Picnics and Mill Race Park

• Reservation requests are accepted on the first business day of the year.
• Picnic areas are available for reservation from May 1, 2024 – October 13, 2024. Please note, reservations are unavailable on Statutory Holidays.
•  Alcohol is not permitted.
• Hydro is unavailable at all picnic sites.
• Only propane barbeques are permitted. Please note barbeques are not provided.
• 10’ x 10’ (maximum) tent is allowed. Tents must not be staked into the ground.
• Inflatables of any size (ie. Bouncy castles) and Dunk Tanks are not permitted.
• Reservations at Riverside Park are available for full day (8:30a.m – 8:30p.m.) and half day rentals (8:30a.m - 1:30p.m. or 3:30p.m - 8:30p.m.). All other parks are exclusively full day rentals (8:30a.m – 8:30p.m.).
• Wedding reservations are only available at Mill Race Park.
• All rentals are required to provide or purchase insurance, please see Facility Bookings for additional information.
• Any space within 20 meters of a picnic area or shelter is designated as smoke and vape-free, in accordance with the Smoke-Free Ontario Act.
• All patrons, guests, associations, organizations, individuals and groups participating in any activity or program within City facilities are required to conduct themselves in a manner that does not negatively affect the ability of others to use and enjoy City facilities, or in a manner that could be deemed as inappropriate conduct.  Please see the Respectful Behaviour Policy tab on the Facilities page for additional information.

Picnic reservations are available at the following locations 

Hespeler Optimist Park - 640 Ellis Rd.

• Picnic area (shelter) - up to 36 people

Riverside Park - 49 King St. W

• Dolph (shelter) - up to 125 people
• Kin (shelter) - up to 60 people
• Front (no shelter) - up to 100 people
• Three Corners (no shelter) - up to 60 people 

Soper Park - 120 Shade St.

• Picnic Area (shelter) - up to 80 people

Churchill Park - 200 Christopher Dr.

• Playground Area (no shelter) - up to 75 people  
• Pavilion Area (shelter) - up to 18 people

*HST is applicable to all rental fees

If you do not have insurance and wish to purchase it through the City of Cambridge, the following rates are applicable. 

• Mill Race Park located at 36 Water St. N is the site of the official Canadian Heritage River Designation Plaque. Built within the ruins of the old Dickson Textile Mill, Mill Race Park features an excavated canal (raceway), which once powered the mill. There is a concession booth which operates seasonally, along with a washroom and an area with picnic tables.
• Mill Race Park is the only park that can be reserved for Wedding and/or Photos.
• Mill Race Park reservations are available from May 4, 2026 – October 31, 2026. Please note, reservations are unavailable on Statutory Holidays.
• Bookings begin at 10am each day. All reservations must conclude by 8pm.
• Time Allotments for Mill Race Park are as follows: 
• Pictures - 45 minute increments 
• Wedding - 1 hour 30 minutes 
• Wedding and Photos - 2 hours 15 minutes
• When reserving Mill Race Park for a Wedding Ceremony please note that an officiant is not included
• Reservation signs are posted at appropriate areas
• Tents, confetti, and rice are not permitted
• All rentals are required to provide or purchase insurance, please see facility rental insurance tab for additional information. 
• All patrons, guests, associations, organizations, individuals and groups participating in any activity or program within City facilities are required to conduct themselves in a manner that does not negatively affect the ability of others to use and enjoy City facilities, or in a manner that could be deemed as inappropriate conduct. Please see the Respectful Behaviour Policy tab on the Facilities page for additional information.

*HST is applicable to all rental fees

If you do not have insurance and wish to purchase it through the City of Cambridge, the following rates are applicable.