Winter Festival of Lights in Niagara Falls
A fun wintertime light festival
Every year Niagara Falls has a great light show that you can enjoy!
This Winter Festival of Lights in Niagara Falls is now in its 41st year as of the winter of 2023-2024.
Even though it may be cold outside, I feel like it’s worth checking out!
It is actually Canada’s largest illuminated festival!
Good to Know First!
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Rent your Car
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Luggage Storage
Arrived early or staying later? Store your luggage safely so that you can enjoy freely!
Book your hotel
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Rent Bikes etc.
Rent your motorcycle, scooter, quads,& bicycles here in advance so you can travel freely!
How to be prepared for the Niagara Falls Winter Festival of Lights
I highly recommend dressing very warmly and in layers.
This festival of lights is an outdoor event that involves walking.
Basically, you are walking around the grass and paved areas along the main road that runs parallel with the Falls.
A great thing about this path that you take to see all the lights, is that they are calling it The Hot Chocolate trail!
Who doesn’t love hot chocolate!
Also good to know, there are different bars, pubs, hotels and stores that are selling different types of hot chocolate drinks.
Yes, both alcoholic and non-alcoholic.
There is a daily schedule, so you can check out which places are serving their own special version of hot chocolate.
Check out Hot Chocolate Trail for details because some places will serve their drink during the day while others begin making their special drink at 7:00pm.
There is a Tim Horton’s, gift shop and a public washroom at 6345 Niagara Pkwy which is along this trail and across from the Falls.
The lights are on everyday from 5:00pm until midnight everyday during the Winter Festival of Lights.
Photo Ops at the Winter Festival of Lights
There are so many great spots to take photos.
There are ginger bread men made out of lights where you can put your head through a hole where the head would be.
You will see signs that this one that I couldn’t resist posing with!
There are even fireworks for 40 nights of this festival! Usually the fireworks are every Friday and Saturday night, and of course New Years Eve too!
There are some events that are geared towards children or families like photos with Santa and the colouring contest.
Every year they add more attractions and lights to the festival!
Seeing it all!
The best way to see everything up close and take photos is definitely walking.
With that being said, it’s growing every year. It’s now 8 kms long! So, I recommend driving to 1 area, parking and walking around to get your photos and experience everything.
There are also interactive things like seesaws, swings and more to enjoy!
After you can drive to another area and do the same.
Maybe you’re thinking I will just drive slowly down the road and check it out. You can do that, but there are traffic police at several spots along the road that focus on keeping the traffic flowing and letting people cross the roads safely.
There are also several displays that are far back from the road. You can follow walkways to get to most, but not all, of the light displays.
Driving Area
They have added an area to the Winter Festival of Lights that you can drive through.
Enjoy the view from the Niagara Falls SkyWheel
When the Winter Festival of Lights is happening, it is a wonderful time to ride the SkyWheel! The SkyWheel is a big ferris wheel that is just behind Clifton Hill. It is lit up at night too!
As you can see in the picture above, the SkyWheel becomes a part of the scenery of the Festival of Lights.
when you right the SkyWheel, you get a bird’s eye view of the Niagara Falls, Clifton Hill, and the Winter Festival of Lights!
I have been on the SkyWheel in the day and at night, I really recommend at night because of the Festival of Lights and all of the Clifton Hill lights.
If you’re looking for more awesome things to do in Niagara Falls, then you want to read 16 Epic Things To Do in Niagara Falls!
The Niagara Falls
I recommend checking out the American and Canadian Falls when you go too.
They are illuminated with different colour lights.
Often the lights will change like their own little light show.
Depending upon the temperature and weather when you go, the falls will look different.
There have been times where I have seen the water flowing and other times when the waterfalls are partially or completely frozen.
Seeing the falls frozen is a really amazing!
There is still water running behind the ice, but you mostly only see frozen ice in the shape of the falls.
It is truly awesome to see!
What to bring to the Niagara Falls Winter Festival of Lights
I would recommend good walking shoes that are not slippery on the bottom. This festival is all outside and parts of it are very close to the Niagara Falls.
If you have not been to Niagara Falls, it is quite misty by the falls, so the ground is usually wet.
Depending on the weather, it may be snowy, muddy, icy or clear on the ground.
Many of the lights from the Winter Festival of Lights are placed on grassy areas by the walkway or around it.
There are some light displays that are off on the grass, which I have definitely walked in the mud and snow to get to them.
Considering the weather you may be walking in mud, snow or a wet ground.
I recommend bringing:
- a hat or hood to keep your hair from getting wet near the falls and for warmth
- a camera there are so many photo ops!!
- touchscreen gloves so that you can take photos with your phone and not have to freeze your fingers just to take a photo
- money or a card to pay for all that yummy hot chocolate!
- and as I mentioned comfortable shoes that are not slippery on the bottom.
So, when will you check out this Winter Festival?
The Winter Festival of Lights in Niagara Falls happens every year in the 2nd week of November until sometime in January every year.
You can check out the yearly details at the Winter Festival Of Lights.
This is a great fun and romantic activity to do while in Niagara Falls. If you’re looking for more romance in Niagara Falls, check out Romantic Niagara Falls Activities.
Do you need a hotel in Niagara Falls?
You can book your hotel here using booking.com.
I recommend booking in advance as the hotels can sell out, especially on Fridays and Saturdays.
If you’re coming from to Toronto to go to Niagara Falls, you might be wondering what is the best way to get there! Well, I’ve got you covered!
Find out your options and pick the ones that best for you in How to Get to Niagara Falls from Toronto.
Looking for other activities to do in Niagara Falls?
If you would like to know more about The “Street of Fun” that is called Clifton Hill, check out my blog: Niagara Falls- Clifton Hill Attractions.
If you want to get off of the busy street and have some adventure, check out these 16 Epic Things To Do in Niagara Falls. If you’re looking an Ontario road trip, check out The Best Natural Attractions in Ontario.
You can also check out some organized tours and activities, and book them in advance with Viator.
Besides being a blogger, I am also an English teacher and an Amazon author.
Check it all out here!
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Niagara Falls- Clifton Hill Attractions | Open Doors With Words
[…] If you’re headed to Niagara Falls in the winter, your camera will definitely be useful for the Winter Festival of Lights in Niagara Falls. […]