Niagara Falls Festival of Lights
Enjoying Canada’s Spectacular Attraction in the Holiday Season
A trip to Niagara Falls is a great way to enjoy the holiday season.
Niagara Falls, Canada is a major vacation and holiday destination all year round that is home to a special kind of fun during the Holiday season. Located just across the border from the United States in Ontario, the Fallsview area offers impressive natural beauty and man-made entertainment.
Things to Do in Niagara Falls in the Winter
The Falls themselves are just as stirring in winter as summer. The magnificent cascades are not the highest in the world, but sidewalks on the Canadian side go right up to the edge and allow the brave to peer into the mist and imagine what it was like to go over in a barrel.
The Falls almost never freeze, but ice chunks floating down the river are an impressive sight. The mist coming off the Falls does freeze quickly, and walking in the area can be treacherous.
At night during the Holiday season the Falls are lighted in rotating rainbow colors, a brilliant effect when seen from the many viewing areas nearby. Many hotels are been built on the Canadian side with the view of the Falls in mind.
Kicking off the Christmas and Holiday season is a parade, which takes place the last weekend in November. While the parade does not rival Macy’s in size, the floats and bands fit nicely on the small town streets.
In addition to the Falls, the area is brightened with holiday light displays, featuring Disney characters and other creations. The Fallsview area has a number of displays within walking distance, and additional displays are set up in the Dufferin Islands area just west of Fallsview. A donation is requested upon leaving the Dufferin Islands area.
Fridays during the holiday season are an occasion for fireworks, which are set off in the mighty river between the two countries. Musical entertainment is offered on select nights.
Not all of the many Niagara attractions are open in winter. You can visit the Butterfly Conservatory, but alas, the floral clock is not decorated with flowers in December. Clifton Hill has all the indoor attractions open, but outdoor rides are shut down for the season. Visitors will have to return in the spring in order to ride the famous Maid of the Mist boat trip under the Falls.
Tourists can still ride to the top of the giant Skylon as well as enjoy the arcade games in the lower levels, and adults can partake of the excitement of the casinos in the Fallsview area.
There are many places to do Christmas shopping or for finding the perfect ornament. The Table Rock area right by the Falls has a souvenir shop, and there is a plentitude of stores on the surrounding streets and on the Niagara Parkway.
The Parkway leads to Niagara-on-the-Lake, with its many wineries and Queen Street, which is filled with specialty shops and eateries. A major mall is located a few miles North in St. Catherine’s.
There are a great number of choices for restaurants in the Fallsview area. Be prepared, as the prices are very high in the tourist area. Familiar chain restaurants will not have familiar prices.
For a mid-winter break from the routine, or for a fun trip to enjoy Christmas lights and shopping, Niagara Falls is a great place to see during the holiday season.
