Riverdale Farm - Meeting House

Riverdale Farm Meeting House is part of the broader Riverdale Farm, a free working farm in Cabbagetown at the edge of Riverdale Park East. The Meeting House serves as the welcome centre and indoor gathering space for the farm, which has been operating since the 1970s as a City of Toronto attraction.

Riverdale Farm is one of Toronto's hidden gems for families with young kids. The farm has pigs, goats, sheep, chickens, donkeys, horses, and cows in various barns and paddocks. Kids can walk right up to the fences and observe the animals up close.

It's not a petting zoo — you can't pet most of the animals — but the proximity is close enough that toddlers feel like they're having a real farm experience.

The Meeting House provides a sheltered space with information about the farm, seasonal displays, and occasional programming. It's the best starting point for a visit, where you can get oriented before walking around the barns.

Spring is the best time to visit, when baby animals are born. Lambs, piglets, and chicks draw big crowds of families. Summer is pleasant but busier on weekends. Winter visits are quieter, and the animals are still in their barns.

The farm is stroller-friendly with paved and gravel paths between the barns. The grounds are relatively compact — you can see everything in about an hour. Combine with a walk up to Riverdale Park East for the sunset viewpoint, or head south to the Necropolis and Cabbagetown neighbourhood.

Riverdale Farm is free, open daily (except Mondays when some barns may be closed), and centrally located. It's reachable by TTC from the Broadview subway station or Castle Frank station.