Ruthven Park National Historic Site
Annual General Meeting
Wednesday, October 8, 2025
Time: 7:00 - 8:00 PM Business meeting: 8:15 PM - Presentations.
Location: The Coach House, 243 Haldimand Highway 54, Cayuga
A brief meeting will be followed by light refreshments and two engaging presentations by Barbara Murray, Ruthven researcher about “The Music of the Thompsons” and Spring Carter, Curator at Chiefswood NHS, about “Where Cultures Meet – The History of Chiefswood National Historic Site."
Advance registration at info@ruthvenpark.ca is appreciated but not required.
Upcoming events
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Cars in the Park
Ruthven Park’s 27th Annual Cars in the Park
Monday, October 13th 2025
10am-4pmAdmission $10 per car.
Rev up your engines and cruise on over to the most anticipated car show of the year! Whether you're a car enthusiast, a collector, or just someone who appreciates the beauty of finely crafted automobiles, this event is for you. It's a celebration of automotive history that you won't want to miss!
Dash Plaques for First 100 Cars, Alfie’s Lemonade, Concession Stand, Door Prizes, Historic House Tours, Cemetery Tours & Children’s Activities!
Please note: This is a rain-or-shine event. In the case of severe weather, Ruthven Park reserves the right to alter or cancel the event at the organizations discretion.
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Mansion in Mourning: Oddities, Curiosities & Haunted Cemetery Tour
October 15th- October 29th
6pm-7:30pm$25 per person
Enter a mansion draped in mourning, where superstition, sickness, and sorrow linger in the shadows. Discover strange practices and macabre curiosities born from the Victorians’ fascination with death and illness. From the mansion, follow a lantern-lit path to the haunted cemetery, where the grave digger shares grim tales of burials, mourning rites, and the rituals around death. The experience lasts approximately one hour and concludes in the Coach House for refreshments.
Pre-registration required.
Youth Tickets also available. -
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Haunted High Tea
October 22nd, 24th, 25th, and 30th
6pm - 8pmSOLD OUT
Set within the hauntingly beautiful historic Coach House building, we invite you to indulge in a unique and atmospheric Haunted High Tea experience. Serving delicious and savoury sandwiches, scones, sweets and selection of tea options. The experience will with a guided tour of the “Mansion in Mourning: Oddities, Curiosities and Haunted Cemetery Tour” on the main level of the historic mansion, exploring the strange and macabre curiosities from the Victorians’ fascination with death and illness. Guests will then be led by lanterns to the Thompson family cemetery to hear a haunting tale of mourning rites and rituals around death. The event will conclude with the haunted high tea held in the Coach House.
Dress in your finest Halloween attire or simply come as you are - but keep your senses sharp, you never know what might be lurking around the corner…
Pre—registration required.
Invasive Species Pull
Volunteers Needed
Sunday, September 21, 2025
10:00am-1:00pm
Join our stewardship team as we work together to protect and restore the natural beauty of our trails. Volunteers will help remove invasive plant species that threaten the health of our local ecosystem.
Gloves and tools will be provided. Please bring water, lunch or snacks, sunscreen and appropriate closed-toed footwear.
To register as a volunteer, please “purchase” a free registration ticket below, or email info@ruthvenpark.ca
TOURS & EVENTS
CALENDAR
NOTICE
Use trails at own risk during inclement weather.
Trails are subject to intermittent closures.
Ruthven Park National Historic Site is pleased to announce our successful application through the Haldimand County Rural Business and Tourism Community Improvement Plan Financial Incentive Program. Under the Building Restoration, Renovation and Improvement and Development Charge, Planning Fees and Building Permit Grant programs Ruthven was approved for $15,379 in funding for internal building works. The Coach House kitchen restoration project will enhance our event and rental offerings, improving customer service during programs and special events, and contributing to the area’s vibrancy.
BIRD BANDING
Click below to learn more about our bird banding program, migrating seasons and ways to get involved!
Land Acknowledgement
Ruthven Park National Historic Site Inc. gratefully acknowledges that Ruthven Park is established on land that has been inhabited by Indigenous peoples for millennia. As Canadians, we are thankful for the opportunity to live, work, and play here and we thank all those who have served and continue to serve as stewards of this special place. Recognizing the important contributions of Indigenous peoples is consistent with our commitment to making the promise of Truth and Reconciliation real in our communities.
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@ruthvenparknhs
