Blooms and Berries is an annual summer event hosted at the Museums of Mississauga. It celebrates historical and modern agricultural practices in Mississauga and The Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area, including food culture and land-based practices of Indigenous Peoples, past and present. The event is inspired by Clarkson Village’s history as the strawberry capital of Ontario and the strawberry socials that took place during the summer season.

Join in the celebration from June 18 to July 17 and enjoy a variety of activities for all ages, including an outdoor market, kid’s craft workshop, as well as agriculture themed food samples and interactive demonstrations.

Presented by:

Event Details

Outdoor Market
June 18, 2022 | 12 pm – 4 pm

Visit our outdoor market inspired by the blooms and berries grown historically in Clarkson. Purchase the work of local creators and get inspired to make your own creative project at guided workshops throughout the day. Enjoy live music and performances, food and self-guided tours of Benares Historic House.

Admission by donation of non-perishable food item. Register in advance.

Chi miigwetch to Anishinaabe Grandmother Kim Wheatley for sharing teachings and providing guidance for this event.

Historic Crafts at Benares
July 9 and 10, 2022 | 10 am – 12 pm

Sign up for fun, creative activities at Benares Historic House. Kids aged 6 to 14 can make seasonal historic crafts and decorations inspired by summer blooms and berries, learn about celebrations from 100 years ago and play some old-fashioned games.

For $17.08 per day, reserve a spot through the pre-registration links below:

Register for Saturday’s class

Register for Sunday’s class

Explore Bradley Museum with GooseChase

Download GooseChase to participate in the Secret Language of Flowers scavenger hunt around the Bradley Museum site. All app participants will be entered into a draw to win a $100 Visa gift card. Use game code ZMJXVJ to explore from June 18 to July 17, at no charge.

More ways to enjoy

From June 19 to July 17, visit the Bradley and Benares locations to get involved in special activities during the hourly tours from 12 pm – 4 pm. Sample programming:

Bradley Museum

Strawberry Jam
June 19| 12 pm – 4 pm
Enjoy freshly made strawberry jam on biscuits baked on the hearth

Herb Pots
June 25 | 12 pm – 4 pm
Make and take home your own potted herb

Strawberry Rhubarb Pie
June 26| 12 pm – 4 pm
Enjoy a slice of strawberry rhubarb pie baked in the Dutch oven

Painting With Nature: Zishuo Li
July 2| 12 pm – 4 pm
Participants in this workshop will be introduced to plant-based pigments, mineral pigments, and a variety of natural binders. We will share a demonstration of making watercolour, oil paint and encaustic with natural materials. Participants can make their own paint from supplied materials and create works with it on their choice of paper or canvas board. Register here.

Rhubarb Shrub with lemonbalm
July 3| 12 pm – 4 pm
Enjoy a refreshing glass of rhubarb shrub with lemonbalm

Destiny Rae Wheatley
July 9 | 12 pm – 4 pm
7 Grandfathers Rock Painting. Register here.

Strawberry Ice Cream
July 10 | 12 pm – 4 pm
Enjoy freshly hand churned strawberry ice cream

Rolled Beeswax Candle
July 16 | 12 pm – 4 pm
Make a rolled beeswax candle with berry themed decorations

Lavender Shortbread
July 17 | 12 pm – 4 pm
Enjoy a lavender shortbread cookie baked on the hearth

Benares Museum

Strawberry Lemonade
June 19| 12 pm – 4 pm
Enjoy a cup of fresh strawberry lemonade

Paper Quilling
June 25| 12 pm – 4 pm
Make and take home a paper quilled card

Strawberry Shortcake
June 26| 12 pm – 4 pm
Enjoy a piece of strawberry shortcake made from a historic recipe in the bake oven

Talking Turtle Baskets
July 2| 12 pm – 4 pm
Indigenous basket maker, Kimberly White, will demonstrate how to weave baskets following traditional teachings

Bannock and Strawberry Compote
July 3 | 12 pm – 4 pm
Enjoy bannock and strawberry compote

Indigenous Storytelling and Songs & Pressed Flower Buttons
July 9 | 12 pm – 4 pm
Anishinaabe Grandmother Kim Wheatley shares Indigenous stories and songs. Design and make a pressed flower button to take home

Lemonbalm Iced Tea
July 10 | 12 pm – 4 pm
Enjoy a cup of fresh from the garden lemon balm iced tea

Strawberry Block Printing
July 16 | 12 pm – 4 pm
Design and take home your own strawberry block print

Berry Tarts
July 17 | 12 pm – 4 pm
Enjoy a berry tart baked in the bake oven

For more information visit museumsofmississauga.com or call Bradley Museum at 905-615-4860.