary Clubs in Hamilton, Burlington, and the Niagara region. Full list of supporters.
“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.”
– Chrisina K, Festival Attendee, 2024
“Our grandson treasures the books he got that day, both our newly autographed ones and our finds from the book swap. We’ve been reading them regularly since. It made for a magical extraordinary book loving day.”
– Susan J. Festival Attendee, 2024
“…holy moly did the gang at Telling Tales rise to the challenge! They offered the sa“Our grandson treasures the books he got that day, both our newly autographed ones and our finds from the book swap. We’ve been reading them regularly since. It made for a magical extraordinary book loving day.”e amazing list of creators, and pulled it together in a unique and satisfying package. -best kids festival in Canada, if not the world.”
-Kevin Sylvester, CBC Broadcaster, bestselling Children’s author and illustrator. 2020.
“Seeing crowds of others who enjoy reading was inspiring to my kids.”
– Laura G. Festival Attendee, 2024