Join us for the 18th Telling Tales Festival at the Royal Botanical Gardens. Since 2008, this annual event features over 70 presentations of Canada’s leading children’s authors, illustrators, and storytellers in five vibrant tents!

Come to the 2026 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. 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 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!

Checkout last year’s Schedule and Map:

2025 Festival Schedule 2025 Festival Program & Map

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 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, spoken word performers, and more. 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 a new Canadian children’s book via a reading and on-theme activity stations, designed to allow children of all neurotypes and abilities to engage with literary programming in their own way!

2026 Festival Schedule coming soon!

Our Full Festival Line-up and Schedule will be available soon on our Full Season Schedule!

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, and the Rotary Clubs of Burlington and Hamilton. Telling Tales is grateful for support from the Government of Canada, Canada Council of the Arts, the City of Burlington, the City of Hamilton’s City Enrichment Fund, the City of Hamilton, EarlyON Child and Family Centres, the Government of Ontario, the Ontario Arts Council, Access Storage, Cogeco, Dan Lawrie International Sculpture Collection, Lawrie Insurance, Burlington Public Library, Hamilton Wentworth Catholic District School Board, Hamilton Wentworth District School Board, I Read Canadian, Leacross Foundation, Rotary Club of Hamilton Children’s Fund, Rotary Club of Hamilton AM, Scholastic Canada, Silent Voice, TD Bank Group, Undivided Productions, The Access Copyright Foundation, The Dougher Community Fund, The Edith H. Turner Foundation Fund, and Open Grants Program of the Hamilton Community Foundation, The Lewis & Ruth Sherman Foundation, Turkstra Family Foundation, and many local Rotary Clubs in Hamilton, Burlington, and the Niagara region. Full list of supporters.

“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

“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 same 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