First Light
Visitors wander through candlelit pathways and historic buildings at Sainte-Marie among the Hurons and explore the illuminated church and grounds at Martyrs' Shrine. The event features live musical performances, Indigenous storytelling in the longhouse, candlemaking and blacksmithing demonstrations, and a holiday artisan market with more than 50 local vendors. Guests can also enjoy kids' activities, seasonal food and drink, and Friday night fireworks.
What to Expect
Thousands of candles illuminate a historic 17th-century community and shrine.
Event Details
Duration
The optional “First Light: The Story Behind the Tradition” guided experience lasts 30 minutes.
Ages
All ages
Timed Entry
No
Organizer
Sainte-Marie among the Hurons
Food & Drink
Visitors can get snacks and hot chocolate, take out walking tacos, smash burgers or turkey dinner poutine, book a three-course holiday meal or dinner under the stars, and try maple syrup or herbal tea tastings; reservations are required for both meals.
Local Insight & Ratings
Family Friendly
Best For
Families and holiday-lights enthusiasts
Vibe
Historic and festive
Energy Level
Moderate
Budget
$
Photo Friendly
High
Weather Sensitivity
High
Location
Know Before You Go
- Tickets: Admission to Sainte-Marie and Martyrs’ Shrine is $15 per person, tax included. Children 5 and under, eligible First Nations, Métis and Inuit people with valid ID, Canadian Armed Forces members with valid ID, and a person accompanying a paying guest with a disability are eligible for free admission. Season passes are valid. “First Light: The Story Behind the Tradition” is an add-on for $24 per person, with tax. The Friday candlelight choir costs an additional $15 per person, tax included. A three-course holiday turkey dinner costs $40 per adult or $25 per child. Group rates are available by contacting the listed email address. – Get tickets
- Hours: First Light: Thursday to Sunday, 5:30 to 9 p.m. The “First Light: The Story Behind the Tradition” add-on is at 5 p.m. each First Light night. Thursday choir performances begin at 5:30 p.m., 6:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Friday fireworks are at 7:15 p.m.; the candlelight choir experience runs 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., with the performance at 6:45 p.m. The inter-site shuttle starts at 5:30 p.m. and departs every 30 minutes.
- Parking: Parking is free every night, but spaces at Sainte-Marie are limited and not guaranteed. Accessible spots are by the main entrance and fill quickly. Allow at least 15 minutes for parking, especially on Saturdays; the visitor information also recommends allowing 15–30 minutes for parking and admissions. There is no reserved parking for choir members, tour groups or dinner reservations. A free inter-site shuttle runs every night, starting at 5:30 p.m. and departing every 30 minutes; buses are not wheelchair accessible. The walking path between the attractions is open and lit but can be slippery.
- Accessibility: Sainte-Marie is wheelchair accessible, though pathways are covered in woodchips or snow, and inter-site shuttle buses are not wheelchair accessible.
- Pets: Only service animals specifically trained to aid a person with a disability are permitted; they must be readily identified by a vest or harness, or by a note from a regulated health professional. Family pets are not permitted.
Tips & Advice
- Bring cash for the artisan market, because most vendors can't take cards and there's no ATM on site.
- Buy your tickets online before you go so you can use the express lane when you arrive.
- Book the holiday turkey dinner or dinner under the stars ahead of time, because there's no walk-in seating for either meal.
- Allow extra time to park, especially on Saturday nights, because parking at Sainte-Marie is limited and not guaranteed.
- Dress for the weather and wear sturdy footwear, because the event is mostly outdoors on woodchip and snowy paths.
Special Events & Promotions
- Thursdays: local community and school choirs perform in Theatre A on November 26, December 3 and December 10.
- Fridays: fireworks, weather permitting. You can also join a candlelight choir led by Choir Revolution for an extra fee, and registration is recommended.
- Saturdays: Ariko plays traditional-style French-Canadian tunes.
- Sundays: Advent Mass at Martyrs' Shrine, included with admission. There's no registration, but space is limited.
- First Light: The Story Behind the Tradition, a 30-minute small-group guided add-on each night for an extra fee. It ends with a candle-making demonstration and a keepsake.
Quick Actions
Frequently Asked Questions
What is there to do at First Light?
Walk the candlelit paths and historic buildings at Sainte-Marie. You can see blacksmithing and candlemaking demonstrations, hear Indigenous stories in the longhouse, catch live music and do kids' activities. Across the road, Martyrs' Shrine has seasonal lights, a decorated church and a votary where you can light a candle.
What are the food and drink options?
You can get takeout on the patio, such as walking tacos, smash burgers and turkey dinner poutine, plus snacks and hot chocolate on the historic site. Restaurant Sainte-Marie serves a three-course turkey dinner, and dinner under the stars is a prix fixe meal in your own dining dome. Both sit-down meals need a reservation, and there's no walk-in seating.
How do I get between Sainte-Marie and Martyrs' Shrine?
A free shuttle runs every night and leaves each site every 30 minutes, from lit signs at the edges of the main parking lots. You can also take the 10-minute lit walking path. It's salted and cleared, but it can still be slippery.
Can I pay by card at the artisan market?
Most of the more than 50 vendors only take cash, and there's no ATM on site. The market is indoors in the museum and the Brebeuf Centre, with more vendors downstairs at Martyrs' Shrine church.
Can I bring my dog?
No. Only service animals trained to help a person with a disability are allowed, and they must wear a vest or harness or have a note from a regulated health professional.
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