Education

Why should teachers bring their classes to The Royal?

As the world’s largest indoor agricultural event, The Royal offers a learning environment like no other, rich with hands-on and up-close learning opportunities. Students of all ages can experience the sights, smells, and tastes of Canada’s Agri-Food system as The Royal immerses them in the very best of Canadian agriculture, food, and equestrian sport. Students can interact with real farmers and animals and explore where their food comes from. They can observe daily demonstrations about farming and animal care, investigate new frontiers in STEM research, and discover more about the varied career opportunities in the Agri-Food sector.

Every teacher who attends The Fair will receive a Resource Package filled with information about The Royal, and how they can continue the learning about agriculture all year long.

Curriculum-connected learning activities and assignments, as well as an app-based digital scavenger hunt can keep students engaged during your visit to The Fair.

Learning with The Royal can also continue all year! Ontario Curriculum links, programs, classroom extensions, and activities are available for Kindergarten to Grade 12 at The Royal’s Online Education Centre.

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Newsletter

Subscribe to updates for teachers

  • Sign up for our education newsletter to stay up to date about new initiatives, promotions, programs, and events. Click here to sign up!
  • A trip to The Fair connects to Ontario Curriculum Goals! Visit The Royal’s Online Education Centre to review The Royal’s Curriculum links.
  • Browse education resources like lesson plans, interactive digital activities, and worksheets that can help extend the learning beyond the day of your visit.
  • NEW in 2023: Select one of our pre-made packages, with lesson plans for before and after your visit, and an activity to complete during The Fair.
    Click here for the Online Education Centre!
  • Browse our list of programs and special events to see what would fit the needs of your students.
  • Your visit to The Royal is a self-guided tour. Our Teacher FAQs below is a great place to start planning!
  • Register for a visit!
  • Submit the School Groups Registration Form, and a member of our team will be in touch shortly. Register by clicking here.

Questions? Email us at

Farm to Table Discovery Zone

Over 14 Education Centres to explore and discover the story of Farm to Table. Find livestock experts, immerse yourself in virtual reality farms, be amazed with the butter sculptures and the giant vegetable displays.

Burnbrae Farms Culinary Academy

Sign up to learn to cook alongside some of Toronto’s top chefs in these hands-on cooking sessions, held daily throughout the 10 days of the Fair. Get hands-on skill-building experience with experts in the culinary field, and learn more about using local ingredients to make delicious meals—an extra fee in addition to admission. 

Animal Theatre

Meaningful education and inspiring entertainment combine in The Royal’s Animal Theatre! Learn from The Royal’s animal experts with interactive demonstrations on farm activities and working animals, and watch the Global Pet Foods SuperDogs in action! In The Animal Theatre, there is something for everyone to learn.

Food & Nutrition Forum

On Tuesday, November 7 2023 hear from producers and experts in the field of nutrition and health, and take a specialized tour of The Royal to engage with industry partners and producers in the food system.

Dairy Education Centre

Featuring a new freestall cow enclosure with live cows, and a custom-built state of the art milkhouse, Dairy Farmers of Ontario’s Dairy Education Centre is an immersive dairy farming experience featuring educator-led milking demonstrations.

Growth Hub Stage

RBC Future Launch has partnered with The Royal to help young Canadians with their next steps for both education and careers in the Agri-Food space and beyond. Attendees can look forward to engaging keynote speakers, panel discussions, professional development tools and workshops, and networking opportunities that empower youth for the jobs of today and tomorrow.

Animal Encounters

Visitors can get up close with real farm animals. Their caretakers will be on hand to answer questions about animal management and care, as well as other realities of life on a farm

Farm & Play Zone

The tactile farm inspired play area is perfect for children full of energy. With hands-on educational activities that mimic the activities of a working farm, little ones can run, climb and play while learning about grains, vegetables, and tractors!

The Future of Food – University of Guelph

Experience and explore how science, technology, the arts and entrepreneurship are changing the way we grow, think about and consume food. Our interactions with the environment, animals and ingredients can make us healthier, create high-tech jobs and protect our natural resources.

Canadian Kennel Club: Meet The Breeds

The Canadian Kennel Club will host different dog breeds throughout the 10 days of The Fair!Come meet the dogs and their handlers, and learn about the versatility and variety of pure-bred dogs in Canada.

Mechanical Bull

Come try your hand at the rodeo! Can you stay on for 8 seconds?

The Bull will be operated every day of the Fair from 11:00am-2:30PM and 3:00PM-5:00PM.

48 inches minimum height to ride.

Consent form required. Parent or guardian must sign if rider is under 18

Teacher FAQ

  • Fill in the Online Registration Form 
  • Contact us by email at: schoolgroups@royalfair.org
  • Call School Groups at: 416-263-3404
  • No deposit is required at the time of registration, though you may choose to pre-pay. Paying in advance gets you and your group into The Fair faster!
  • Full payment will be required on the day of the trip at the School Group Registration Desk.

Tickets are non-refundable once paid. Please make sure of the number of students when registering and making payment

  • Please email schoolgroups@royalfair.org with any changes as soon as possible to have an accurate number of attendees, or call our School Groups line at 416-263-3404
  • All payments are non-refundable. Any additional attendees will have to be registered at the Registration desk and balanced to be paid in full prior to entering The Fair.
  • Please email School Groups schoolgroups@royalfair.org or call 416-263-3404 to let us know as soon as possible
  • Tickets are non-refundable once paid
  • No deposit is required at the time of registration. Full payment is required on the day of the trip at the School Group Registration Desk.
  • Paying in advance gets you and your group into The Fair faster!
  • Cash at the door
  • Mail in Cheque payable to The Royal Agricultural Winter Fair (please bring copy of cheque for proof of payment)
  • Credit Card, Visa or MasterCard, by phone, email, or at the door
  • Paying in advance gets you and your group into The Fair faster!

We are located in the Exhibition Grounds, Enercare Centre, Toronto

Yes, we have a School Group Registration Desk in the Enercare Centre (On Princes’ Boulevard) in Hall C right across the School Group Entrance. Pre-paid school groups with no changes to the registration forms will have an express lane for quicker admission.

Yes we do. The school bus drop of is on Princes’ Boulevard on the South side of the Enercare Centre outside of Hall C. School Registration Desk is right inside Hall C. Let us know during registration if your school bus will require parking and we will direct your bus driver to the bus parking zone.

Streetcar:
511 Bathurst – frequent streetcar service from Bathurst Station to Exhibition Loop
509 Harbourfront – frequent streetcar service from Union Station to Exhibition Loop
Bus:
29 Dufferin – frequent bus service from Wilson and Dufferin stations to Princes’ Gate Loop
121 Fort York Esplanade – frequent service between the Distillery District and Princes’ Gates Loop
GO Transit:
Exit GO station at Exhibition GO Station
** GO Bus Transit and TTC are free for students 12 and under **

Absolutely! WindReach Farm provides various services to assist individuals with accessibility needs during their visit to The Royal. They can provide guided tours and a quiet space which can serve as a base of operations for the day as well as a place to enjoy lunch. For WindReach assistance call: 905-655-5827 Ext. 225 or email Bonnie.Dalton@windreachfarm.org with your date of visit.

The Royal is a self-guided tour unless your group should require the assistance of WindReach Farm.
If required:
* A packed lunch or money for lunch/snack
* Any tools/materials needed for any assignments to be completed at the Fair preassigned by teacher
* The students and visitors are responsible for their own personal items. The Royal Agricultural Winter Fair is in no way responsible for lost, missing, stolen or damaged items
* Wear comfortable walking shoes
* Curiosity and a positive attitude!

Yes, follow these simple manners to have a great and safe visit:

  • Please respect any rules and signs displayed at the Fair
  • Walk, don’t run
  • Make sure students know when and where to regroup
  • Treat our space with care and use the garbage bins
  • Always wash hands after touching animals
  • Only touch animals after getting permission or in designated areas (petting farm)
  • Be respectful of all people and animals

* Royal Security/ Lost & Found located in Hall A Salon A, 416-263-3099
* First Aid located between Hall C/D out in the Galleria, 416-263-3002

Call us at 416-263-3404 or email us at SchoolGroups@royalfair.org

Photography Consent Notice

NOTICE OF FILMING AND PHOTOGRAPHY

By entering the event premises you consent to being photographed, filmed and/or otherwise recorded, and allow the use of such material to be used by The Royal Agricultural Winter Fair for any promotional purposes.

Thank you for your cooperation.

Assisted Tours

Since 2000, WindReach Farm has been providing support and opportunity to groups of individuals with special needs who visit The Royal Agricultural Winter Fair.

Assisted tours for groups with specials needs students please contact WindReach Farm directly at 905-655-5827 x225 or email Bonnie.Dalton@WindReachFarm.org. Visit the WindReach Farm website at windreachfarm.org.

Land Acknowledgement

The Royal Agricultural Winter Fair is located on the treaty lands and territory of the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation and the traditional territory of the Haudenosaunee and the Wendat. It is now home to many diverse First Nations, Inuit, and Metis peoples.

Education at The Royal is supported by