Bring a little sparkle, a little razzle-dazzle into your life – the Niagara Falls Festival of Lights is right around the corner! The Winter Festival of Lights is celebrated annually in Niagara Falls in Ontario, Canada, in the winter season. It is the largest such festival in Canada, with millions of lights illuminating every corner and corridor of the region. The festival goes on from mid-November to mid-January – for a whopping 51 days, the entire district is decorated, embellished, and ornamented in a dazzling glow of twinkling lights. Enjoy this stunning outdoor festival with your family and friends at zero cost, yes zero. The festival is entirely free of cost, though voluntary donations are welcome. Explore all the events & top places to visit during the festival with the help of this guide.
History Of Festival Of Lights At Niagara Falls
This glittering festival of lights first began in 1982. Niagara Falls Tourism Committee was inspired by the New York Festival of Lights event in Niagara Falls, New York, which first happened in 1981 and ran until 2001, when it was discontinued. The committee wanted to start a parallel event in Canada in association with Ontario Power Generation. This parallel event only grew each year in popularity, the number of lights used, and tourists & travellers visiting the falls for the festival. The festival has had a huge impact on the economy of Ontario, making it a year-round destination and converting what was essentially its “off-season” for tourism into a time perfect for a walk in the park wearing your warmest winter jackets and sipping on hot caramel coffee, thus increasing tourism & business activity.
In its first year, the festival was visited by over 250,000 people, which has now increased to over 1.5 million annual visitors. The planning for the event takes place year-round, with the staff adding new and creative events and venues for entertainment each year. The Festival of Lights Niagara Falls has been awarded Best Cultural Events and Top 5 Festivals in Ontario for its important contributions to promoting Canadian heritage and culture.
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Events
1. Sparkling Winter Lights Show
The Sparkling Winter Lights Show is a classic and must-visit part of the festival. Also known as the Falls Illumination Show, the three waterfalls at Niagara Falls are lit up with dreamy and dazzling lights. Colourful and ever-changing patterns move over the falling waters in rainbow-hued, neon, and other patterns that will make your jaw drop once you see it for yourself. The display is sometimes soft and subtle and occasionally harsh inspired by the movement of the winters of the north. Gentle snowfall, heavy hailstorms, icy blizzards, and the eerie & magical lights of the aurora borealis make up the different motifs used in the Niagara Falls Festival of Lights displays.
The Niagara Falls Light Show is put on nightly all 51 days of the festival. The largest of the three waterfalls, the Horseshoe Falls comes alive every night with this tribute to the natural beauty of the winter season. The show duration is 5 minutes, and the Niagara Falls Festival of Lights hours start at 6, 7, and 8 pm sharp every evening for the duration of the festival. You must absolutely not miss this grand display.
2. Hot Chocolate Trail
Winters go hand in hand with warm spicy drinks. The comfort and nostalgia take one back to their childhood days. Pumpkin spice lattes, apple ciders, turmeric milk, and best of all cinnamon hot chocolate will make you all warm & tingly inside and enhance your experience visiting the Niagara Falls Festival of Lights even better. The Hot Chocolate Trail at the festival is a self-guided trail of 20 confectionery shops serving more than 30 unique and delicious flavours of warm cocoa delight. You can find non-alcoholic and alcoholic versions of sweet & spicy hot chocolate which will feel like heaven in a cup. Chefs and chocolatiers of the region have come up with their own recipes that use classic combos like mint, cinnamon, and marshmallows to invent cocktails made with homemade ingredients. Visit all the stops and sample all the different concoctions on this trail lit with different displays and designs made from vibrant lights of all hues.
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Places To Visit While Attending Festival Of Lights
1. Niagara Falls
Image Credit: JR for Wikimedia Commons
Obviously, the top place to visit while exploring the Festival of Lights is Niagara Falls. During the night, the place gets lit up like a Christmas tree, ornamented with a combination of all the colours of the rainbow and more. During the day, too, Niagara Falls is no less impressive.
One of the most stunning places to visit in Canada or the world; feel the churning of the water and the raw power that it engenders at the waterfalls. The scene is sublime and breathtaking. Millions of people from all across the globe come to visit the three waterfalls at Niagara – namely, Horseshoe Falls, American Falls, and Bridal Veil Falls. Feel the mist on your skin on a 20-minute cruise in the waters near the falls, followed by a guided tour to the rocky caves behind the falls and see the water up close. Do not forget to take plenty of pictures and videos of this natural wonder.
2. Table Rock Welcome Centre
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The Table Rock was a natural feature, a large shelf of rock, protruding out of the cliffs at Niagara Falls. It was a great vantage point and tourist spot in the region, but gradually due to deterioration, major chunks of the rock broke off and fell. The Table Rock Centre is still the beating heart of Niagara Falls. It is a tourist destination replete with all facilities & amenities.
Perched atop the Canadian Horseshoe Falls, experience scrumptious culinary delights at the Table Rock Restaurant, and shop for souvenirs at the Table Rock Market. Visit the Table Rock Patio for a view of the Horseshoe Falls and pair that with some velvety hot cocoa. Visitors would also be interested in taking a short ride on the Falls Incline Railway, a train ride on a slope that offers awe-inspiring views of the three waterfalls.
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3. Maid Of The Mist
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Maid of the Mist is an iconic fixture in the landscape of Niagara Falls tourism. A boat ride across the falls is a must-do activity for all visitors. The guided tour takes you on 45-minute to 6-hour visits of the waterfalls and costs anywhere between INR 5000 to 15000. Learn about the historical & geographical features and importance of the falls. You can choose between wet-tours or domed-boats if you’d rather be dry. Witness the majestic beauty and chaos of the place. You can feel the mist all around you produced by the changing air pressure in the fall. The boat disappearing into layers of misty air is a surreal and memorable experience.
4. Queen Victoria Park
A delightful little complex full of lush green spaces in the summertime, the Queen Victoria Park is a winter wonderland during the off-season. Bounded by the Horseshoe Falls on one side and the famous Fallsview tourist district on the other, the park is part of Niagara Falls and contains many attractions. One can see the gigantic waterfalls right from your walk in the park. The park includes a delightful little rock garden, many floral displays, a tea rose garden, and hanging baskets. During the Winter Festival of Lights, an 8 km path in the park is decorated with twinkling lights and glowing gadgets, which makes for a whimsical stroll amid snow & greenery. In December, you can find Santa in his candy shop here, and you must make your wishes and take pictures with him.
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5. Niagara SkyWheel
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A Ferris wheel ride is always a great time, but combine that with the scenic views of the Niagara River, Horseshoe Falls, and American Falls, and you’ve hit the jackpot. The Niagara SkyWheel gives you exactly this experience. The wheel takes you 175 feet up in the air, and the entire region is visible from that height. The Ferris wheel was first opened in 2006, and ever since it has been one of the most exciting ways of enjoying nature & landscape of Niagara. The gondolas are air-conditioned in summer and heated during winter. The ride takes 6 to 10 minutes and is operational all year round. During the Winter Festival of Lights, the entire region is illuminated in clusters of blinking lights, and the waterfalls are flowing in neon-coloured waves.
6. Clifton Hill
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One of the top places to visit in Niagara Falls for families is Clifton Hill. A perfect place to engage in all the touristy activities, Clifton Hill is a promenade near Niagara River. Similar to all other places in the region, the promenade is lit up with various decorations, displays, ornaments, and sculptural exhibits full of small & big bulbs, lamps, and LEDs. Clifton Hill is a prominent area of amusement & nightlife hub of the region. You can find a number of souvenir shops, wax museums, haunted houses, arcades, eateries, resorts and themed attractions.
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7. Aquarium of Niagara
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The presence of a vast river dictates the existence of many fishies and other marine animals. Thus, an aquarium is a place that you must visit on your Niagara Falls trip. The Aquarium of Niagara is a non-profit public aquarium located on the American side of Niagara Falls in New York. Maintained by the Sea Research Foundation, the aquarium is dedicated to conserving and preserving aquatic life. The aquarium looks after and cares for rescued sea lions, seals, penguins, sharks, dolphins, jellyfish, and more than 100 other species of marine animals. The aquarium is also lit up during the Festival of Lights and is a year-round destination for families & groups of friends.
Niagara Falls Festival of Lights Dates 2024
The festival takes place at the same time each year. It starts during the third week of November and goes on for a full 51 days till early January. Christmas also falls during this duration; the winter season is therefore a great time for tourism in the place. The weather this time of the year is chilly, so pack your clothes accordingly. One must check the dates and the schedule of events on the Niagara Falls Festival of Lights website carefully in order to plan properly & take advantage of all that the festival has to offer.
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Where To Stay Near Niagara Falls
There are many good hotels and resorts in and around Niagara Falls where you can stay comfortably during your Winter Festival of Lights tour. Some of them are Niagara Fallsview Casino Resort, Tower Hotel, Hilton Niagara Falls Tower 2, Crowne Plaza, and The Niagara. Most of them are located really close to the waterfalls and Table Rock Centre so you can visit all the attractions at the festival conveniently.
How To Reach Niagara Falls
The nearest airport to Niagara Falls is the Buffalo-Niagara International Airport in Buffalo. This is common to New York, Buffalo and Southern Ontario (Canada). In terms of connectivity, it is connected to cities like Boston, Orlando, Chicago, Detroit, etc. This is at a distance of about 44 km from the main city and you can take shuttles and taxis to reach here in about 30-40 minutes. Flying from India can take up to 20-24 hours as Canada is one of the farthest countries from India, almost spherically opposite on the globe. From the airport, you can easily get taxis and local transit buses, or book yourself a Lyft or an Uber. From there, it is pretty easy to navigate the city and reach Niagara Falls.
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All set to embark on your journey to Niagara Falls? Make sure you visit during the winter season to experience the Niagara Falls Lights of Lights and the beauty, culture, and hospitality the city has to offer. Plan your trip to Niagara Falls around the many events & celebrations that are held in the winter season to make the most of your holiday.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Niagara Falls Festival of Lights
How long is the festival of lights in Niagara Falls?
The festival goes on for 51 nights, usually starting in mid-November and ending by early January.
Is the Niagara Falls Festival of Lights free?
Yes, all the outdoor displays done up by the Ontario Power Generation at the Winter Festival of Lights in Niagara Falls are free of cost to see.
What is the event festival of lights?
The festival is a celebration of the waterfalls and the cultural importance they hold. It is the largest light festival in the world with more than three million lights being used annually.
What time are the Niagara Falls fireworks?
The Niagara Falls Festival of Lights fireworks are usually displayed between 9 to 10 pm daily over Niagara Falls. However one must check with the relevant authorities to be completely sure.
What time should I visit Niagara Falls?
You can visit the Falls anytime in the year. The peak season is summer (June to August) but visiting during the winter means that you get to enjoy the Winter Niagara Falls Festival of Lights.
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Abhay Kumar is a graduate of English Literature. Writing is both his hobby and his passion. He writes academic research articles as well as poetry and short fiction. He loves reading science fiction, fantasy, literary fiction, and translated fiction. He also loves traveling and writing about himself in the third person.
