Royal Botanical Gardens After Dark transforms Burlington's gardens into evening art and dance destination

Royal Botanical Gardens in Burlington is proving that its 85-year-old grounds can offer more than daytime walks among flowers. The attraction is launching RBG After Dark, a series of adults-only evenings featuring DJs, live music, art workshops, themed food and drinks, interactive activities, and illuminated sculptures.

At the centre is ANCHORBALL: A Curious Art Journey, the first Canadian exhibition by contemporary sculptor Ken Kelleher. On display until September 20, the exhibition places 18 colourful sculptures—some reaching 12 feet tall—throughout RBG's Hendrie Park. Visitors can also use their phones to find five hidden augmented-reality Cloudwalkers across the garden. Discovering all five unlocks a final digital artwork.

For Jeremy Freiburger, RBG's cultural development lead, the exhibition marks a shift in how the institution positions itself. "I think for a long time the perception of RBG has been that it's like a great place to take your mom on Mother's Day," he said. "And not necessarily a place where young people would find something exciting and vibrant to do."

Freiburger, who joined RBG after a decade working with the organization as curator of its sculpture collection, is responsible for introducing fresh programming and building stronger relationships with artists and creative communities. He believes RBG's natural setting gives it space to create nightlife experiences that can't easily happen inside a conventional venue.

"We're just far enough away from Toronto that almost no matter where you come from, you feel like you've escaped the city and you've come to some faraway place when really we're right in your backyard," Freiburger said.

The food and beverages were developed around the artwork's bright colours and cultural influences. RBG partnered with Collective Arts to create a Mexican cerveza featuring Kelleher's artwork, while its culinary team introduced flavours inspired by the sculptures.

Around 600 to 700 people typically attend each After Dark event, though Freiburger hopes that number will eventually reach 1,500 to 2,000.