Open House weekend is pack full of fun events for the whole family! This includes CR classics including Old Mac's New Farm, lovely Livestock Shows, our family-favourite Dog Show, purr-fect Cat Show, and annual Art Show! Come check out Kid's Corner for this year's colouring contest and more!
It's fun for all ages and this year it is expected to be even better as we celebrate our 101 years! So what can you expect to see? Or as a student how can you participate?
2025 Dates:
March 15th and 16th, 2025
It's fun for all ages and this year it is expected to be even better as we celebrate our 101 years! So what can you expect to see? Or as a student how can you participate?
2025 Dates:
March 15th and 16th, 2025
Club Displays and Exhibits
Every year over 80 clubs from the University put on displays and exhibits all over Campus. Every year they offer different activities and learning opportunities as they all compete to win the best award for best display. To get a feel for which displays might interest you have a glance at the Open House Booklet! Click on the button above for the full booklet!
If you are a University of Guelph Club looking to get involved head over to our Clubs Page.
If you are a University of Guelph Club looking to get involved head over to our Clubs Page.
Livestock Show
One of the longest standing traditions of College Royal, the livestock show includes experienced and amateur students showing; horses, dairy cattle, beef cattle and sheep. The Grand Champions in both the experienced and novice classes of all our livestock shows go on to compete in the mystery animal show!
Learn more
Learn more
Old Macdonald's New Farm
Want to visit a farm without leaving the city? Old Mac's New Farm puts on displays teaching kids and families about farming and farm animals. You can even watch someone put their hand in a cows stomach, don't worry its completely safe.
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Learn more
Square Dance Competition
Are you a square dancing veteran looking for another competition? Or have you never seen square dance set before in your life. Either way come out to the Athletic Center to watch some Gryphons and community members swing their ladies and dose doe.
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Learn more
Dog Show
Come out and watch the CR Dog Show, one of our most popular events. The Dog Show has handlers and dogs ranging from complete beginners to advanced and is a fun experience for all involved. The Dog Show is a great event to watch with your family.
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Learn More
Cat Show
Not just your average Cat Show, with plenty of prize categories find out if your feline friend has what it takes to be a meowing model! Our Cat Show involves both volunteer judges and the audience coming together to vote on which cats should win categories such as fluffliest cat, longest tail and more based on images sent in by cat owners.
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Outdoor Games
Come on out to Johnston Green to take in a giant tug of war match or watch some students swing some axes or saw some logs.
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Learn more
Pancake Flip Competition
Are you and your family looking for a cheap breakfast before you start exploring the Open house? Come on out and vote on different flavours and teams of flippers competing to getting your votes.
Students: Do you want to get a team together to compete?
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Students: Do you want to get a team together to compete?
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Flower Arranging
Some are already talented some learn as they go, check out the results of the student flower arranging competition on display during open house weekend.
Students: Do you have a flare for flower arranging or just think you want to give it a try?
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Students: Do you have a flare for flower arranging or just think you want to give it a try?
Learn more
Guelph Community Art Show
Guelph Community Art Show: It's not just the art students that have an eye for beauty, check out some of the beautiful photos, paintings, sculptures, and sketches created by the residents and students outside of the arts program at Guelph!
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Learn more
Seeds and Forages Competition
Wondering how you can tell good corn from poor corn? Or how they decide which crops get used to make bread or are fed to animals? Come out and learn about seeds and forage judging and have a look at some local crops from all over Ontario.
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Learn more
... And So Much More!
Every year there is something new and exciting to see. So whether you want to watch some synchronize skating, explore the Ontario Veterinary College, learn about programs offered at Guelph as a future student, watch a medieval sword fight or a robot challenge, or maybe you want to see human body parts, there is something for everybody to do and see at College Royal Open House weekend!
Frequently Asked Questions
"Where can I find the Open House Booklet?"
- The Open House Booklet can be found on our website under the Open House Weekend tab, then Open House Booklets.
"What information is in the Open House Booklet?"
- In the booklet you will find the schedule for events both on Saturday and Sunday, a campus map including parking, places to eat and locations of buildings, events descriptions, clubs and colleges participating in the College Royal and where their booth can be found, a brief overview of the history behind College Royal, our sponsers, the executive team that has worked very hard to make this event happen and a message from the current President of College Royal as well as the current Ambassador of College Royal.
"What events should I bring my children to?"
- There are several events that are perfect for young families! Including Junior Tractor Rodeo, Old MacDonalds New Farm Display, Kids Carnival, Pancake Breakfast and more. Depending on how old your children are we also have Bubble Soccer, Lecture Series and more. All of these event descriptions can be found on page 7 of the Open House Booklet. Along with these College Royal run events, clubs around campus have interactive booths that have fun events too! A few examples include Teddy Bear Surgery with the OVC, Live Birds of Prey shows with Wild Ontario, corn bins and crafts with the Child, Youth, and Family/Child Studies Student Association, a plant related take home craft with the Horitculture Club and many more. The Club Display overviews can be found on pages 9-13 of the Open House Booklet. More information about when and where all the activites are, can be found in the Open House Weekend Booklet which is on our website under the Open House Weekend tab, then Open House Booklet.
"What time are events starting and ending? or what does the weekend schedule look like?"
- There are several different starting and ending times for events on both Saturday and Sunday. The times, locations and a brief explanation of the event can be found on page 3 and 4 of the Open House Booklet which can be found on our website under Open House Weekend, then Open House Booklets.
- The Open House Booklet can be found on our website under the Open House Weekend tab, then Open House Booklets.
"What information is in the Open House Booklet?"
- In the booklet you will find the schedule for events both on Saturday and Sunday, a campus map including parking, places to eat and locations of buildings, events descriptions, clubs and colleges participating in the College Royal and where their booth can be found, a brief overview of the history behind College Royal, our sponsers, the executive team that has worked very hard to make this event happen and a message from the current President of College Royal as well as the current Ambassador of College Royal.
"What events should I bring my children to?"
- There are several events that are perfect for young families! Including Junior Tractor Rodeo, Old MacDonalds New Farm Display, Kids Carnival, Pancake Breakfast and more. Depending on how old your children are we also have Bubble Soccer, Lecture Series and more. All of these event descriptions can be found on page 7 of the Open House Booklet. Along with these College Royal run events, clubs around campus have interactive booths that have fun events too! A few examples include Teddy Bear Surgery with the OVC, Live Birds of Prey shows with Wild Ontario, corn bins and crafts with the Child, Youth, and Family/Child Studies Student Association, a plant related take home craft with the Horitculture Club and many more. The Club Display overviews can be found on pages 9-13 of the Open House Booklet. More information about when and where all the activites are, can be found in the Open House Weekend Booklet which is on our website under the Open House Weekend tab, then Open House Booklet.
"What time are events starting and ending? or what does the weekend schedule look like?"
- There are several different starting and ending times for events on both Saturday and Sunday. The times, locations and a brief explanation of the event can be found on page 3 and 4 of the Open House Booklet which can be found on our website under Open House Weekend, then Open House Booklets.
