Magical Light Festivals to Brighten Your Holiday Season
And some to help you bring in the new year!
Annual light festival events near you or worth the drive have long been a tradition of the holiday season for people in Ontario.
If you’re lucky, it’s a snowy winter wonderland, making the twinkling colourful lights sure to put the Christmas spirit into any Scrooge or Grinch.
‘To Do’ List: Magical Light Shows In Ontario
This year there will be holiday drives and walk-thru displays, with music, Santa and the whole nine yards. Come make special memories this year and perhaps start new holiday traditions.
SPECIAL HOLIDAY SEASON THINGS TO DO
Outdoor light festivals, tree lightings and creative new walking and drive-thru experiences will be lighting up the holiday season all over Ontario. Demand will be high so buy your tickets and book your times early.
If you’re looking to make special holiday memories this year, here are a few holiday nights of lights to check out. Again, if we can give any advice, it’s buy your ticket nice and early to avoid disappointment.
Holiday Magic at Blue
Where: The Blue Mountains
When: November 18, 2023 – January 7, 2024
By day the Village sparkles with festive décor, holiday music and fires to warm by. Starting at dusk, follow the one kilometer Holiday Light Trail through the Village to discover enchanting and interactive light displays. On week-ends, enjoy live holiday music, street performers, warming stations and a horse drawn carriage with Santa roaming the Village.
Learn MoreA Journey into Enchantment
Where: Pickering or Halton Hills, Ontario
When: December 1, 2023 – January 7, 2024
A Drive-Thru Light Show in Oro-Medonte Produced by The Oro-Medonte Chamber of Commerce.
Learn MoreA Journey into Enchantment
Where: Pickering or Halton Hills, Ontario
When: December 1, 2023 – January 7, 2024
Experience a magical Christmas and holiday season like never before! Take a 2km drive through a breathtaking display. See Santa and his reindeer, happy elves, and more. It will fill your heart with joy and wonder. And that’s not all! Drive through a tunnel of sparkling lights and enter a dreamy world where lights twinkle all around, making it a special experience you’ve never had before. The lights will dance to holiday music, adding even more enchantment to the show. Get your tickets for A Journey into Enchantment in Toronto!
Learn MoreWinter Festival of Lights
Where: Niagara Falls, Ontario
When: November 18, 2023 – January 7, 2024
The most enchanting of Niagara Falls attractions, the annual Winter Festival of Lights is Canada’s largest FREE outdoor light festival. Experience the spectacular displays with millions of lights and larger than life displays across the tourism districts.
Learn MoreRipley’s 4D Moving Theater, Niagara Falls Canada – BUY TICKETS ONLINE AND SAVE!
Make it a Niagara Falls Getaway. Places to stay:
Sheraton Fallsview Hotel Niagara Marriott Fallsview Hotel & SpaCavalcade of Lights
Where: Nathan Philips Square Toronto
When: November 25, 2023 – January 7, 2024
Since 1967, Toronto announces the arrival of the holiday season with the Cavalcade of Lights. This glittering festival captures Canada’s winter spirit and transforms Nathan Phillips Square, easily accessible by the TTC Queen streetcar or the subway via the Yonge and University lines. The plaza is filled with over half a million LED lights, ice skating and Toronto’s official Christmas tree—typically a spruce tree around 18 m high.
Casa Loma Holiday Lights Tour
Where: Toronto
When: Select Dates in December 2023 and January 2024
Each December experience the magic of the season at Casa Loma’s spectacular Holiday Lights Tour. Wander through a dazzling lighting display in the gardens and tunnels, all decorated for the festive season. Designed as a self-guided walk, guests stroll through the property’s grounds while enjoying the spectacular decorations, outdoor lighting displays and live performances.
Glow
Where: Toronto
When: TBA 2023
‘Around the World’ light display theme will take you on a magical journey through six countries.
Mystical Lights
Where: Oro-Medonte
When: TBA 2023
Mystical Lights, a magical drive-thru event for families to enjoy this holiday season.
A Gift of Lights at Bingemans & Jingle Bell Rock at Bingemans
Where: Kitchener
When: November 16, 2023 – January 6, 2024
Experience the magic and wonder of the region’s most spectacular and dazzling light displays this holiday season. Bask in the beauty and wonderment of Gift of Lights; a drive through experience, featuring over 300 animated and static light displays and light tunnels. Continue the magic at the fully immersive Jingle Bell Rock; a walking wonder of giant light sculptures, musical animations and a truly breathtaking 40 foot twinkly tree centerpiece.
Holiday Night of Lights
Where: Vaughan
When: December 1, 2023 – January 7, 2024
Holiday Nights of Lights is an immersive walk-through experience featuring more than 1.5 million LED lights.
Canada’s Wonderland Winterfest
Where: Vaughan
When: November 17, 2023 – January 6, 2024
Canada’s Wonderland transforms into a magical, winter wonderland for WinterFest – an immersive holiday experience for the whole family. This event features ice-skating on Snow Flake Lake, more than a dozen live shows and holiday entertainment, exciting rides, millions of spectacular lights, and hundreds of beautiful Christmas trees throughout the park, including two 50-foot Christmas trees on International Street.
Burlington Lakeside Festival of Lights
Where: Burlington
When: November 24, 2023 – January 8, 2024
The Festival of Lights illuminates Burlington’s waterfront through December to early January each year.
Christmas Lights Across Canada
Where: Ottawa
When: December 2023 TBA
The Christmas Lights Across Canada program is being transformed for its 37th edition.
Winter Wonder at Royal Botanical Gardens
Where: Burlington
When: November 23, 2023 – January 7, 2024
Trusty elves have created ‘Winter Wonders’, featuring twinkling displays along an outdoor pathway at Hendrie Park. Thursdays – Sundays.
Festival of Lights
Where: Belleville
When: TBA 2023
This year’s Festival of Lights is a driving event to enjoy the holiday magic in Belleville and the Downtown District from the comfort of your vehicle.
Magic of Lights
Where: 3 Ontario locations
When: TBA 2023
Magic of Lights, a unique and dazzling drive-through holiday lights experience with more than a mile of spectacular light displays.
Lights On
Where: Stratford
When: December 15, 2023 – January 13, 2024
With the City itself as a dramatic stage, Lights On Stratford winter festival of lights will transform the downtown core with luminous art and interactive light installations.
Eclipse Walk with Light
Where: Huntsville
When: TBA 2023
With the City itself as a dramatic stage, Lights On Stratford winter festival of lights will transform the downtown core with luminous art and interactive light installations.
First Light
Where: Midland
When: November 16, 17, 18, 23, 24, 25, 30 & December 1, 2, 2023
Rediscover the historic site aglow from tranquil candlelight, as a beautiful amber glow illuminates the famous 17th-century mission.
Illumi Mississauga
Where: Mississauga
When: TBA 2023
illumi ignites the night with more than 20 million brilliant lights in 13 magical universes on a 600,000 square foot site, the equivalent of 10 football fields.
Make it an Ontario Holiday Getaway to Remember
Best of the holiday season to the ToDoOntario fans and community!
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