Winter Festival of Lights returns to Niagara Falls, Ontario, from November 14, 2026 to January 10, 2027. The outdoor displays are free to visit. The organizer currently lists nightly lighting from 5 p.m. to midnight, including holidays, with more programme details still to come. Check the official festival page again close to your visit.
Plan a route that suits your evening
The displays extend across more than eight kilometres, including the Niagara Parkway, Fallsview and Lundy’s Lane. The organizer suggests combining a drive through outlying areas with a parked walking visit near the Falls. Use its current map to select the displays you want to see.
Suggested approach: choose one walking area, decide where you will park or catch your return bus, and add extra stops only if the weather and your group’s energy allow. A shorter visit with a warm-up break can be easier to manage than attempting the whole route. Keep your parking location saved on your phone before setting off.
Parking and getting around
Niagara Parks’ parking information lists Falls Parking (Lot A), at 6635 Niagara Parkway, as a year-round lot near Table Rock. Rates vary. Rapidsview (Lot C) is seasonal and closes for winter, so do not build a winter visit around that summer park-and-ride option.
If you are staying nearby, compare walking from your accommodation with driving between stops. For a bus visit, check your travel date’s route and last service before committing to an evening plan. The festival organizer identifies WEGO as an option, but a festival visit does not itself establish that transport is included.
Our Niagara Falls parking guide compares entrances and parking choices. Paid parking, food and separately booked attractions should be budgeted alongside your free outdoor visit.
Accessibility, children and winter conditions
Check the exact displays, paths and facilities you intend to use. An accessible attraction nearby does not establish that every outdoor festival route will suit every mobility aid, particularly after snow or freezing weather.
Niagara Parks’ accessibility information covers its facilities, transport and service-animal policies. It states that accessible parking permit holders pay for their initial parking, with same-day re-parking at other eligible Niagara Parks lots available when the receipt is displayed. Contact the venue about step-free access, an appropriate drop-off point and evening washroom availability.
For a family outing, plan warm layers, footwear with grip and an easy option to shorten the walk. Confirm pet rules for each venue you intend to enter; permission on an outdoor route does not settle the policy inside an attraction or restaurant. Our regional accessibility guide and weather and seasons guide can help with the wider trip.
Fireworks and additional activities
The festival promotes winter fireworks and seasonal activities, but use the official fireworks schedule for your particular night. A lighting visit is not a guarantee of a fireworks show. Check the edition year and any cancellation update before travelling; programme announcements may change after this page’s verification date.
Pair your visit with our Niagara Falls destination guide or browse other confirmed events. Choose activities on the side of the border that fits your travel plans.
Visitor questions
Do I need a festival ticket?
Outdoor display admission is free. Check separate bookings for any paid attraction or organized experience you add.
Is there one entrance or one route everyone must follow?
The displays span several areas. Choose your stops using the organizer’s map, then match parking or transport to that route.
Can I use the summer park-and-ride plan?
Check seasonal operation first. Niagara Parks lists Rapidsview Lot C as closed for winter; its year-round parking options are a better starting point for planning.