
Fun in Full Bloom: RBG Unveils Seasonal Events Ahead
BURLINGTON, Ontario--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Royal Botanical Gardens offers a full calendar of exciting events this Summer! Whether you're seeking a lively night out, a family-friendly day, or a peaceful garden stroll, RBG promises something special for everyone.
RBG After Dark
Guests 19+ are invited to enjoy evenings in our gardens and natural spaces with music, entertainment, and seasonal cocktails served under the stars.
Spring into Summer, May 15
Summer Pride Party, June 19
Enchanted at Twilight, July 10
Hot Summer Sizzle, August 21
So Long Summer, September 25
Music in the Garden Concert Series
Don't miss out on unforgettable evenings of live outdoor music, surrounded by the natural beauty of RBG. Bring a lawn chair or pack a blanket, grab a cold drink, and enjoy performances featuring award-winning musicians. This exciting series includes eight incredible acts: four presented by Noisemaker and four by RBG.
Allison Russell, July 2
AHI and Logan Staats, July 9
Matt Andersen w/ special guest Terra Lightfoot, July 17
The Bros. Landreth & Whitehorse, July 24
The Strumbellas & Serena Ryder, July 31
Jeremie Albino (with Benjamin Dakota Rogers), August 14
Begonia (with STORRY), August 20
Kathleen Edwards & Sloan, August 28
The Enchanted Garden July 12 – 13
Create magical memories that will last a lifetime. Bring your children to meet mystical creatures like gnomes, fairies, pixies, and sprites. Participate in delightful activities and discover the secrets of our garden.
Culinary Experiences
Enjoy exclusive culinary events held in the gardens on select evenings throughout the season, as well as year-round restaurant dining.
Dining Al Fresco Join us for an intimate dining experience in the gardens among a showcase of majestic blooms. These highly anticipated dinner events often sell out in Member Presales. For membership opportunities, visit: rbg.ca/membership.
Rose Garden Dinner, June 27 and 28
Autumn Aura Dinner, September 5 and 6
Rock Garden Bistro
Year-round
The Rock Garden Bistro is a relaxing escape featuring vibrant seasonal landscapes and French-inspired cuisine.
Turner Pavilion Tea House
Year-round
Whether you're celebrating something special or in need of a quiet moment with a fresh scone, this picturesque oasis between the roses and the valley is well worth a visit to Hendrie Park.
What's in Bloom?
There's so much to do and see at RBG! Major collections include:
Cherry Blossoms Early May
RBG's cherry blossoms are one of the most welcome signs that spring has finally sprung!
Magnolias Early May - In bloom now at the Arboretum!
Our award-winning magnolias feature fragrant, iconic cup-shaped blooms in white, pink, purple and yellow.
Lilacs
Mid-May to early June
RBG's Arboretum is home to one of the most significant lilac collections in the world, in bloom May to early June.
Roses June to September Pause and smell the roses in Hendrie Park's rejuvenated rose garden, an innovative, sustainable, and inspiring experience.
'Royal Botanical Gardens brings nature, culture and community together in extraordinary ways,' said Stan Cho, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Gaming. 'With a full season of inspiring events from spring through fall, RBG offers a beautiful setting for visitors to connect with nature, enjoy exceptional programming, and make lasting memories with friends and family. Now more than ever, I encourage everyone to visit RBG and show your support for Ontario's unique, homegrown cultural experiences.'
There's always something new to experience at Royal Botanical Gardens. For more information on our events and blooms, visit rbg.ca/things-to-do.
About Royal Botanical Gardens
Royal Botanical Gardens (RBG) is the not-for-profit caretaker of 2137 acres of land and ecosystems surrounded by Canada's largest urban environment. It is an educator and experience creator delivering cultural, artistic and culinary experiences throughout its diverse network of gardens and natural spaces.
For more information about Royal Botanical Gardens, please visit https://www.rbg.ca/
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Business Wire
05-05-2025
- Business Wire
Fun in Full Bloom: RBG Unveils Seasonal Events Ahead
BURLINGTON, Ontario--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Royal Botanical Gardens offers a full calendar of exciting events this Summer! Whether you're seeking a lively night out, a family-friendly day, or a peaceful garden stroll, RBG promises something special for everyone. RBG After Dark Guests 19+ are invited to enjoy evenings in our gardens and natural spaces with music, entertainment, and seasonal cocktails served under the stars. Spring into Summer, May 15 Summer Pride Party, June 19 Enchanted at Twilight, July 10 Hot Summer Sizzle, August 21 So Long Summer, September 25 Music in the Garden Concert Series Don't miss out on unforgettable evenings of live outdoor music, surrounded by the natural beauty of RBG. Bring a lawn chair or pack a blanket, grab a cold drink, and enjoy performances featuring award-winning musicians. This exciting series includes eight incredible acts: four presented by Noisemaker and four by RBG. Allison Russell, July 2 AHI and Logan Staats, July 9 Matt Andersen w/ special guest Terra Lightfoot, July 17 The Bros. Landreth & Whitehorse, July 24 The Strumbellas & Serena Ryder, July 31 Jeremie Albino (with Benjamin Dakota Rogers), August 14 Begonia (with STORRY), August 20 Kathleen Edwards & Sloan, August 28 The Enchanted Garden July 12 – 13 Create magical memories that will last a lifetime. Bring your children to meet mystical creatures like gnomes, fairies, pixies, and sprites. Participate in delightful activities and discover the secrets of our garden. Culinary Experiences Enjoy exclusive culinary events held in the gardens on select evenings throughout the season, as well as year-round restaurant dining. Dining Al Fresco Join us for an intimate dining experience in the gardens among a showcase of majestic blooms. These highly anticipated dinner events often sell out in Member Presales. For membership opportunities, visit: Rose Garden Dinner, June 27 and 28 Autumn Aura Dinner, September 5 and 6 Rock Garden Bistro Year-round The Rock Garden Bistro is a relaxing escape featuring vibrant seasonal landscapes and French-inspired cuisine. Turner Pavilion Tea House Year-round Whether you're celebrating something special or in need of a quiet moment with a fresh scone, this picturesque oasis between the roses and the valley is well worth a visit to Hendrie Park. What's in Bloom? There's so much to do and see at RBG! Major collections include: Cherry Blossoms Early May RBG's cherry blossoms are one of the most welcome signs that spring has finally sprung! Magnolias Early May - In bloom now at the Arboretum! Our award-winning magnolias feature fragrant, iconic cup-shaped blooms in white, pink, purple and yellow. Lilacs Mid-May to early June RBG's Arboretum is home to one of the most significant lilac collections in the world, in bloom May to early June. Roses June to September Pause and smell the roses in Hendrie Park's rejuvenated rose garden, an innovative, sustainable, and inspiring experience. 'Royal Botanical Gardens brings nature, culture and community together in extraordinary ways,' said Stan Cho, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Gaming. 'With a full season of inspiring events from spring through fall, RBG offers a beautiful setting for visitors to connect with nature, enjoy exceptional programming, and make lasting memories with friends and family. Now more than ever, I encourage everyone to visit RBG and show your support for Ontario's unique, homegrown cultural experiences.' There's always something new to experience at Royal Botanical Gardens. For more information on our events and blooms, visit About Royal Botanical Gardens Royal Botanical Gardens (RBG) is the not-for-profit caretaker of 2137 acres of land and ecosystems surrounded by Canada's largest urban environment. It is an educator and experience creator delivering cultural, artistic and culinary experiences throughout its diverse network of gardens and natural spaces. For more information about Royal Botanical Gardens, please visit
Yahoo
12-01-2025
- Yahoo
In Oscar-Shortlisted ‘Once Upon A Time In Ukraine,' Kids Try To Cope With Devastating War
Ruslan, an 8-year-old boy living in a war-scarred village in Ukraine, drops a line into a pool of water and waits patiently for a bite. His fishing hole is manmade. 'A missile landed here and made a pit,' he mentions calmly in the Oscar-shortlisted documentary Once Upon a Time in Ukraine. 'And then there was rain and… it flooded and made a big pond.' More from Deadline Actor Liev Schreiber Boards Oscar Contender 'Once Upon A Time In Ukraine' As Executive Producer In Oscar-Shortlisted 'Queendom,' An Extraordinary Russian Drag Performer Defies Convention, Risking Life And Liberty Will Ferrell And Harper Steele's Road Trip Doc 'Will & Harper' Drives Home Inclusive Message And Slot On Oscar Shortlist The short film, constructed as a series of vignettes about children growing up in war zones across Ukraine, is directed by Oscar nominee Betsy West (RBG). 'Ruslan's got his stick, and he's fishing in a pond made out of a Russian bomb attack… He's hoping that some fish had somehow gotten in there,' West says. 'I mean, it's so sweet. That's what really moved me when I saw this footage, was just the incredible way in which kids process these horrible circumstances.' The film project originated with producer Earle Mack, a filmmaker, businessman and former U.S. Ambassador to Finland, who traces his roots to Ukraine. 'He went to the border shortly after Russia invaded. And he was really impressed with the courage of Ukrainian people but also struck by the experience of children — refugees, or just children caught behind the frontline,' West explains. 'So, he commissioned a camera crew, turned out to be an extremely talented camera crew, to go all over the country and film with families and with children… Earle contacted me and asked me to look at some of this material.' 'You see war footage and you see scenes of devastation [in other films],' West continues. 'I've never really seen these kinds of more quiet moments of children behind the frontlines, talking about their experiences in such a moving way and showing the kind of creativity and resilience, sometimes denial of what's going on, and just carrying on. I was extremely moved.' The film begins with Ivanna, a girl from a rural part of the Kherson Region, who takes a camera crew down the stairs to the cellar of her family's home. She describes huddling there for 256 days as Russian forces attacked the area — testimony that for some viewers may call to mind The Diary of Anne Frank. 'Every morning, we heard shooting from machine guns, from tanks,' she recounts. 'And I heard them [Russian troops] walking and chatting, and we were quiet. It was terrifying because they could come in and find us, because they could just come in and throw hand grenades into the cellar. They wouldn't even check to see if there were people in here or not.' During that nearly year-long period below ground, Ivanna wrote and illustrated stories of Ukrainian heroism, stories with a fairytale quality that inspired the film's title, Once Upon a Time in Ukraine. 'You're with these children in their world,' West says of the film, 'just kind of going into these different places and visiting with these kids who, through the arts, through their creativity, their just way of processing, are helping us experience what it is like to go through this.' In February of this year, the war will enter its fourth year. During that time, more than 600 children have been killed, according to UNICEF, and countless more wounded. Since day one of the war, a primary target for Russian invaders has been civilians. 'Also in Ivanna's area, they've been chased recently — there's been a real upsurge in drones just going after civilians, chasing civilians and shooting,' West tells Deadline. 'It's horrific what they've been living through.' In addition to Ruslan and Ivanna, Once Upon a Time in Ukraine follows Maksym, a 10-year-old boy who excels at ballroom dancing. His mom expresses fear that one day Maksym and his older brother will have to take up arms in defense of Ukraine. Eight-year-old Myroslava, meanwhile, describes fleeing Mariupol, one of the first cities besieged by Russia. 'I just wanted to drive to freedom,' she says. 'I never knew what war was before.' Her loving father, seen in family videos doting on Myroaslava, has joined the Ukrainian military, and reports come back that he has been killed in battle. Still, Myroslava clings to hope. 'Myroslava was really just convinced that her father will come back. One doesn't want to deny that. It's like, my goodness, whatever keeps you together, hold on to that,' West observes. '[She says], 'Maybe he got a concussion, and he forgot about us for a while.'' Care was taken not to retraumatize the children who appear in the documentary, the director notes. Camera crews 'spent several days with each of the families getting familiar with them and just making sure that they were talking and sharing what they wanted to share and that they weren't being coerced in any way — these kids or the parents — to do this,' West notes. 'In the cases of the kids that we focused on… they were families and children who really wanted to share this experience.' A week from Monday, President-elect Donald Trump will be sworn into office. What impact that will have on the war in Ukraine remains to be seen. 'It's obviously a very critical moment,' says West, who emphasizes that she doesn't consider herself an expert on the war. 'These people have been fighting and dying for an independent democratic nation, and now they're waiting to see what the incoming administration is going to do. A lot of people are talking about some sort of a resolution, and I think that's what President-elect Trump has said, that he wants a quick resolution. The real question is under what terms, what compromises do they have to make?' She adds, 'It's amazing. Nobody expected the Ukrainian people to stand up to Russia the way they have, and you can't count them out. We'll have to see, if there is a peace, what kind of a peace is it?' Once Upon a Time in Ukraine played at IFC in New York. Wider release plans are pending. 'We actually do have an offer that we're considering,' West comments, 'and we hope that the film will be out there soon. So that's our plan.' Best of Deadline Hollywood Events Canceled Due To L.A. Wildfires: From The Critics Choice Awards To 'Hacks' Production 2025 Awards Season Calendar: Dates For Oscars, Spirits, Grammys, Tonys, Guilds & More Everything We Know About 'The Last Thing He Told Me' Season 2
Yahoo
22-12-2024
- Yahoo
Actor Liev Schreiber Boards Oscar Contender ‘Once Upon A Time In Ukraine' As Executive Producer
EXCLUSIVE: Actor-activist Liev Schreiber has joined the Oscar-shortlisted documentary Once Upon a Time in Ukraine as an executive producer. The short film directed by Oscar nominee Betsy West (RBG) explores how Ukrainian children cope with the devastation and terror of war – finding poignant and often surprising ways to deal with traumatic experience. Ivanna, a gifted artist and storyteller who lives in the embattled Kherson region, spent 256 days in a cellar of her house, writing and illustrating tales of heroism of Ukrainian defenders. In Moshchun, 8-year-old Ruslan dreams of building a home to replace his family's bombed-out dwelling and goes fishing in a small pond formed in the cavity of a missile strike. More from Deadline Oscar Contender 'Porcelain War,' Documentary On Remarkable Artists In Wartime Ukraine, Acquired By Picturehouse WTFilms Boards Ukraine Invasion Drama 'The Daughter' As Country Marks 1,000 Days Of War Doc Talk Podcast: Documentary Hated By Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Becomes Oscar Finalist, Plus Other Shortlist Shockers Schreiber, who traces his roots to Ukraine on his mother's side, co-founded BlueCheck Ukraine, a nonprofit that 'identifies, vets, and fast-tracks urgent financial support to Ukrainian NGOs and aid initiatives providing life-saving and other critical humanitarian work on the front lines of Russia's war on Ukraine.' He calls Once Upon a Time in Ukraine, 'A moving and empowering tribute to the courage and creative spirit of Ukrainian children. Stunning scenes of life behind the frontlines ask us to look into the eyes of these beautiful children, consider the fight for a free Ukraine, and be moved to action.' Schreiber and André Singer directed Meeting Zelenskyy, a new feature documentary about the Ukrainian president who built a highly successful career as a comedic actor before he entered politics. Zelenskyy was elected Ukraine's president in 2019 and then faced the ultimate test of leadership when Russia launched its full-scale invasion of his country in February 2022. 'Putin expected a quick and easy victory but he miscalculated – the comedy President turned out to be a skilled and determined adversary,' notes a description of Meeting Zelenskyy. 'Suddenly, the world wanted to know more about this enigmatic man. This film answers those questions – unearthing his story from childhood under USSR domination to the heady days of show business stardom, always surrounded and supported by devoted friends, family and colleagues. Through an extended and personal in depth interview with actor-filmmaker Liev Schreiber we gain new insights into one of the most extraordinary characters of our age.' Schreiber served as executive producer on the 2022 short documentary Ukrainians in Exile, and he also EP'd the 2024 feature documentary Rule of Two Walls, 'a visceral and vital portrait of today's Ukraine through the lens of artists.' On Once Upon a Time in Ukraine, he joins fellow EPs Gretchen McGowan and Nick Quested. The film is produced by Earle Mack. 'Liev has been amazing,' West tells Deadline. 'He has come on board as an executive producer of the film, which we're thrilled about.' She noted Schreiber's work establishing BlueCheck Ukraine and his documentary on President Zelenskyy. 'He's really been working so hard to support the Ukrainian people since this war broke out.' Once Upon a Time in Ukraine played an exclusive engagement at IFC Center in New York. West is working with Cinetic on wider distribution of the film. Along with Ivanna and Ruslan, the film focuses on Maksym, a 10-year-old boy from Bucha who plays piano and shines as a ballroom dancer – artistic pursuits that appear to distract him from buried trauma. His mother fears that Makysym and his older brother will one day have to take up arms in defense of Ukraine. Miroslava, an 8-year-old girl with phenomenal gymnastic skills, is living in Dnipro with her mother. They fled Mariupol, one of the first cities to come under Russian attack. In the film, Miroslava recalls their desperate escape from the city. 'I just wanted to drive to freedom,' she says. 'I never knew what war is at all. I'd never seen it… I didn't even know the word 'war.'' Best of Deadline Which Colleen Hoover Books Are Becoming Movies? 'Verity' & 'Regretting You' Will Join 'It Ends With Us' Everything We Know About 'Stranger Things' Season 5 So Far Hollywood & Media Deaths In 2024: Photo Gallery & Obituaries