Niagara-on-the-Lake is a historic town where the Niagara River meets Lake Ontario, known for its well-preserved 19th-century streetscape and heritage district. It is a hub of Ontario wine country, home to dozens of wineries and recognized as a birthplace of Canadian icewine, and it hosts the annual Shaw Festival theatre season. Settled by Loyalists as Newark, it briefly served as the first capital of Upper Canada in the 1790s.
Planning a January visit? Our Niagara Icewine Festival 2027 guide separates the Queen Street Icewine Village weekends from the wider regional festival, with official programme links and practical visiting information.
Known for
- Ontario wine country and wineries
- Canadian icewine
- Shaw Festival theatre
- Preserved 19th-century heritage district
- First capital of Upper Canada
- Fort George National Historic Site
Frequently asked questions
Is Niagara-on-the-Lake in Canada or the United States?
Niagara-on-the-Lake is in Canada, in the province of Ontario, on the Canadian side of the border. It sits where the Niagara River flows into Lake Ontario, downstream from Niagara Falls, and its well-preserved 19th-century streetscape anchors a designated heritage district.
What is Niagara-on-the-Lake known for?
Niagara-on-the-Lake is best known as a hub of Ontario wine country, the annual Shaw Festival theatre season, and its preserved 19th-century heritage district. It is home to dozens of wineries and recognized as a birthplace of Canadian icewine, and it also holds historic significance as the first capital of Upper Canada.
When does the Shaw Festival run in Niagara-on-the-Lake?
The Shaw Festival runs from spring through the holiday season each year, with the 2026 season playing April 2 to December 23. It is an annual theatre festival staged across several venues in town, including the Festival Theatre, Court House Theatre, and Jackie Maxwell Studio Theatre.
Was Niagara-on-the-Lake once the capital of Canada?
Niagara-on-the-Lake, then called Newark, served as the first capital of Upper Canada in the 1790s. Settled by Loyalists, it held the capital from 1792 until 1796, when the seat of government was moved to York (present-day Toronto); Fort George National Historic Site preserves military history from this era.
Why is Niagara-on-the-Lake famous for icewine?
Niagara-on-the-Lake is recognized as a birthplace of Canadian icewine and is a hub of Ontario wine country with dozens of wineries. The town's Inniskillin winery helped put Canadian icewine on the world map, winning the top Grand Prix d'Honneur for its Vidal Icewine at Vinexpo in Bordeaux in 1991.
