Winter Festival of Lights to be brighter
This year’s Winter Festival of Lights promises to be bigger, brighter … and louder.
An international fireworks competition has been added to the lineup for the 2018-19 Ontario Power Generation Winter Festival of Lights, which celebrates its 36th anniversary this year.
The Cascades of Fire, presented by Hornblower Niagara Cruises, will be held over a six-week period starting Nov. 9 and will feature pyrotechnic teams from China, Finland, Brazil, Vietnam, Italy and Canada.
“It will really be a whole new spectacle the likes of which Niagara has never seen,” Tina Myers, executive director of the festival, said Tuesday during a news conference at Scotiabank Convention Centre.
Each team will put on an 18-minute-long show synchronized to music. The teams will be judged in several categories including creativity, selection of fireworks effects and crowd reaction. Team Canada will present the finale Nov. 18.
The annual lights festival runs Nov. 3 to Jan. 31 and will feature a number of interactive illumination displays including The Passage, a 25.2-metre-long illuminated tunnel and Impulse, a series of interactive see-saws which change colour when put into motion by people.
The majority of lights and displays are located along an eight-kilometre stretch of Niagara Parkway between Clifton Hill and Dufferin Islands. Additional illuminations are located with the Fallsview and Clifton Hill areas and Lundy’s Lane.
Returning events include the Deck the Halls Holiday Walking Tour.
The tour — available on Fridays and Saturdays Nov. 30 to Dec. 15 — allows visitors explore venues throughout the tourist district, with each location offering a different holiday-themed activity.
New this year will be light art exhibits featuring seven illuminated displays created by artists from around the world. The unique pieces will be on display along Niagara Parkway Nov. 3 to Jan. 6.
Last year’s Winter Festival of Lights drew 1.6 million visitors to the city and had an economic impact of $57 million.
“The Festival of Lights is so important to extend our tourism season,” said Niagara Falls Coun. Wayne Thomson. “We have to continue to grow our festival with new events, new ideas.”
Janice Thomson, chairwoman of Niagara Parks Commission, said the festival has made Niagara a year-round destination.
Niagara Parks invested $400,000 this year on new lighting and infrastructure improvements in support of the event.
“It is our pleasure to be a part of the (festival) as it seamlessly aligns with our vision of creating iconic and memorable yearround experiences for all who visit,” she added.
Opening ceremonies will be held Nov. 3 from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. at Queen Victoria Park. The event will include live entertainment, a concert by Beverley Mahood & Friends, food trucks, interactive displays and two fireworks shows.
Founded in 1982, the festival attracts an average of 1.5 million visitors each year. For a full list of events, visit www.wfol.com.