Riverdale Farm Toronto Complete History And Attractions

Toronto’s Riverdale Farm: From History to Activities, Know it All

Last Updated - August 27th, 2024

Tucked into the Cabbagetown neighbourhood, Riverdale Farm Toronto is more than just a regular farm; it’s a ticket to a nostalgic countryside experience, right in the heart of Canada’s most populous city. Often overlooked in the shadow of Toronto’s skyscrapers and landmark attractions, Riverdale Farm offers a charming pastoral retreat that brings nature, history, and education together in delightful harmony. In this blog post, we are going to provide you with a comprehensive guide covering everything you need to know about Riverdale Farm before you visit

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Information on Riverdale Farm Toronto

Riverdale Farm is located in the neighbourhood of Cabbagetown in Toronto. It provides an actual farm experience in the middle of the city. It is a fully functional 7.5 acres of farmland, with activities throughout the year. This is one experience you should have with your family or friends because it is a very secluded place in the middle of the hustle and bustle of the city. You can easily spend a weekend here and explore the farm and food culture of the locality near Riverdale Farm. If you want to spend a weekend there to immerse yourself in the activities, Riverdale Farm Toronto, has the best activities to experience the farm culture.

It has a farmer’s market, giant landscapes and walking trails, dog parks, etc., so you can plan your next weekend gazing around the farm, looking at the animals, and spending a sunny day at Riverdale. This guide guides you through a list of activities you can do with your acquaintances. So much to discuss, so let us dive right in.

Visitors’ Manual for Riverdale Farm

If you want to spend a weekend at the Riverdale Farm but do not know what to do or how to explore, don’t worry. We have got you all covered. There is a range of activities for you to indulge in. You can come here with your partner, family, or friends, and you will have a great time exploring the Riverdale farm.

Here is a list of things you can see at the Riverdale Farm:

Attractions at Riverdale Farm

- Firstly, Riverdale farm offers free admission to all its visitors 7 days a week and 365 days a year, including public holidays. They open at 9 am and close at 5 pm. You can check out the details before your visit on their website.
- Riverdale farm is full of different activities for you to explore. You can learn about the farm, you can learn all about the animals, you can also explore the walks, can go and enjoy a picnic lunch in the scenic park. Riverdale has all the experiences in store for you.
- You can start your day by walking around the farm and exploring the far life. You can check out how everything works inside a farm, especially in the only functional farm in Toronto in the middle of a city. You can check out the paddocks of farm animals. You can see the pigs in their pen. Riverdale is also home to sheep, goats, horses, chickens, and cows. You can walk around the farm and see their homes and the way they are being useful at the farm. Since Riverdale is a functional farm, you will not be allowed to touch, pet, or feed any livestock.

- Then you can go and explore a historically rich barn. It’s called the Francey Barn, and it was built in 1858. This barn was not at the Riverdale farm since the beginning, but it was brought here in the 1970s and still has all the stonework from that era intact. It has low wooden ceilings in the 2-floor structure with livestock on the 1st floor and storage on the 2nd floor.
- If you are a fan of Rapunzel, then exploring Riverdale Farm on foot is a must-have experience for you. This place has a ruin of a 2-storey building called Donnybrook Ruin. It is an unmissable structure, and you should stop by and explore the ruins of this building. There are a lot of historically important buildings on this farm, and you must stop and explore the one built by the prisoners in ancient times, which was a functional morgue for the necropolis.
- If you are into spooky things and love to walk around places with a haunting vibe, then take a stroll to Toronto’s Necropolis. The tombs here are very well designed and have a lot of impact on the historical times, and some native people of Toronto lie in these cemetery places and enjoy their afterlife here.
- Finally, you can enjoy a 3-kilometre-long walking trail on the Riverdale farm. You can check out the duck pond and some other ancient relics while enjoying a smooth stroll on this beautifully placed farm in the city centre.

Dining Options Near Riverdale Farm

Not only is this place known for some of the best strolls and farm life experiences, but it is also a hub for some of the best food spots. You can try the following cafes in the Riverdale area of Toronto:

Cabbagetown Farmer’s Market

You can find a lot of grab-and-go meals in this market. You can get organic and fresh farm produce here. If you are a fan of artisan cheese, there are many options for you to try. You can grab a scrumptious Mexican meal here at the Mad Mexican. It is very close to the Riverdale farm at 191 Winchester St. It is open on Tuesdays throughout the summer and autumn months.

House on Parliament

It is a British pub with a wide variety of beer, and you can grab a pint after a long day exploring the city. They have every kind of beer, from upscale to classic to perfectly crafted. The House of Parliament is a spot that is a must-try and is not very far from Riverdale Farm. It is at 454 Parliament St.

Park Stand

If you are looking for affordable options to eat, this is one of the best snack stands around Riverdale Farm for you to try. It holds the classics, i.e., burgers, hot dogs, cola, etc., for you to nibble on and have a perfect ending to your otherwise hungry day.

Facts to Know About Riverdale Farm

Here are some of the most intriguing things about the Riverdale farm that you should know about the farm and the Riverdale area of Toronto before visiting:

- John Scadding originally held the land on which the Riverdale farm was built in 1978. Riverdale farm was then built by the city of Toronto. The prisoners who were there in 1902 built the residence.
- The Riverdale Zoo was later added at the site of Riverdale farm. The residence there was once the home of the zookeeper.
- The haunting cemetery of Necropolis Toronto is one of the oldest in Toronto.
- There is a wood oven at Riverdale farm, which is used for cooking delicacies on special occasions. Riverdale farm has free-roaming poultry of sheep, pigs, goats, cows, chickens, turkeys, and domesticated waterfowl, which you can see grazing while you visit.
- Farm-sponsored Events

The farm has an everyday show of animals at 11.30 a.m., and they open to the public just a little before that. You can visit the Riverdale Farm at 11.30 a.m. and then continue to make a day of it. But certain activities are motivated to be done early in the morning or per the routine decided at the farm. If you are interested in any such trails or activities, check out their website and Riverdale Farm hours.

Final Words

Overall, Riverdale Farm is a place to visit for family, friends, and couples. The Riverdale Farm and the Riverdale area of Toronto have everything you need to spend a sunny weekend there. You can keep your kids busy with learning. You can explore the history and relics that still reside in this place; you can have a cosy picnic lunch at one of the spots; you can try some of the fresh farms’ produce in the nearby markets, and you can wander around on the romantic trails that the farm has to offer. Before planning a visit, you can check out Riverdale Farm’s hours on their website.

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Frequently Asked Question (FAQs)

Which are the animals you can see at Riverdale Farms?

Riverdale Farm is home to various livestock like pigs, sheep, goats, chickens, turkeys, cows, and domesticated waterfowl. These are all freely roaming animals at the farm, but you cannot touch or pet them.

How much time does it take to visit the Riverdale farm?

If you are willing to cover everything on the Riverdale farm, which includes the farm workings, the animal homes, the historic buildings, barn relics, the cemetery, zoos, walking paths, and the cafes and food culture in the area, then a weekend would suffice for your visit here.