A working farm in the middle of Toronto — free to visit, with pigs, goats, heritage chickens, horses, and seasonal crops on 7.5 acres in the Don Valley. Impossibly charming in any season.
Neighbourhood: Cabbagetown · Address: 201 Winchester St, Toronto, ON · Hours: Mon–Sun 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM · Phone: (416) 392-6794
Why Visit
Riverdale Farm feels like stepping into the countryside without leaving Toronto. You can pet goats, watch farmers tend to heritage breeds, and wander rustic barns—all for free.
What Makes It Unique
Unlike petting zoos or city parks, Riverdale Farm is a real, working farm with daily chores you can actually watch. The livestock here includes heritage chickens and rare breeds you won’t see at High Park Zoo or Centreville. The peaceful setting right in Cabbagetown is surprisingly tranquil for its proximity to downtown.
Riverdale Farm is the most improbable thing in Toronto — a working heritage farm occupying 7.5 acres in the middle of the Don Valley, surrounded by one of the most densely populated urban environments in Canada, free to visit, open every day of the year, and staffed by City of Toronto agriculture workers who maintain an active operation with pigs, goats, sheep, heritage cattle, draft horses, chickens, ducks, and seasonal crops. The site has been agricultural land since before Toronto existed; the Riverdale Zoological Gardens occupied the space from 1894 until 1974, when the city converted the zoo to a heritage farm that would preserve agricultural knowledge and provide urban residents with direct contact with farm animals and farming practices.
The farm is organized around a collection of 19th-century farm buildings — the barn, the dairy, the sheep paddock, the pig barn, and the market garden are all functional rather than decorative. The animals are actually raised as farm animals: the heritage breeds of cattle, horses, and poultry represent genetic strains that were common on Ontario farms in the 19th century and are now rare, and the farm's breeding program contributes to provincial heritage livestock conservation efforts. Walking through the paddocks in spring, when the new lambs and piglets have arrived and the draft horses are being harnessed for light field work, is one of the most unusual agricultural experiences available in an urban context anywhere in North America.
The market garden produces seasonal vegetables that are sold at the farm's small market stand, and the composting and soil management practices are demonstrated as educational programs for the school groups that visit throughout the year. Children's programs run on weekend mornings and include supervised animal feeding and petting, craft programs using natural materials, and seasonal agricultural demonstrations.
The farm's location — across Winchester Street from the Necropolis Cemetery and directly adjacent to the Don Valley ravine trail system — makes it a natural component of a longer Cabbagetown walking day. The combination of the Victorian cemetery, the heritage farm, the Don Valley ravine trails, and Cabbagetown's streetscapes of 19th-century row housing creates a distinctly historic Toronto experience that is available almost entirely at no cost.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Riverdale Farm free to visit?
Yes — Riverdale Farm is completely free and open to the public every day of the year from 9am to 5pm. There is no admission charge. Children's programs and some special events have a small fee, but general access to the farm, paddocks, barns, and market garden is free. The farm is operated by the City of Toronto Parks, Forestry and Recreation department.
What animals are at Riverdale Farm?
Riverdale Farm maintains heritage breeds of livestock including Clydesdale draft horses, heritage cattle, pigs, goats, Romney sheep, heritage chickens (multiple breeds), ducks, and geese. The animals are working farm animals rather than display animals. New animals, including lambs and piglets, typically arrive in spring.
Where is Riverdale Farm in Toronto?
Riverdale Farm is at 201 Winchester Street in Cabbagetown, adjacent to the Don Valley ravine and across Winchester Street from the Necropolis Cemetery. From downtown, take the 506 Carlton streetcar east to Parliament Street, then walk north on Parliament and east on Winchester, or take the 65 Parliament bus north to Winchester. Also accessible via the Don Valley Trail from the south.
Can I feed the animals at Riverdale Farm?
Supervised animal feeding is available during children's programs on weekend mornings, where farm staff guide participants with approved feed. Unsupervised feeding with outside food is not permitted, as many human foods are harmful to farm animals. Visitors can interact with the animals through fencing at the paddocks and watch feeding during regular farm routines.