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The Winter Festival of Lights has grow to be a beloved custom in Niagara Falls, attracting hundreds of thousands of holiday makers every year. But how a lot have you learnt about its origins?
Early Beginnings in Niagara Falls, New York
The story of the competition dates again to 1980, when it started because the “Festival of Lights” on the U.S. facet of Niagara Falls. Lasting 44 days, it was a community-driven occasion supported by sponsorship from the native tourism trade and numerous volunteers.
Highlights included a nine-story “OxyLights” show synchronized to Christmas music, the illumination of the Nabisco silos because the “Nabisco Fantasy of Lights,” and hundreds of lights strung alongside Old Falls Street and Lackey Plaza. Indoor sights featured animated shows masking 15,000 sq. ft within the Niagara Falls Convention Center and Carborundum Center.
Despite its attraction, the U.S. Festival of Lights confronted monetary challenges and led to 2004 resulting from inadequate sponsorship funding.
A New Beginning in Niagara Falls, Ontario
During its inaugural yr, the Festival featured a modest assortment of lighting shows close to the Falls, drawing roughly 250,000 guests. Encouraged by its success, the occasion expanded yearly, turning into a cherished winter custom for households and mates.
Recognizing the potential for a serious vacationer draw, Niagara Falls, Ontario, launched its personal model of the occasion in 1983, initially known as the “Festival of Lights” earlier than rebranding to the “Winter Festival of Lights” in 1985. This collaboration between the Niagara Falls Canada Visitor and Convention Bureau, the City of Niagara Falls, and the Niagara Parks Commission debuted with a modest $18,000 funds. In its first yr, it welcomed 250,000 guests and 35 motor coaches.
Today, the competition is in its forty second yr and attracts over 1 million annual guests, together with 750 motor coaches.
Memorable Milestones
Disney Partnership (1992-2013): In 1992, the Festival launched the “Enchantment of Disney,” a partnership with Disney that introduced over 20 animated shows of traditional Disney characters to Queen Victoria Park. These shows, together with opening ceremonies that includes Disney characters, delighted guests for greater than 20 years earlier than being discontinued in 2013 when Disney restricted character appearances to its theme parks.
Night Parade of Lights (1998-2006): For almost a decade, the competition featured a weekly parade with illuminated floats. In 2006, funds have been reallocated to reinforce park lighting and shows.
Sponsor Contributions: Over the years, sponsors like CAA (2010-2012) and Ontario Power Generation (2013 to 2019) have helped elevate the competition.
Over the years, the Festival embraced new themes and experiences, together with Korean lantern shows, inventive installations, and interactive gentle options. In 2020, the Festival doubled its stock of shows, and in 2021, it prolonged its period from 54 nights to 101, providing extra alternatives for guests to expertise its magic.
Today’s Winter Festival of Lights
Today, the Winter Festival of Lights transforms Niagara Falls into a blinding wonderland of colour and light-weight from mid-November by way of early January. Stretching alongside the Niagara Parkway from Dufferin Islands to vacationer districts like Fallsview Boulevard and Lundy’s Lane, the Festival options hundreds of thousands of lights, larger-than-life shows, and interactive experiences for all ages.
Highlights embrace over 50 huge shows, similar to Canadian wildlife scenes, the towering two-storey Zimmerman Fountain, a 40-foot gentle tunnel, and an illuminated fort. Many timber alongside the Niagara Parkway are wrapped in vibrant lights, making a picturesque setting that enhances the festive environment.
For extra data on the Winter Festival Lights
The Festival is organized by Niagara Falls Tourism in partnership with the Province of Ontario, Tourism Partnership of Niagara, the Niagara Parks Commission, and native Business Improvement Areas. Corporate sponsors, together with Ontario Lottery & Gaming Corporation, the Niagara Falls Bridge Commission, Ontario Power Generation, and Cogeco, present further help to make the Festival a actuality.
Land Acknowledgement
Niagara Falls Tourism and the Winter Festival of Lights respectfully acknowledge that this occasion takes place on the standard territory of the Haudenosaunee and Anishinaabe peoples. These lands, lined by the Upper Canada Treaties and guarded by the Dish With One Spoon Wampum settlement, are residence to many First Nations, Métis, and Inuit communities at the moment. This acknowledgment serves as a reminder of the area’s historical past and the continued relationship with Indigenous peoples whose assets and friendship contribute to our way of life.
Awards and Recognition
The Winter Festival of Lights has obtained quite a few accolades through the years, together with:
Event of the Year
Top Festival/Event in Ontario
Best Volunteer Program
Most Innovative Partnership
Events of Distinction Award from Festivals and Events Ontario (FEO)
The American Bus Association (ABA) has additionally acknowledged the Festival as certainly one of its Top 100 Internationally Known Events. These awards replicate the Festival’s dedication to offering distinctive experiences and fostering neighborhood delight.
The Winter Festival of Lights continues to enchant guests with its vibrant shows and festive spirit, solidifying its place as a cornerstone of Niagara Falls’ winter tourism season.