Embrace the Magic of 3.5 Million Lights and 75 Spectacular Displays!
Dates: November 16, 2024 – January 5, 2025
42 Years of Celebration! Make the Niagara Falls Winter Festival of Lights Your Winter Tradition
This year, Niagara Falls proudly unveils the 42nd Niagara Falls Winter Festival of Lights—a dazzling celebration featuring 3.5 million lights and over 75 displays that transform Niagara Falls into a winter wonderland. Spanning the Niagara Parkway, Dufferin Islands, and popular tourist areas, the festival invites visitors to explore an expanded winter landscape that highlights Niagara Falls as a premier seasonal destination. The festival runs from November 16, 2024, to January 5, 2025, delivering a mesmerizing experience that promises to leave lasting memories.
Festival Highlights and New Attractions
The Winter Festival of Lights also welcomes several new large-scale art installations by internationally acclaimed artists. These light-based artworks offer interactive, immersive experiences that are sure to delight visitors of all ages:
- The TUNNEL by BIG ART: A magnificent 100-ft walkthrough installation, The TUNNEL’s polished surface reflects Niagara’s cityscape and illuminates its surroundings with a brilliant beacon of light.
- Cycle by Serge Maheu: Powered by Creos, Cycle is an interactive installation inspired by the sun and moon, with shifting intensities and colors that respond to movement, creating a vibrant and dynamic light show.
- Entre les rangs by KANVA Architecture: This urban sensory stroll covers an open space with flexible white stems topped with reflectors, mirroring the rhythm and motion of the city and engaging visitors with an ever-changing landscape.
- Les Diamants by Perséides studio: Featuring thousands of diamond-like structures, this installation, co-produced by QDS International and various Canadian cultural centers, presents a sparkling, crystalline design that enhances the winter atmosphere.
- Musical Bikes by Atracktiv: These stationary bikes form a music band of sorts, in which each bike is linked to an instrument’s track. In order to make the song whole, collaboration is essential between the cyclists to ensure all tracks play in harmony.
- A variety of songs and musical genres: QR codes allow participants to choose their song and to see their cycling distance and speed with data collection.
Opening Event and Niagara Parks Programming
The festival kicks off on November 16, 2024, with an exciting opening event similar to last year’s celebration. Additional entertainment and special programming will take place every weekend through December 1 at Queen Victoria Park, making the start of the season especially vibrant.
Sparkling Winter Lights at Niagara Falls
Experience the pinnacle of the Winter Festival of Lights with the Sparkling Winter Lights Falls Illumination, a mesmerizing, choreographed lighting sequence that transforms the Canadian side of Niagara Falls into an integral feature of this annual celebration. This unique illumination blends vibrant colors and intricate light patterns, creating a breathtaking visual showcase against the iconic falls.
Key Programming Details:
- Schedule: At the top of every hour, catch these dazzling presentations at 6:00 PM, 7:00 PM, and 8:00 PM
- Duration: 5-minute specialized illumination sequence
This signature lighting show offers consistent evening entertainment throughout the festival period from November 16, 2024, to January 5, 2025, giving visitors a structured opportunity to enjoy this unforgettable display on multiple nights.
The Sparkling Winter Lights Falls Illumination is a perfect complement to the other Festival of Lights attractions, making Niagara Falls shine as one of the most luminous winter destinations in the world.
Fireworks at the Winter Festival of Lights
Fireworks over Niagara Falls are a highlight of the festival. The dazzling fireworks display starts on November 16 and continues every Friday and Saturday at 8:00 pm. For holiday visitors, there will be nightly fireworks shows from December 27, 2024, to January 5, 2025. Don’t miss the special New Year’s Eve fireworks at midnight to ring in 2025!
Fireworks Schedule:
- November: 16, 22-23, 29-30 at 8:00 pm
- December: 6-7, 13-14, 20-21, 27-31 at 8:00 pm
- New Year’s Eve (Dec 31): Midnight
- January: 1-5 at 8:00 pm
Introducing Misty Lodge and the Misty Kids®
Meet the Misty Kids®, the Winter Festival of Lights goodwill ambassadors, at the Misty Lodge in Queen Victoria Park every Friday and Saturday from 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm. Kids and families alike are invited to take photos, say hello, and create holiday memories with these lovable characters.
Hot Chocolate Trail: Naughty or Nice
The Hot Chocolate Trail offers a delectable winter experience with 25 stops and 36 unique flavors of hot chocolate. This self-guided trail supports local businesses and provides visitors with an opportunity to explore the area with each cup. Whether you’re in the mood for a “Naughty” (alcoholic) or “Nice” (non-alcoholic) flavor, this trail offers a delicious way to extend your Winter Festival of Lights adventure.
Free Santa Photos at the Floral Showhouse
Make sure to visit Santa Claus at the Niagara Parks Floral Showhouse in December! Sponsored by Ontario Power Generation, the Santa Meet & Greet includes complimentary digital photos on the following dates:
- December 6, 7, 13, 14, 20 & 21
- Time: 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Join us this winter to celebrate the Niagara Falls Winter Festival of Lights and enjoy the magic that 3.5 million lights bring to this world-famous destination!
Clifton Hill: A Festival of Lights Favorite
Clifton Hill is generally lit up year-round, but during the Winter Festival of Lights, the area is further transformed by stunning light displays. Warm white lights drape from trees like Spanish Moss, creating a cozy, enchanting atmosphere. At the bottom of Clifton Hill in Oakes Garden Theatre, visitors will discover beautifully lit spiral trees and bright accent lighting, adding a festive glow to this popular area.
Visitors entering the district from Victoria Ave. and Ferry St. will be greeted by glowing arches marking the entrance to Clifton Hill. The corner of Victoria Ave. and Clifton Hill is a must-see spot, with vibrant displays to light up the night.
Clifton Hill Light Displays and Festival Favorites
Catch other “must-see” light displays near Clifton Hill, including:
- Zimmerman Fountain Display in Queen Victoria Park
- Oakes Garden Theatre
- Spiral Trees
- Spanish Moss Tree
- Rainbow Display Queen Victoria Park
- LOVE Display at Grandview Plaza
- Heart Bench On the Niagara Parkway
- Queen Victoria Park’s Path of Trees
- Swans on the Pond North of Niagara Parks Police Station
- Angels Near Niagara Parks Police Station
- Moose Adult on Niagara Parkway
- JOY on the Niagara Parkway
- Skylon Path Area (South of Clifton Hill)
- Cycle: Cycle was created by Serge Maheu and is powered by Creos.
- Kilkenny Bear: Walkway from Murray St to Robinson St
- Tree Lighting Along City Path
- Gingerbread Family Along City Path
- Snowflakes & Stars Along City Path
- Waterloo: Walkway from Murray St to Robinson St
- Reindeer: Walkway from Murray St to Robinson St
- Reindeer & Stars At Skylon Tower
- Frosty Frame & Candy Canes At Skylon Tower
- Niagara Parkway South of Clifton Hill
- The TUNNEL, a BIG ART Work, Tour Produced by Creos.s.
- Teeter-totters on Queen Victoria Park
- PLAY Display Queen Victoria Place
- Pathway of Lights: Queen Victoria Park at Bottom of Murray Street
WFOL Display Map
Clifton Hill offers a variety of year round activities to complement your Winter Festival of Lights experience. Take a ride on the Niagara SkyWheel for a panoramic view of the illuminated Falls, or enjoy fun indoor attractions like Zombie Attack or the Great Canadian Midway.
When it’s time to dine, there are plenty of great restaurant options, including Kelsey’s and Boston Pizza on Clifton Hill. Warm up with a hearty meal after exploring the lights and attractions.
Festival Of Lights Parking
There is plenty of parking just off of Clifton Hill that extends to the Skylon Tower. Easily accessible to all attractions and viewing the incredible light displays.
For directions to this parking lot, click the image below:
A Magical Winter Tradition
Since its founding in 1982, the Niagara Falls Winter Festival of Lights has become a winter tradition for over a million visitors annually. With millions of lights, spectacular displays, and entertainment for all ages, the festival offers a truly magical winter getaway.
Plan Your Visit
- Festival Dates: November 16, 2024 – January 5, 2025
- Key Events: Sparkling Winter Lights Illumination, Fireworks, Hot Chocolate Trail, Santa Meet & Greet
- Nearby Attractions: Clifton Hill, Niagara SkyWheel, Great Canadian Midway
- Nearby Restaurants: Kelsey’s, Boston Pizza, Tim Hortons
Join us in Niagara Falls this winter for the Winter Festival of Lights, where the magic of the season comes to life through brilliant illuminations, festive activities, and unforgettable memories.
About the Festival
Enjoy the most popular Illumination Festival in Canada in Niagara Falls as we capture the winter’s magic.
In 1982, the Niagara Falls Winter Festival of Lights was established. With over 1 million annual visitors, we are today delighted to be the largest lighting festival in Canada and the most prestigious in all of North America.
Recognition
The Winter Festival of Lights has grown into one of North America’s largest and most recognized holiday light shows, attracting millions of visitors annually and hundreds of motor coach tours each year.
Numerous honours from the event and tourist industries have been given to the Festival, including the prestigious Events of Distinction Award from Festivals and Events Ontario, Best Volunteer Program, Top Festival/Event in Ontario, and Most Innovative Partnership (FEO). Additionally, the Winter Festival of Lights has long been acknowledged by the American Bus Association (ABA) as one of its Top 100 Internationally Recognized Events.
Each year the festival is committed to keeping the Niagara Winter Festival of Lights: family friendly, free to attend and open to everyone. So bundle up and celebrate the power of light and community!
History
The Niagara Falls Canada Visitor and Convention Bureau, now known as Niagara Falls Tourism, the City of Niagara Falls, the Niagara Parks Commission, and a number of private businesses in the Niagara Falls tourism industry joined forces to create the Winter Festival of Lights in 1982.
The Festival was started as an effort to lengthen Niagara Falls’ summer-only tourist season, which had existed for more than a century. The Festival’s initial season featured a modest assortment of lights displays close to the Falls that attracted a respectable 250,000 visitors. A trip to Niagara Falls became rapidly a yearly winter tradition for family and friends as the Festival displays evolved and audience sizes increased each year.