This winter the Festival will be celebrating its 36th season! The festivities will kick-off with Opening Ceremonies on Saturday, November 3rd in Queen Victoria Park, admission is free! Special events are planned throughout the season including weekly fireworks, Laser Light Shows, Deck the Falls, Fallsview Sound & Light Show, Sparkle Lighting Awards, New Year’s Eve Concert & Niagara Icewine Festival!

The Winter Festival of Lights is proud to present fireworks over the falls during the winter season in Niagara Falls.

Catch the shows on these dates:

Saturday, November 3rd @ the WFOL Opening Ceremonies
Fridays: November 9, 16, 23, 30 December 7, 14, 21, 28, January 4, 11, 18 & 25
Nightly: Dec. 23 to Dec. 29
New Year’s Eve: Monday, December 31st at 9 PM & Midnight

Also catch Cascades of Fire, the international fireworks competition! See international competitors perform on November 9, 10, 11, 16, 17 & 18!

All performances take place at 9 PM unless otherwise noted. Fireworks schedule is subject to change. As always, fireworks performances are weather permitting and may be cancelled due to poor weather conditions.

See more Niagara Falls Events.

For the first time ever, Niagara Falls will host the Cascades of Fire International Fireworks Competition. Presented over 6 weekend nights in November, Cascades of Fire will feature 18-minute pyrotechnic shows synchronized to music. This year’s competition will feature presentations from China, Finland, Brazil, Vietnam, Italy with a special finale by Team Canada.

All shows start at 9:00 pm.

TEAMS

• November 9th: Team China
• November 10th: Team Finland
• November 11th: Team Brazil
• November 16th: Team Vietnam
• November 17th: Team Italy
• November 18th: Team Canada

JUDGING PANEL

The decision of the judging panel is final. Teams will be rated as follows:

20 points – Theme and choice of music
20 Points – Creativity
20 Points – Selection of Effects and use within the display
20 Points – Synchronization to the music selection
20 Points – Crowd reaction and appreciation

At the end of each display, each jury member will rate the performance according to the above criteria. The awards will be presented by the Mayor of Niagara Falls at the closing ceremony scheduled for Sunday, November 18th.

This year’s holiday market features local food, beverages, and one-of-a-kind craft vendors in holiday-themed outdoor cabins. Explore the spectacularly decorated landscape in front of Queen Victoria Place, complete with family-friendly games and entertainment such as The Baker Street Victorian Carollers®.

Hosted by the Niagara Parks Commission in Niagara Falls, Ontario Canada. The winter market will be running the first 2 weekends of the annual Winter Festival of Lights.

TREE LIGHTING CEREMONY – NOV 16 · 7 PM

Help Niagara Parks launch Aura, part of the Winter Festival of Lights, with a magical tree-lighting ceremony in Queen Victoria Park. This year’s 30-foot Blue Spruce, set next to the Illumination Tower, is decked head to toe in festive lights and cheer!

LIVE ENTERTAINMENT – NOV 16-18 & 23-25 · TIMES VARY

Enjoy live entertainment during the Niagara Parks Winter Marketplace from The Baker Street Victorian Carollers®, Joe Crawford, Monkey Organ, Katey Gatta, Riley Michaels, My Painted House, Heather Glabb, Zero Gravity Circus and of course visits from Santa!

SANTA COMES TO TOWN – NOV 16-18 & 23-25 · 4 – 9 PM · FREE

Bring in the Christmas cheer with a visit to Santa Claus! Our elves have been hard at work building special winter igloos for his pre-Christmas stop-over at the Niagara Parks Winter Marketplace.

SHOPPING

Find the perfect gift for that special someone! Shop handmade crafts, festive treats and more.

Fallsview Events and Tastes of Niagara Series is happy to announce its upcoming Canadian culinary experience with Chef Michael Smith. Located at the Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse + Lounge, Four Points by Sheraton.

We invite you to dine with Chef Michael Smith, one of Canada’s best-known chefs. TV host of Chefs Michael’s Kitchen, Chef at Home and Chef Abroad all seen on Food Network Canada and across the world. Chef Michael Smith and his wife are also the proprietors of The Inn at Bay Fortune on Prince Edwards Island. With ten published cookbooks and his most recent Real Food Real Good cookbook a Globe & Mail Best Seller it is evident chef Michael Smith is a culinary all-star; however, Michael still sticks to his grassroots at home, keeping it local, healthy and keeping his community and family priority. This is a culinary experience you won’t want to miss.

The night will include a chance to meet Chef Michael Smith, enjoy a four-course inspired meal at the world-renowned Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse + Lounge, and finish the night with a lounge party including cocktails and live music.

Don’t miss out on this unforgettable experience!

This year’s holiday market features local food, beverages, and one-of-a-kind craft vendors in holiday-themed outdoor cabins. Explore the spectacularly decorated landscape in front of Queen Victoria Place, complete with family-friendly games and entertainment such as The Baker Street Victorian Carollers®.

Hosted by the Niagara Parks Commission in Niagara Falls, Ontario Canada. The winter market will be running the first 2 weekends of the annual Winter Festival of Lights.

TREE LIGHTING CEREMONY – NOV 16 · 7 PM

Help Niagara Parks launch Aura, part of the Winter Festival of Lights, with a magical tree-lighting ceremony in Queen Victoria Park. This year’s 30-foot Blue Spruce, set next to the Illumination Tower, is decked head to toe in festive lights and cheer!

LIVE ENTERTAINMENT – NOV 16-18 & 23-25 · TIMES VARY

Enjoy live entertainment during the Niagara Parks Winter Marketplace from The Baker Street Victorian Carollers®, Joe Crawford, Monkey Organ, Katey Gatta, Riley Michaels, My Painted House, Heather Glabb, Zero Gravity Circus and of course visits from Santa!

SANTA COMES TO TOWN – NOV 16-18 & 23-25 · 4 – 9 PM · FREE

Bring in the Christmas cheer with a visit to Santa Claus! Our elves have been hard at work building special winter igloos for his pre-Christmas stop-over at the Niagara Parks Winter Marketplace.

SHOPPING

Find the perfect gift for that special someone! Shop handmade crafts, festive treats and more.

Deck the Falls Holiday Walking Tour returns to the Ontario Power Generation Winter Festival of Lights in December! Tour stunning venues within the tourist district in Niagara Falls. Each location offers different activities including culinary and gourmet food sampling, holiday beverages, desserts and treats, fun photo opportunities, life-size games, live music entertainment, craft workshops and demonstrations and more!

Ticket holders will receive their Deck the Falls Tour Pass booklet with tour information, venue map and instructions. Your Tour Pass includes the vouchers that can be redeemed along the tour.

This year the tour dates will be: November 30, December 1, 7, 8, 14 & 15!

Join us as we celebrate Winter at the Holiday Inn by the Falls as part of the Winter Festival of Lights Holiday Walking Tour.

Ticket holders will receive their Deck the Falls Tour Pass booklet with tour information, venue map and instructions. Your Tour Pass includes the vouchers that can be redeemed along the tour.

Stop by the Holiday Inn by the Falls for Christmas Cocktails where they will be serving festive cocktails on the heated patio at Coco’s restaurant.

Deck the Falls takes place November 30, December 1, 7, 8, 14 & 15!