Bury me in the public square in Stratford, Ontario!
Is that too dramatic? That might be because I’m still buzzing from my second trip to this adorable, picturesque town, where everything is built around live theater — down to its name: Shakespeare was born in Stratford-upon-Avon, England. The Avon River flows through Ontario’s Stratford, and it’s lined with gardens and shops.
Since the 1950s, the Stratford Festival has turned the town into one of Canada’s biggest cultural attractions, drawing international tourists ready to binge Broadway-caliber theater. It began as a six-week summer festival, expanded to April through October, and this year runs through mid-December.
If the last time you visited was during a school field trip back in the day, it’s time to return as an adult. It’s an easy three-hour drive from Detroit for a weekend getaway.
Each year, a theme connects about a dozen productions starring more than 120 actors rotating roles across four venues (including two stunning theaters along the river; it’s a delight to stroll along on your way to your show).
I took in four shows in three days, ate my way like a king through a criminally underrated local food scene, and did it all on foot — a pedestrian’s dream. Imagine theaters lining the Detroit riverfront, and you’ll get the idea.
True to the original mission of the fest, there’s a major focus on Shakespeare’s works. Macbeth (running through Nov. 22) is a stunner both as a performance and a technical marvel, set against the sleazy world of roadside motels and inspired by a real-life Canadian biker gang war that killed more than 160 people in less than a decade.
There are plenty of (lighter) contemporary works and musicals, too, like a world premiere adaptation of Anne of Green Gables (running through Nov. 16) and by far the best production of Annie I’ve ever seen (such a smash that it’s running through Dec. 14). Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (running through Nov. 23) proves that some movie-to-stage musical adaptations can be really quite good. This one in particular is a fast-paced, old school glamour blitz of laughs and dance that doesn’t break far from the narrative of the film but does find new jokes to tell.
And then there’s that food scene I mentioned. My schedule in Stratford was wake up, eat breakfast, attend a matinee, eat dinner, attend an evening show, eat more food, have drinks, sleep, repeat (I promise you this is restful). Yours should be, too. I had to go twice to Lovage. I’d rank it as one of the best restaurants I’ve ever been to. It’s small, fancy yet not pretentious, and led by an excellent chef, Jamie Crosby. I’m still thinking about the chanterelle tagliolini (not currently on the ever-changing menu). I’d eat the sea bass crudo as my last meal. All oysters should be served with microplaned horseradish (the texture!). Sit at the end of the tiny bar to feel like you’re at the chef’s table.
Other standouts included salmon toast and overnight oats at Ashborne Cafe and the delectable menu at local wine bar Brch & Wyn (highlights included a rich Cuban sandwich and a pumpkin beef curry). Whether it’s for a day, for a week, or for many visits during the long season, Stratford and its namesake theater festival offer a bit of everything for the casual theater fan and the obsessives like me. I’m already counting down the days until I can go back.
I’ll see you there.
Ryan Patrick Hooper is the host of In the Groove on 101.9 WDET, Detroit Public Radio (weekdays from noon to 3 p.m.).
This story originally appeared in the October 2025 issue of Hour Detroit magazine. To read more, pick up a copy of Hour Detroit at a local retail outlet. Click here to get our digital edition.
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