Ontario Power Generation Winter Festival of Lights 2014

Niagara Falls Winter Festival of Lights

            It’s one of the most wonderful times of the year in Niagara Falls starting on November 15th and running until January 12th, 2015 (sing with us). The 32nd annual Ontario Power Generation Winter Festival of Lights (a.k.a. Winter Festival of Lights to us local folk) is just 12 days away. It’s definitely an exciting annual event that we all look forward to every year. It’s the official start of the holiday season and the largest Illumination Festival in Canada. The city flicks on their “magic” light switch and Niagara Falls becomes alive with over 3 Million twinkling lights and over 125 animated displays. Don’t miss an “all new” opening ceremonies on Saturday, November 15th in Queen Victoria Park. This year is full of excitement starting at 6pm.

Opening Ceremonies

Starting at 6pm - Acrobats from Zero Gravity Circus will perform on a circular stage set up in the centre of Queen Victoria Park. Magic will happen right before your eyes! Featuring cirque performers including an aerial hoop artist high above the ground showcasing feats of high-flying precision & aerial contortion. The cirque performance will conclude with highly skilled fire masters who will put on stunning demonstrations of immaculate control & brilliant fiery artistry including: fire poi spinning, fire torches and so much more. The artists complex tricks will weave illuminated patterns of fire to hypnotic effect, so don’t forget to bring your camera! Following the cirque performance the official “Flip of the Switch” ceremony will illuminate millions of lights and spark off a fantastic fireworks display over the Falls. For those who miss the 6 pm show, Zero Gravity Circus will perform their magic again at 7 pm complete with fireworks but without the flip of the switch. Check out the breathtaking Fireworks display at the Opening Ceremonies. Local music composer, Nathan Chamberland, composed and recorded the Orchestral score for this mesmerizing masterpiece.  

Dufferin Islands

Visitors will be awed with 13 new Canadian Wildlife displays (both modern and prehistoric), including: a moose and buffalo, howling wolves, charging rams, bears, beavers, whales, deer, and dinosaurs that roamed the land millions of years ago. This winter wonderland also includes displays of aboriginal life as well as the popular Noah’s Ark display. New this year, there will be a 20 foot tall illumination, called the Soma, designed to resemble a waterfall. This is the perfect illuminated display to take your holiday selfies. There will be a large illuminated water feature in the middle of the pond and the trees will be lit in projection lighting that will change colours in sync with music. A special treat this year are Friday and Saturday night visits (5:30 – 7:30pm) from Santa until Dec. 21 – then he has to go make final preparations for his big day! Also, if you tune into 100.5 FM during your drive through Dufferin Islands you will enjoy Christmas music to get you in the festive mood.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles to Hit Clifton Hill

                  Very exciting news for families and TMNT fans! The Ontario Power Generation Festival of Lights has partnered with Paramount Canada this year! There will be a new Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle illuminated display at the top of Clifton Hill, which will be unveiled on Dec. 12th at 7pm. Featuring your favourite turtles: Leonardo, Raphael, Michaelangelo and Donatello. Besides this exciting new light display, there will also be a special screening of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle film at the Ripley’s 4D Moving Theatre on Clifton Hill and all the lights will be green on December 16th.

Fireworks and Falls Illumination Schedule

At 9pm every Friday night between November 21st and January 9th, the sky over the Horseshoe and American Falls will be lit up with a stunning fireworks performance. You will see as many as 20 fireworks shows this season. 2014-15 Niagara Falls Winter Fireworks over the Falls Performance Schedule! Saturday November 15th two shows as part of the OPG Winter Fesitval of Lights Opening Ceremonies Friday evenings in November: 21st & 28th Friday evenings in December: 5th, 12th, 19th Nightly Fireworks Shows: December 22nd, 23rd, 24th, 25th & 26th Friday evenings in January: 2nd & 9th All performances take place at 9:00pm unless otherwise noted. The fireworks schedule is subject to change; each show is approximately five minutes in length. As always, fireworks performances are weather permitting and may be cancelled due to poor conditions like high winds or rain. And with the Niagara Falls Winter Festival of Lights comes many other exciting Niagara Falls Events such as: the TD Canada’s Rink at the Brink Outdoor Skating Rink and ET Canada’s New Year’s Eve in Niagara Falls (details will be announced shortly). Looking for a Niagara Falls Festival of Lights hotel? The Courtyard by Marriott Niagara Falls is one of the closest Niagara Falls Hotels to this spectacular and traditional Winter Event.