Looking to brighten up the quiet winter season? The answer is the 43rd annual Winter Festival of Lights in Niagara Falls. Running from November 15, 2025, to January 4, 2026, the entire area becomes a breathtaking world of light and color.
- Festival Highlights and New Attractions
- Illumination Feature: Sparkling Winter Lights
- Fireworks at the Winter Festival of Lights
- Misty Lodge and the Misty Kids®
- Free Santa Photos at the Skylon Tower
- Clifton Hill: A Festival of Lights Favorite
- Clifton Hill Light Displays and Festival Favorites
- WFOL Display Map
- Nearby Attractions
- Festival Of Lights Parking
- A Bit of Local History
Join us for a favorite local tradition by journeying from Clifton Hill along the stunning Niagara Parkway. As day turns to night, watch the world light up—millions of tiny bulbs outline the trees, creating a dazzling, glittering scene. This magical stroll is the perfect way to feel the cozy charm of the season, offering a warm and wonderful escape all winter long.
Dates: November 15, 2025 – January 4, 2026
This winter festival started back when leg warmers were cool, in 1982. It’s wild to think how it’s grown from a small local event into this massive, heartwarming spectacle. We think that’s why people keep coming back. You see grandparents pointing out displays to their grandkids, sharing the same wonder they felt years ago.
Festival Highlights and New Attractions
Laser Light Spectacular
Don’t miss the new Laser Light Spectacular. Forget what you think a laser show is—this one in Queen Victoria Park is different. They’ve got the lasers synced to music that actually gives you chills, painting the sky right above you. It’s free, which is amazing. You can see it Fridays and Saturdays until December 20th, and then every single night between Christmas and January 4th. Shows pop off every half hour from 6 to 9 PM.
Laser Show Dates & Times
Friday & Saturday nights from Nov 15-Dec 20 and nightly from Dec 26-Jan 4th. 6PM, 6:30PM, 7PM, 7:30PM, 8PM, 8:30PM, 9PM.
Laser Show Location
The show will take place in Queen Victoria Park, located on the Niagara Parkway at the bottom of the Murray Street.
Illumination Feature: Sparkling Winter Lights
The real showstopper continues to be the Falls. The “Sparkling Winter Lights” turn all that roaring water into a moving painting. One minute it’s shimmering with icy blues, the next it’s swirling with colors from a northern lights dream. It’s one of those things that just makes you stop and enjoy.
This signature lighting show offers consistent evening entertainment throughout the festival period from November 15, 2025, to January 4, 2026, giving visitors a fun opportunity to enjoy this unforgettable display on multiple nights.
Fireworks at the Winter Festival of Lights
There’s something about seeing world-class fireworks explode over the frozen gorge that never gets old. They’re set off at 8 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, and then every night from December 25th onward. For New Year’s Eve, they do a double header—one at 8 p.m. and a massive one at midnight to bring in the new year with a bang.
Fireworks Schedule:
- November: 15, 21-22, 28-29 at 8:00 pm
- December: 5-6, 12-13, 19-20, 25s-31 at 8:00 pm
- New Year’s Eve (Dec 31): 8pm & Midnight
- January: 1-4 at 8:00 pm
The fireworks show lasts for 5 minutes during The Niagara Falls Summer Fireworks Series and The Winter Festival of Lights Fireworks.
Which holidays have extended fireworks shows?
The show is extended to nine minutes on Canada Day (July 1), Independence Day (July 4), and New Year’s Eve (Dec 31).
Is the fireworks show free?
The fireworks show is free to watch. If you view it from a paid attraction, you’ll need to pay to access the attraction.
Misty Lodge and the Misty Kids®
If you’ve got little ones in tow, make a beeline for the Misty Lodge in Queen Victoria Park on a Friday or Saturday night (from 6-9 PM). That’s where you’ll find the Misty Kids, the festival’s friendly mascots, ready for photos and fun. The glowing playground there is a total kid-magnet.
Thank you to our Misty Kids mascot sponsor: Cogeco – YourTV Niagara
Free Santa Photos at the Skylon Tower
Don’t forget to get your free photo with Santa. He’ll be at the Skylon Tower arcade on a few weekends in December (the 5th, 6th, 12th, 13th, 19th, and 20th from 6-8 PM). It’s the perfect, no-fuss holiday memory.
- December 5, 6, 12, 13, 19, 20 from 6-8pm at the Skylon Tower
- Time: 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Clifton Hill: A Festival of Lights Favorite
Clifton Hill always has that bright, electric energy, but when the Winter Festival of Lights rolls in, it’s like the whole place gets a double dose of magic. They layer in these incredible light displays that just take your breath away. We love the way they’ve strung warm white lights through the trees—it looks almost like soft Spanish moss, creating this incredibly cozy and enchanting vibe.
Finding Your Way to the Fun
Coming into the district from Victoria Ave. and Ferry St.? You’ll be welcomed by a series of glowing arches—it’s the perfect start to the experience. And don’t just rush past the corner of Victoria and Clifton Hill! It’s a real hotspot with some of the most vibrant displays around, guaranteed to light up your night and your photos.
Clifton Hill Light Displays and Festival Favorites
You’ll stumble upon all the classic displays: the spinning spiral trees, the giant LOVE sign perfect for an Instagram snap, and those cute moose everyone loves.
Down at the bottom of the hill, the Oakes Garden Theatre is a real standout. You’ll find these beautifully lit spiral trees and subtle accent lighting that gives the whole area a warm, festive glow.
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
WFOL Display Map
Nearby Attractions
The best way to experience it is to just start walking. Dive into Clifton Hill—the energy is contagious, with all those warm white lights strung up everywhere.
When your toes start getting cold, that’s your signal to duck into a patio with heat lamps or a cozy restaurant to warm up with some comfort food.
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.
Why not make a night of it?
Discover your perfect home base in the heart of Niagara Falls’ vibrant Clifton Hill. Our inviting hotels place you right in the center of the action, where you’re just steps away from thrilling attractions, unique shops, and unforgettable dining. It’s the ideal launchpad for a fun-filled family adventure or a cozy romantic retreat.
Festival Of Lights Parking
Parking Made Easy: You won’t have to worry about parking. There’s a huge lot just off Clifton Hill that stretches toward the Skylon Tower. It puts you within easy walking distance of all the major attractions and light displays, which is a lifesaver on a chilly night.
A Bit of Local History
It’s pretty cool to think this all started back in 1982. Local businesses, the city, and tourism folks got together with a simple goal: to get people to visit Niagara Falls in the winter. That first year was humble, with just a few displays near the Falls, but it pulled in a quarter of a million people! It quickly caught on, growing bigger and brighter each year until it became the beloved winter tradition we know today.