Winter Festival of Lights Turns Niagara Falls into a Winter World Wonderland
From November 7 to January 10, 2010, Canada’s largest illumination festival highlights an event-filled Niagara Falls holiday season, with over 1 million visitors seeing the best of Niagara Falls Canada, just a snowball’s throw from the sensational new Rink at the Brink.
Niagara Falls, Ontario (PRWEB) October 27, 2009 — Long winter nights are welcome in Niagara Falls when over 3 million lights and hundreds of glittering displays will cast a colourful glow across the city. Matching their brilliance is a star-studded season of entertainment that includes the November 12 Niagara Falls Comedy Fest, Christmas Concerts by Loretta Lynn and the Gatlin Brothers, and for the whole family, the magical Chronicles of Narnia at the new Queen Street Theatre in a revitalized downtown Niagara Falls, all perfect for a Niagara Falls vacation.
The Winter Festival of Lights sparks to life with an Opening Ceremony on November 7. This spectacular outdoor stage show in Queen Victoria Park features performances from the Winter Festival of Lights Choir, under the direction of the Ontario Conservatory of Music - Niagara Falls and the Niagara Star Singers singing a medley of holiday classics. And in a moment sure to put everyone in the festive spirit, this year’s special guests - Mickey and Minnie Mouse - have come all the way from Disney to help with the official lighting ceremony. (more…)
Outdoor skating rink to open Nov. 23 at ‘brink’ of Horseshoe Falls
Source: (CP) Canadian Press
NIAGARA FALLS, Ont. — A new public skating rink will open next month “a stone’s throw from the brink of the Horseshoe Falls,” say organizers of the Niagara Falls Winter Festival of Lights.
The outdoor Rink at the Brink, two-thirds the size of an NHL rink, will be located across from the newly renovated Table Rock Centre and offer excellent views of the Falls, says a release.
It will be open daily between 10 a.m. and 10 p.m. from Nov. 23 to Feb. 28. Skates and helmets will be available for rent, and skating lessons will also be offered.
Admission without skate rental is $8 for adults, $5.75 for children.
“We think it’s going to be a huge hit with both local residents and visitors to Niagara Falls,” said festival chair Joe Miszk.
Mayor Ted Salci, City of Niagara Falls and the Members of City Council were pleased to welcome the Minister of Justice and Attorney General for Canada, the Honourable Rob Nicholson, Deputy Premier and Minister of Energy and Infrastructure for Ontario, the Honourable George Smitherman, and Niagara Falls MPP Kim Craitor to the Niagara Falls VIA Rail Station Monday, September 25 to receive the announcement of infrastructure stimulus funding in the amount of $25 million from the provincial government and reaffirmation from the federal government of their commitment of $25 million for their much anticipated People Mover System.
The Niagara Falls People Mover Project will allow for integration with local transit, addressing the transportation needs of its residents and visitors alike while meeting the federal and provincial government objectives of developing employment and new growth.
The People Mover System will have a significant impact on the environment by effectively challenging the congestion in the tourist core by removing cars from the roads, thereby reducing greenhouse gas emissions and transporting our visitors and residents in an efficient and effective manner. (more…)
Falling for Niagara’s roses
Botanical Gardens’ showcase deserves more attention from tourists
Aug 27, 2009 04:30 AM
Paul Dalby
Special to the Star
NIAGARA FALLS–It’s a bit like having an older brother who always grabs the attention of the girls. Here in the honeymoon capital, nothing can outshine the Falls – unless, of course, it’s Charles Darwin, Dusty Springfield and Dolly Parton.
We’re not talking here about new inductees into the town’s wax museum, just a trio of blooms that could make an appearance in North America’s biggest and best Victorian rose garden. (more…)
Niagara Falls: Canadian side overflows with kitsch kitsch
Sunday, August 02, 2009
Stories by Dennis Roddy, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
NIAGARA FALLS, Canada — Niagara Falls spills 750,000 gallons of water per second down a 167-foot drop in a roar that began when glaciers melted 10,000 years ago.
Tourists come by the millions, stare into the white mist, and marvel at one of the wonders of the world. Then they have wonders of their own: What to do next?
As Nick Ramunno, who oversees a hall full of wax rock stars there for the staring at, puts it: “You need something else besides the Falls. You can only look at the Falls so long.”
That’s when it’s time to climb Clifton Hill.
There is no compromising with Clifton Hill. Either you recoil in horror at the noise, lights, crowds, smells, outsize waffle cones and howling fright houses or you give yourself over to the Great Spirit of Kitsch that has pervaded since the days hotel owners shanghaied each other’s guests at the train station and shook them down for trips to the bottom of the Falls. (Read more…)
Parks Commission looking for Canada’s next great band
New competition offers New Year’s Eve slot among prizes
Posted By JOHN LAW
A new music competition this summer is dangling a huge carrot in front of hungry bands: A chance to play New Year’s Eve in Niagara Falls.
So far, about 200 bands from across Canada and New York State are leaping at the chance, and the cream of the crop is heading to Niagara Falls. The 28 finalists of the youDiscover competition will start playing Oakes Garden Theatre Wednesday, and continue every week until a group of celebrity judges chooses the winner from four finalists at a Grand Finale concert Aug. 28. (more…)
Band Finalists Revealed in Search for Canada’s Next Superstar
youDiscover Competition announces first 14 bands to perform in Niagara Falls
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
NIAGARA FALLS, ON – Get Ready to Rock! – The first 14 bands to compete in this summer’s hottest music competition; youDiscover, have been revealed. These bands will now compete at Niagara Parks’ historic Oakes Garden Theatre for a chance to win a recording contract, band makeover and spot on national television.
The lucky finalists were selected from hundreds of online entries from across Canada and New York State. Contestants were required to upload three original tunes and a short video on why they should be selected to compete. The first 14 bands were chosen by record executives at Orange Lounge Recordings, and they include:
‘Sexiest man alive’ meets new Maid
Posted By MAKI BECKER, THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
People magazine may have named him “Sexiest Man Alive” twice, but even Brad Pitt looked a little goofy in his blue Maid of the Mist poncho.
The superstar actor was in Niagara Falls on a picture-perfect afternoon to take in the sights of the world-famous cataracts Saturday, the Buffalo News reports on its website.
In tow were two of his sons, Maddox and Pax; his parents, Bill and Jane, and his bodyguards. The group enjoyed the attractions while remaining relatively under the radar.
Not with them was Pitt’s equally famous partner, Angelina Jolie, who has been filming the thriller “Salt” in Albany.
“He was looking good,” sighed a star-struck Melissa Harris, 17, of Niagara Falls as the hunky actor rushed past her. (more..)
Festival lights the sky A MAGICAL START TO CHRISTMAS
Posted By JOHN LAW , REVIEW STAFF WRITER
It didn’t feel a lot like Christmas, but the Winter Festival of Lights made the most of it on a rainy opening night Saturday.
Under a steady downpour, a soggy crowd at Queen Victoria Park sat through an hour of speeches, Christmas carols and magic acts before Disney favourites Goofy and Pluto flipped the switch to officially open the 26th annual festival.
At that point, everyone dropped their umbrellas to check out a city transformed. For the next two months, more than a million visitors are expected to take in more than 120 animated displays and three million lights, making this one of North America’s biggest illumination festivals. (more…)
Festival set to shine lights across city
Posted By RAY SPITERI , REVIEW STAFF WRITER
Music, magic and Walt Disney characters will be the order of the day this weekend in Niagara Falls as the Winter Festival of Lights kicks off its 26th year.
Opening ceremonies take place Saturday with a free outdoor stage show in Queen Victoria Park.
Beginning at 5 p. m., the festival of lights choir, under the direction of the Ontario Conservatory of Music, will sing a selection of holiday classics.
Greg Frewin, regarded as an international grand champion of magic, will perform, as well as Seussical featuring “Cat in the Hat” and “Horton Hears a Who,” and the Smudge Fundaes with the Winter Festival of Lights mascots, The Misty Kids. (more…)
