The Oshawa Peony Festival is taking over the Oshawa Valley Botanical Gardens on June 6 and 7, 2026, and it is basically a real-life Pinterest board. We’re talking hundreds of massive, fluffy, incredibly fragrant blooms in every shade of pink, coral, red, and white imaginable.
But it’s not just about wandering through the gardens and taking photos (though you will definitely do a lot of that). The festival also hosts an official, highly competitive cut-flower show judged by the Canadian Peony Society. Yes, competitive peony judging is a real thing, and the standards are intense.
The Details
Beyond the blooms, the park will be packed with an artisan market, live music, and local food vendors to keep you fueled. If you get inspired by all the floral perfection, you can even buy your own peony plants from the vendors to take home and try your luck in the garden.
It’s the perfect, low-stress weekend road trip. Grab an iced coffee, take a walk through the gardens, and soak up the peak spring vibes before the summer heat really kicks in.
How to Get There & What to Know
When: Saturday, June 6 and Sunday, June 7, 2026 (10:00 am to 4:00 pm)
Where: Oshawa Valley Botanical Gardens (155 Arena St, Oshawa, ON)
Tickets: 100% Free!
How to get there from Toronto:
- By Car: It’s about a 45-minute to 1-hour drive east from downtown Toronto. Just hop on the 401 East, take the Stevenson Road exit in Oshawa, and head north towards the gardens.
- By Transit: You can take the GO Train (Lakeshore East line) from Union Station to Oshawa GO. Then, grab a quick Durham Region Transit bus or an Uber to the gardens.
