Christine Smyczynski ____Writer
  • Home
    • Upcoming events
    • Contact information
  • Books
    • Western NY Explorer's Guide >
      • WNY Resources
      • WNY Attractions
      • Media Interviews
      • Testimonials
      • First edition closed
      • Second edition closed
    • Backroads & Byways Upstate NY
    • Buffalo Niagara Explorer's Guide
  • Articles 2006-07
    • 2006 Articles January-June >
      • Celebrating Black History Month
      • Naples NY
      • Olean
      • ICE Festival
      • Mid winter getaways
      • Art & History Museums
      • Aviation Museums
      • Hiking Trails
      • Welland Canal
      • Athenaeum Hotel
    • 2006 Articles July-December >
      • Bemus Point
      • Cobblestone Trail
      • Niagara Parkway Part 1
      • Niagara Parkway Part 2
      • Rock Park
      • Clifton Springs
      • WNY Amish
    • 2007 Articles January-June >
      • Nature In Winter
      • Wine & Chocolate
      • Winter Wonderland
      • Outdoors in Winter
      • Inside in Winter
      • Old Fort Niagara
      • Power Vists
      • WNY Waterfalls
      • Corning
      • Dads and Cars
      • Artpark
    • 2007 Articles July-December >
      • Hershey, PA
      • Native American History
      • Lake Ontario Shore
      • Lockport Cave
      • Sonnenberg
      • Amish Traditions
      • Day trips rock
      • Country Barn Quilt Trail
      • Halloween in WNY
      • Festival of Lights
      • Chautauqua Holiday
      • NY City by Train
  • Articles 2008-09
    • Articles January-May 2008 >
      • Chautauqua Wine Trail
      • Mayville Ice Castle
      • Outdoor Winter Fun
      • Chautauqua Institution
      • Farmers Markets
      • Recharge at Chautauqua
      • Niagara Wine Trail
    • Articles July-Nov. 2008 >
      • Local Boat Rides
      • Local Beaches
      • Chautauqua County
      • Lewiston Jazz Festival
      • Hammondsport
      • Buffalo Waterfront
      • Pumpkin Fun
      • Chautauqua Wine Trail LEL
      • Fall Road Trips
    • Articles January-June 2009 >
      • Off season getaways
      • Free Attractions
      • Winter Fun
      • Spring Break
      • Taughannock Falls
      • Winery Train
      • St. Lawrence Seaway
      • Seaway Trail Journey
    • Articles July-Nov. 2009 >
      • Welland Canal LEL
      • Queenston
      • Sandusky
      • Cleveland
      • Fall Festivals
      • Scenic Fall Drives
      • Holiday Hollow
      • Shopping in New York City
      • Holiday Shopping Corning
      • Buffalo has Wright
  • Articles 2010-11
    • Articles January-June 2010 >
      • Snowshoeing
      • Toronto
      • Elmira
      • Buffalo Religious Arts
      • Ten must see getaways
      • Chautauqua and Erie
      • Welland Murals
    • Articles July-December 2010 >
      • The Tonawandas
      • Ten Hidden Places
      • Wing Festival
      • Presque Isle
      • Marblehead Lighthouse
      • Lewisburg, PA
      • Victorian Christmas
    • Articles January-April 2011 >
      • Chocolate Trail
      • Fun With Grandkids
      • George Eastman House
      • National Historic Landmarks
      • Thing for Wings
      • Olcott Beach
      • Little League Museum
      • Rock City
    • Articles May-June 2011 >
      • Glassblowing
      • Lawn Fetes
      • Chautauqua Bicentennial
      • Shaw Festival
      • Chautauqua County 2
    • Articles July-August 2011 >
      • Olcott Carousel
      • 10 Hidden Gems
      • Chautauqua
      • Olcott Beach 2
      • Roycroft
      • Hot Dog Spots
      • Westfield
      • Canandaigua
      • Enjoy Presque Isle
      • His and Her trips
    • Fall 2011 >
      • Belhurst Castle
      • Shop in Lewiston
      • Cuba Cheese Museum
      • Pumpkinville 2
      • Snowshoe 2
      • Spooky Treats
      • Walkable Shopping
      • Norman Rockwell Museum
      • Fatima Shrine Fest of Lights
      • Christmas Lights
      • Albright Knox Art Gallery
  • Articles 2012
    • January-May 2012 >
      • Darwin Martin House
      • Maple Weekend
      • Divine Mercy Shrine
      • Ports of Call on Erie Canal
    • June-December 2012 >
      • Gateway to Rochester
      • Cape Cod
      • Cobblestone Trail Landmarks
      • 8 Great Fall Road Trips
      • Little Known Places In WNY
      • Buy at local craft shows
  • Articles 2013
    • January-July 2013 >
      • Made in America Store
      • Vidler's 5 & 10
      • Great Lakes Seaway Trail
      • Gardens in region
      • WNY Festivals then and now
      • Erie PA waterfront
    • Articles July-December 2013 >
      • Grape Discovery Center
      • Salt Sanctuary
      • Holiday Hollow
      • Hull House
      • Buffalo Religious Arts (FY)
      • Mall Madness
      • One Day Holiday Getaways
  • Articles 2014-15
    • January-May 2014 >
      • NYC by train (FY)
      • Cabin fever
      • NOTL Getaway
      • Elmira
      • Carousels (WNYF)
    • June-September 2014 >
      • Summer Sands
      • Cruising along the canal
      • Canandaigua getaway
      • Canalside Villages
      • North Tonawanda
      • Williamsville
    • October 2014 >
      • Olean & Ellicotville
      • Ridgeway Ontario
      • Leroy Quilt Trail
      • Maple Weekend (Longweekends)
      • Salt Sanctuary (Longweekends)
    • November-Dec 2014 >
      • Grove City Shopping
      • Lewiston Day Trip
      • Indoor waterparks
Democrat & Chronicle
November 11, 2007
Cascading Light: 
Canada’s Niagara Parkway celebrates the falls with the 25th Winter Festival of Lights

By Christine A. Smyczynski


The cusp of winter may not seem like the best time to visit Niagara Falls. From early November through early January, though, a section of the Niagara Parkway in Niagara Falls, Ontario, will be twinkling with holiday lights.

The 25th winter Festival of Lights turns on at 5 pm each evening through January 7, 2008. More than 125 lighted displays, some animated, and 3 million tree and ground lights illuminate the route.


The falls themselves are also illuminated nightly; hours during the festival are 5 pm through midnight. And fireworks are shot off over the falls at 9 pm Fridays through December 21, then nightly December 26 through January 6.


Even my teenagers got caught up in the magic when we visited the festival last December. After crossing the Rainbow Bridge into Canada, we headed to the Dufferin Islands Nature Area, where the theme for the lighted displays is the Great Canadian Outdoors (howling wolves and dolphins at play outlined in lights, for example).


This area is best viewed from the comfort of your car. While no admission is charged, a donation is suggested for maintenance and improvement of the displays.


On the way to the main display area along the Niagara Parkway is the Niagara Parks Floral Showcase, a conservatory hosting its annual display of poinsettias and other holiday plants. parking and admission are free this time of year.


To appreciate the many animated displays located along the Niagara Parkway between Clifton Hill and the falls, its best to park your car and walk. The parking lots located off Clifton Hill are less expensive than the lots closer to the falls, and you get to walk through Clifton Hill itself, with its array of restaurants, stores and unusual “museums” like Ripley’s Believe it or Not and Guinness World of Records.


When our family walked the 5-kilometer route on the Niagara Parkway, that’s a little more than 3 miles, we paused to enjoy the animated displays. The kids weren’t the only ones who wanted to linger; my husband and I were also entranced. A bit of snow on the ground or in the air adds to the magic.


Younger members of the party will take special note of the Enchantment of Disney display in Queen Victoria Park at Murray Hill, which features popular Disney characters done in lights. 


If you can visit on a Friday night for the fireworks, Table Rock, near the Horseshoe Falls, is one of the best vantage points. However, you can also see the fireworks from many restaurants and hotel rooms. (Many hotels offer special packages during the Winter Festival of Lights. For a compete listing of accommodations, visit www.niagarafallstourism.com) 


If you go


Winter Festival of Lights runs through January 6 in Niagara Falls Ontario Canada, about a 90 minute drive from Rochester. The event features light displays, illumination of the falls, fireworks and more 800-563-2557 or www.wfol.com



​
Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.