By Kezia Royer-Burkett, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Music lovers are invited to spend summer evenings surrounded by nature as Royal Botanical Gardens’ annual Concerts in the Garden series returns to Hendrie Park with a lineup of acclaimed Canadian artists performing under the open sky.
The outdoor concert series takes place at Hendrie Park, 680 Plains Rd. W. in Burlington, with doors opening at 6:30 p.m. and performances beginning at 8 p.m. Guests are encouraged to arrive early to explore the gardens, enjoy food and beverages, and experience the ANCHORBALL: A Curious Art Journey exhibition before the music begins.
This year’s series opens July 9 with trailblazing Grammy-nominated Colombian Canadian artist Lido Pimienta, who will perform alongside nine members of the Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra as part of the opening night. The season continues with The Barr Brothers on July 23, BADBADNOTGOOD on Aug. 20, and concludes with Patrick Watson on Sept. 25.
Adrienne Lister, events producer at the Royal Botanical Gardens, said the concert series offers a completely different experience than a traditional indoor venue.
“So in terms of the guest experience, you come to a beautiful garden setting to experience live music,” said Lister. “It’s a relaxed, welcoming atmosphere. There’s time to explore the gardens before the show and during intermission, there’s lots of food and beverages available, and guests can really settle in and enjoy an evening outdoors.”
She said the combination of music, nature, and the changing evening landscape creates an atmosphere unique to the Royal Botanical Gardens.
“There’s beautiful sunset views, which make our outdoor venue so unique from other indoor venues, and of course, there’s high-quality live music in a really comfortable outdoor setting,” she said.
The Concerts in the Garden series has become a summer tradition at the Royal Botanical Gardens, evolving over the years while continuing to showcase Canadian artists.
“Royal Botanical Gardens has been hosting music in the garden for well over a decade in different variations, but recently, in the last three years, we’ve changed our site venue and really tapped into recognizing Canadian talent,” said Lister. “Both experiences showcase art: one is live music, the other is sculpture, but within such a beautiful setting.”
Lister said pairing Lido Pimienta with members of the Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra made for the perfect opening performance.
“She is Colombian Canadian, and her style of music is something that we haven’t had yet as part of our summer series lineup,” she said. “Pairing her with the Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra is going to be such a stunning collaboration, and it isn’t something that we’ve done before. When we were curating the lineup, that was one collaboration that we felt would be really strong to kick off our summer series.”
Royal Botanical Gardens also places an emphasis on its grounds being an inclusive space.
“I think first and foremost, Royal Botanical Gardens is welcoming to everybody,” said Lister. “We try to make sure that when we are curating our summer concert series, that we are representing different people, different backgrounds, as well as different genres of music.”
For performers, the setting offers a noticeably different experience than a festival or arena stage.
“I think what makes our venue really special is the fact that it’s surrounded by beautiful natural surroundings,” said Lister. “When we open the doors at 6:30, the sun is high in the sky, and people can roam around the gardens while they grab their food and beverages and take their seats on the lawn. As the first set starts, the sun begins to lower, you get beautiful sunset skies and cotton candy clouds, then during the second set, the stars are out. The atmosphere totally changes over the course of the evening.”
She said musicians frequently comment on the intimacy of the performances despite the outdoor setting.
“A lot of the artists perform at festivals where they’re one of many acts, but here audiences are truly listening to the music and the storytelling,” said Lister. “At some moments, you can hear a pin drop. It’s so much more intimate, and the artists truly appreciate that.”
Beyond the performances themselves, Lister hopes the series continues to strengthen connections within the community.
“I think the music series, along with other programming that we do over the course of the year, really provides opportunities for people to gather and connect with one another,” she said. “We’re supporting Canadian musicians, welcoming new visitors to RBG, seeing friends and family reconnect, and people making lasting summer memories in a beautiful shared space. Connecting people with nature is part of RBG’s mission, and I think we do that through all of our programming.”
Guests attending the summer concerts are encouraged to bring their own lawn chairs or blankets to enjoy the performances comfortably on the lawn. To learn more about the series, visit the RBG website. Premium reserved seating will only be available for the Patrick Watson concert in September.
