For families eager to create merry new holiday memories, Niagara delivers endless ways to get in the spirit while spending quality time together. Choose from a sleighful of holiday activities, including dazzling light shows, festive performances, and good old-fashioned festive fun throughout Niagara from mid-November through early January.
Millions of twinkling lights and beautiful holiday scenes set against the dramatic backdrop of Niagara Falls will make your family feel like they’ve been transported inside a magical snow globe during Niagara Falls’ Winter Festival of Lights from November 16 through January 5. Discover why the Winter Festival of Lights has been wowing crowds for 42 years and has become a cherished family tradition for so many.
In addition to the Winter Festival of Lights, families can find even more seasonal sparkle at the annual Let It Glow – A Celebration of Light, which features beautiful light displays and family-friendly events in St. Catharines and Port Dalhousie.
Santa’s not the only one who can serve up a spectacular holiday surprise. Book a hotel with an incredible waterpark as a home base for your Niagara weekend and you’ll be a holiday hero! Splash the day away at Great Wolf Lodge, Americana Resort, or the Fallsview Indoor Waterpark. Sheraton Fallsview Hotel, Crowne Plaza Niagara Falls – Fallsview and Skyline Hotel and Waterpark all offer direct indoor access to the Fallsview Indoor Waterpark.
Why not make this the year your family starts a new tradition of taking a jolly family journey to find that perfect evergreen tree? Niagara’s many nurseries and cut-your-own tree farms make it easy to source spectacular seasonal trees. Great choices include:
Making a holiday urn or centrepiece is another fun way for families to take home Niagara memories to brighten their home all season long. The Watering Can offers kid-friendly workshops as well as take-home urn kits. Hitting one of Niagara’s many farmers’ markets for holiday greenery is another great option for families who want to make their urns from scratch.
During the Winter Festival of Lights, spend an afternoon tasting your way along Niagara Falls’ self-guided Hot Chocolate Trail. Everyone in your crew can keep track of their favourite chocolatey concoctions created by chocolatiers, chefs and mixologists at 22 of the area’s favourite restaurants and bake shops.
When it’s time to warm chilly toes, head to the Annual Poinsettia Show at the Niagara Parks’ Floral Showhouse. The show, which runs from November through January, features cyclamen, azaleas, Christmas cacti and paperwhite narcissus, and a spectacular display of festive poinsettias.
From Santa Claus parades and candlelit strolls to holiday markets and concerts, out-of-town guests are welcomed at Niagara’s many community events. Family-friendly seasonal festivities in Niagara this year include:
Are you ready to start planning your family’s Niagara holiday breakaway? Check out our Family Fun, Attractions, Winter pages and @visit_niagara on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube for trip inspiration and to learn about upcoming events. Then, browse through accommodations and dining options to discover places that will perfectly round out your trip!
#myniagara