Doors Open, Culture Days and behind-the-scenes tours
Aga Khan Museum | Destination Toronto
Celebrate Ontario’s architectural, design and cultural heritage during special access events such as Doors Open Ontario and Culture Days.
Gain a new perspective and learn something new from behind-the-scenes tours, talks, workshops and backstage experiences. Meet actors, artists and curators of famous and familiar venues and productions.
Note: Tickets and reservations for many of these unique tours are limited and some are seasonal. Book in advance so you don’t miss out.
Ontario-wide events
Doors Open Ontario
One of Ontario’s most popular and extensive behind-the-scenes events, Doors Open invites visitors to tour heritage, natural and cultural sites rarely seen by the public.
The Ontario Heritage Trust has worked with communities across the province to showcase new venues and share new stories for over 20 years. From spring to fall, you’re invited to explore hundreds of historic locations that have shaped Ontario’s past and present for free.
Over 150 unique venues are participating in this year’s Doors Open Toronto, including the R.C. Harris Water Treatment Plant and the historic Don Jail at Hennick Bridgepoint Hospital.
Doors Open Ottawa features over 85 interesting sites such as embassies, breweries and even the Bank of Canada.
Explore more fascinating places and spaces from a heritage jail in Cornwall and the SDG Counties to the fire station and former town hall in Gravenhurst.
Browse the full list of communities hosting Doors Open events in 2025.
Ontario Culture Days
Arts, culture and heritage take centre stage during the annual fall Culture Days, with communities across Ontario hosting unique events and activities. A key element is behind-the-scenes tours of local venues and sites.
Culture Days will take place from September 19 to October 12, 2025. Find an event or activity near you.
Greater Toronto Area
Elgin and Winter Garden Theatres
Explore the world’s largest operating stacked theatre and vaudeville venue on a 90-minute guided walking tour. Explore the original and new lobbies, go backstage and learn about the history and restoration of the complex.
Location: 189 Yonge Street, Toronto
The Factory Theatre
Enhance your theatre outing with an hour-long backstage tour of the Factory Theatre building, revealing how the evening’s production comes to life on the stage. Tours are available with the purchase of group theatre tickets.
Location: 125 Bathurst Street, Toronto
Soulpepper Theatre Company
Join a free, drop-in guided backstage tour of the historic building, including unique theatres, rehearsal halls and scenic shops at Soulpepper Theatre Company. Tours run every 30 minutes.
Location: 50 Tank House Lane, Toronto
Scotiabank Arena
Witness how amazing concerts and the Toronto Maple Leafs and Raptors’ game nights unfold behind the scenes.
An expert tour guide will teach you about Scotiabank Arena’s 25-year history and lead you through the locker rooms, the Raptors’ practice court, the arena’s luxury suites and restaurants and more. The guided tour includes discounts to the Real Sports Bar and Real Sports Apparel.
Location: 40 Bay Street, Toronto
Toronto Society of Architects (TSA)
Immerse yourself in the stories behind the buildings, landscapes and art that make up Toronto’s diverse architecture.
On the summer TSA Building Tour, you’ll explore the city’s newest buildings, such as the Schwartz Reisman Innovation Campus, the Corleck and Bathurst Quay Common and Waterworks.
Location: Toronto
Legislative Assembly of Ontario
Admire Richardsonian Romanesque architecture on a tour of Ontario’s Legislative Building.
The tour includes a visit to the Chamber, where Ontario's Members of Provincial Parliament debate and pass laws. You can also tour the historic grounds of the Legislative Building and see various monuments and trees, flowers and shrubs native to Ontario.
Location: 111 Wellesley Street West, Toronto
York, Durham and Headwaters
Islamic Centre of Oshawa
Walk through the first purpose-built mosque in Oshawa and admire the ornamental features that reflect the style of the Ottoman Empire.
A typical visit to the Islamic Centre of Oshawa involves an observation of prayer, a tour of the building and a Q&A session. Book your tour by calling or emailing the mosque ahead of time.
Location: 23 Lloyd Street, Oshawa
Parkwood National Historic Site
Home of the late R.S. McLaughlin, this 55-room mansion was inspired by early 20th-century Beaux-Arts design and is Canada’s last remaining grand estate.
Get a behind-the-scenes look at this historic site on a special access tour to explore the mansion’s private spaces, gardens, basement and more.
Location: 270 Simcoe Street North, Oshawa
Hamilton, Halton and Brant
Art Gallery of Hamilton
Southwestern Ontario’s largest and oldest art institution was founded in Hamilton in 1914.
Join specially trained art guides called “Docents” through the exhibitions on designated Tour Days. The uniquely tactile Touch Tours allow you to explore art through sound and touch.
Location: 123 King Street West, Hamilton
Bruce, Grey and Simcoe
Orillia Museum of Art and History
Take a behind-the-scenes look at the Orillia Museum of Art and History’s evolution over the years on a private tour.
Discover the storied past of the Sir Sam Steele Memorial Building and how it transformed into the museum it is today, including a glimpse inside the clock tower. Private tours must be booked two weeks in advance.
Location: 30 Peter Street South, Orillia
Niagara Region
Shaw Festival
Get a unique view into the world-class Shaw Festival through the Meet Directors and Designers program, where you’ll learn about the intricate details and innovations that go into elaborate costumes and masterful set designs.
On the Backstage Tour, you’ll get to see all the costumes, accessories and special props that help bring the stories to life. And on Tuesdays, enjoy a complimentary Tuesday Q&A session with the actors following the performances.
Location: 10 Queen’s Parade, Niagara-on-the-Lake
Ottawa Region
Parliament of Canada
Overlooking the Ottawa River, Parliament Hill is the seat of Canada’s federal government and is comprised of several historic buildings in striking Gothic revival style architecture.
Visitors are invited on free, 30-minute guided tours of the House of Commons at the West Block and the Chamber Senate of Canada building on Rideau Street, the temporary home of Canada’s Senate during the renovation of the Centre Block building. During the summer, visitors can tour restored heritage rooms of the East Block, including the office of Canada’s first prime minister. Reserve your guided Parliament tours online.
Location: 111 Wellington Street, Ottawa
Rideau Hall
Rideau Hall, the home and workplace of Canada’s Governor General, is just three kilometres north of Canada’s Parliament.
Take a 45-minute guided indoor tour to learn about the magnificent spaces, such as the famous red-and-white striped Tent Room. Tours are available by online reservation only.
The sweeping grounds at Rideau Hall are open to the public and boast an array of roses, evergreens and sugar maples in various well-designed gardens.
Location: 1 Sussex Drive, Ottawa
Fairmont Château Laurier
Experience the fascinating history of Ottawa’s iconic hotel on the Secrets of the Château Laurier tour.
This 75-minute guided tour takes you behind the scenes of this landmark, where you’ll learn about the castle’s concealed passageways, hear about political rendezvous and stand in the grand ballrooms.
Location: 1 Rideau Street, Ottawa
Kawarthas and Northumberland
The Canadian Canoe Museum
Book a guided behind-the-scenes tour of the Collections Hall at the Canadian Canoe Museum. Led by a Curatorial Tour Guide, you’ll get stories and details of the watercraft not on display in the exhibition hall.
Location: 2077 Ashburnham Drive, Peterborough
Southwestern Ontario
The Grand Theatre
Go beyond the stage at London’s historic Grand Theatre with pre- and post-show talks, events and tours.
Expand Your Experience with their “Afterwords” guided discussions with the artists and creative team. And you won’t want to miss the chance to walk onto the stage, step inside the dressing room and hear stories about the theatre’s resident ghost on an hour-long Backstage Tour.
Location: 471 Richmond Street, London
Southeastern Ontario
Thousand Islands Playhouse
The Thousand Islands Playhouse deck provides peaceful and scenic lakeside views.
It’s also the perfect outdoor backdrop for their Dock Talks series held on Wednesdays, the matinee pre-show chat with members of the production of the latest theatrical performance that takes place in August and September.
Alternatively, join the playhouse’s Patron Program and get insider knowledge on how productions are created with a guided tour of the facility and stage areas.
Location: 185 South Street, Gananoque
Huron, Perth, Waterloo and Wellington
Stratford Festival
Ontario’s premier theatre festival offers exciting opportunities for theatre lovers to see what’s happening behind the scenes.
Take a guided tour of Tom Patterson Theatre, Festival Theatre or Avon Theatre, watch the stage crew transform the stage from the afternoon show to the evening performance and explore the festival’s costume and prop warehouse filled with thousands of artifacts from past seasons.
Location: Various venues in Stratford
Northeastern Ontario
Art Gallery of Algoma
The Group of Seven are some of Canada’s most recognized and iconic artists.
Join a guided Group of Seven art tour at the Art Gallery of Algoma to view various works, followed by a mini painting lesson inspired by their signature artistic style and an optional lunch at the Gallery Cafe or picnic tables. Tours must be booked by email or over the phone.
Location: 10 East Street, Sault Ste. Marie
Last updated: May 28, 2025