Weekend getaway from Toronto · #5 of 10
Stratford
North America's Shakespeare town: the renowned Stratford Festival runs April to October, with swan-dotted Avon River parkland, gardens and a serious chef-driven food scene between shows.
Think Shakespeare meets a killer foodie scene. Stratford is North America's drama capital, running massive classical repertory shows from April to October across four stages. When you are not in the theater, you will be wandering English gardens, spotting resident swans on the Avon River, and eating incredibly well. Grab two days here to catch both an evening performance and a matinee.
Getting there
That final stretch is a two-lane country road. Definitely build in a buffer if you are trying to make a tight 8:00 PM curtain!
Weekend trains run morning-out, late-afternoon back from Toronto. Grab e-tickets on your phone beforehand because the Stratford station has no Presto readers or ticket machines. If you are visiting between mid-July and late October, you can also catch the Festival's direct bus.
Day 1 - Festival day
River wanders, blooming gardens, and prime-time drama- 18:30 AMDrive
Drive out via Kitchener
Cruising west on the 401, you'll roll off onto Hwy 7/8 through Kitchener, driving straight into the heart of Perth County's gorgeous farmland.
📍 Kitchener, Ontario
Tip · Do not wait! Grab your tickets before you head out because the big hits sell out weeks in advance.
- 211:00 AMSight
Stroll the Avon River parkland
Stretch your legs along the river's leafy banks. You'll pass green picnic spots and the famous resident swans, ducks, and geese ruling the water.
📍 Avon River, Stratford
- 312:30 PMFood
Lunch near the Avon Theatre
Time for a lunch break downtown. The streets surrounding the Avon Theatre are bursting with cute bistros offering awesome daily specials.
- 42:00 PMSight
Shakespearean Gardens
Stroll this stunning English garden by the Huron Street bridge. It's packed with herbs, roses, and a gazebo inspired by Shakespeare's plays.
📍 Shakespearean Gardens, Stratford
- 53:30 PMActivity
Go behind the scenes at the Festival
Between mid-June and late October, go behind the scenes! Watch stage crews swap sets, or tour a massive costume warehouse (one of the continent's biggest).
📍 Festival Theatre, Stratford
Tip · Spots are super tight, so definitely check the Festival's website and lock yours in early.
- 66:00 PMFood
Pre-show dinner downtown
Stratford's restaurants coordinate their dinners with the theater schedules. Reserve early and let your server know you have a curtain to catch.
Tip · Book dinner at the same time you buy your play tickets; those pre-show slots fill up incredibly fast.
- 78:00 PMActivity
Evening performance at the Festival Theatre
Catch a classic play, a Shakespeare drama, or a huge musical at the main Festival stage overlooking Arthur Meighen Gardens. There are over a dozen productions on the roster each season.
📍 Festival Theatre, Stratford
Day 2 - River morning and a matinee
Water adventures, town heritage, and a final curtain call- 89:00 AMFood
Slow breakfast downtown
Wake up slowly with a warm coffee and breakfast along Ontario Street before the theater crowds start packing the town.
- 910:00 AMActivity
Paddle the Avon
Grab a canoe or a pedal boat at the York Street kiosk to see the historic Victorian shoreline and parkland from the water.
📍 Avon River, Stratford
- 1011:30 AMSight
Stratford Perth Museum
Explore local history, tracking the area's roots from its 1830s European settlers (English, Irish, Scottish, and German) up to its theater-hub present.
📍 Stratford Perth Museum, Stratford
Tip · Fun fact: Justin Bieber grew up in Stratford! Grab the tourism site's free audio tour of his favorite childhood spots if you are traveling with Beliebers.
- 111:00 PMFood
Lunch and the Theatre Store
Grab lunch, then browse the Theatre Store by the Avon Theatre. It's filled with cool books, music, and gifts themed around the current season.
📍 Avon Theatre, Stratford
- 122:00 PMActivity
Matinee at the Avon or Studio Theatre
See another production! The historic Avon Theatre sits right downtown, while the cozy Studio Theatre behind it at George and Waterloo streets hosts the season's boldest plays.
📍 Avon Theatre, Stratford
- 135:30 PMDrive
Drive home
Drive back via Kitchener and the 401 toward Toronto, getting you home just in time for a late bite.
📍 Stratford, Ontario
Where to eat
Food and theater go hand-in-hand here. Kitchens serve early dinner seatings that get you to the show on time, meaning the top spots get booked fast.
The neighborhood surrounding the Avon Theatre serves up a fantastic mix of classic and creative dishes, with special lunch deals for theatergoers.
Grab some takeout downtown and head to the Shakespearean Gardens or the riverbank for a lovely open-air lunch between shows.
When to go
It is showtime! All four theaters are running their full schedules and the whole town is buzzing.
The river and town are bursting with life. Note that the Festival's direct bus from Toronto runs from mid-July through late October.
You can catch shows right up to late October with smaller crowds, and the behind-the-scenes tours keep running all the way through.
The stages go quiet and local spots trim their hours, so it is best to wait for the warm-weather season.
Good to know
- Treat this like a package deal: reserve your tickets, dinner table, and hotel room all at once to beat the summer weekend rush.
- Riding the GO train? The morning-out, late-afternoon back weekend schedule is perfect for a quick trip. Just buy e-tickets on your phone beforehand, as the station lacks ticket machines.
- Backstage and costume warehouse tours operate from mid-June to late October. Group sizes are small, so secure your spot online.
- Don't limit yourself to the main stages: scan the playbills across all four venues. The intimate Studio Theatre is a great bet for same-week tickets.
