Last updated: November 11, 2024
See the festive season in St. Catharines from a new perspective. Our guide highlights all the key holiday events. From St. Catharines experts to novices, our guide is your roadmap to seasonal celebrations.
One highlight of the season is the Niagara Winter Festival of Lights, a vibrant display that transforms the city into a winter wonderland through breathtaking lighting installations. Visitors can also enjoy the captivating Niagara Falls Fireworks, which illuminate the famous falls with dazzling colors every weekend throughout December. And the Safari Lights is something you definitely don't want to miss, offering a unique drive-through experience featuring illuminated displays reflecting a magical safari adventure. See more details on these and other fun events and activities below!
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St. Catharines Holiday Light Displays
Niagara Winter Festival of Lights
- What to Expect
- Spectacular light displays and interactive hot chocolate trail.
- Description
- The Niagara Winter Festival of Lights is Canada's largest FREE outdoor light festival, featuring 3 million lights and larger-than-life displays across tourism districts. The event includes the "Sparkling Winter Lights" Falls Illumination, showcasing the beauty and majesty of winter, and the Hot Chocolate Trail, offering delicious chocolatey concoctions at various restaurants and bake shops.
- Where
- Niagara Falls | More Info : Niagara Winter Festival of Lights
Let it Glow - A Celebration of Light
- What to Expect
- Interactive light installations and winter workshops.
- Description
- Let it Glow - A Celebration of Light is a family-friendly, outdoor festival featuring interactive light installations, entertainment, and winter workshops in Downtown St. Catharines and Port Dalhousie.
- Where
- St. Catharines | More Info : Let it Glow - A Celebration of Light
St. Catharines Holiday Shows and Entertainment
Fallsview Casino’s Christmas On Ice
- What to Expect
- Thrilling high-paced spectacle of world-class ice skating and holiday entertainment.
- Description
- Fallsview Casino’s Christmas On Ice is a high-paced spectacle featuring world-class ice skaters, dancers, and singers. This event creates a winter atmosphere filled with holiday cheer, showcasing national championship performers that bring the magic of the season to life.
- Where
- Niagara Falls | More Info : Fallsview Casino’s Christmas On Ice
Niagara Falls Santa Claus Parade
- What to Expect
- Meet Santa Claus and enjoy live entertainment and hot chocolate.
- Description
- The Niagara Falls Santa Claus Parade features bands, floats, characters, and performers, culminating in a meet-and-greet with Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus.
- Where
- Niagara Falls | More Info : Niagara Falls Santa Claus Parade
A Christmas Carol at The Shaw Festival
- What to Expect
- Classic Dickensian tale with modern staging and puppetry.
- Description
- A Christmas Carol at The Shaw Festival brings Charles Dickens' timeless tale to life with Ebenezer Scrooge's transformation, featuring a talented cast and creative team.
- Where
- Niagara-on-the-Lake | More Info : A Christmas Carol at The Shaw Festival
Lerner and Loewe’s Brigadoon
- What to Expect
- A classic musical with memorable songs and a charming story.
- Description
- Lerner and Loewe’s My Fair Lady is a timeless classic musical based on Bernard Shaw’s Pygmalion, featuring iconic songs like "On the Street Where You Live" and "I Could Have Danced All Night." The story follows Eliza Doolittle, a cockney flower girl, as she transforms under the tutelage of Professor Henry Higgins.
- Where
- Niagara-on-the-Lake | More Info : Lerner and Loewe’s Brigadoon
Niagara’s Candlelight Stroll
- What to Expect
- Live musical performances and candle-lighting ceremony.
- Description
- The Candlelight Stroll in Niagara-on-the-Lake features live musical performances, a candle-lighting ceremony, and a horse-drawn carriage procession through the historic Heritage District.
- Where
- Niagara-on-the-Lake | More Info : Niagara’s Candlelight Stroll
St. Catharines Other Holiday Activities
Niagara Falls Fireworks
- What to Expect
- Spectacular fireworks against the backdrop of Niagara Falls.
- Description
- Witness breathtaking fireworks displays over Niagara Falls nightly, showcasing vibrant colors against the iconic American and Canadian Horseshoe Falls.
- Where
- Niagara Falls | More Info : Niagara Falls Fireworks
Safari Lights
- What to Expect
- Holiday celebration in a zoo setting
- Description
- Safari Lights is a spectacular display of lights and attractions at Safari Niagara, featuring a variety of animal exhibits and interactive experiences.
- Where
- Niagara Falls | More Info : Safari Lights
McFarland House Heritage Christmas
- What to Expect
- Authentic Victorian Christmas decorations and homemade holiday treats.
- Description
- McFarland House Heritage Christmas features traditional Victorian decor, handmade period decorations, and authentic holiday treats, inviting visitors to step back in time and experience an authentic Victorian Christmas.
- Where
- Niagara Falls | More Info : McFarland House Heritage Christmas
Niagara-on-the-Lake Christmas Parade
- What to Expect
- Traditional holiday parade with festive floats and marching bands.
- Description
- The Niagara-on-the-Lake Christmas Parade is a vibrant holiday event featuring beautifully decorated floats, marching bands, and festive participants. It takes place in Old Town, with the parade route including King and Centre Streets, Castlereagh, Wellington, Byron/Prideaux, Simcoe, and Queen Streets.
- Where
- Niagara-on-the-Lake | More Info : Niagara-on-the-Lake Christmas Parade
Rotary Holiday House Tour
- What to Expect
- Self-guided tour of six gorgeously decorated homes.
- Description
- The Rotary Holiday House Tour showcases six beautifully decorated homes in Niagara-on-the-Lake, featuring stunning interior designs, traditional and modern elements, and festive seasonal decorations. This event supports local and international charitable projects, offering complimentary tastings and specially priced luncheons.
- Where
- Niagara-on-the-Lake | More Info : Rotary Holiday House Tour
Culture Days
- What to Expect
- Diverse range of free live and virtual performances, workshops, and events celebrating art and culture.
- Description
- Culture Days in St. Catharines is a celebration of art and culture featuring diverse live and virtual performances, workshops, and events. It brings together creators, artists, community groups, and institutions to offer free arts and cultural experiences for all ages.
- Where
- St. Catharines | More Info : Culture Days
Museum events
- What to Expect
- Unique blend of local history and engineering marvels.
- Description
- The St. Catharines Museum and Welland Canals Centre offers a wide variety of interpretive programs for all ages, featuring local stories and objects from its extensive collection. Exhibits showcase permanent and temporary displays of local history, while the museum holds 800,000 artifacts and archival materials. Visitors can explore the extraordinary historical collections, exciting museum events, educational programs, and a packed gift shop.
- Where
- St. Catharines | More Info : Museum events
Summer Concert Series
- What to Expect
- Diverse lineup of local and touring Canadian musicians.
- Description
- The Summer Concert Series in St. Catharines features a diverse lineup of local and touring Canadian musicians, including headliners like LMT Connection and Brooks & Bowskill. The series runs Thursday evenings from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. across two venues, Lakeside Park and Montebello Park, offering a perfect summer night experience with food trucks, craft beverages, and family games.
- Where
- St. Catharines | More Info : Summer Concert Series
Farmers Market Events
- What to Expect
- Year-round market featuring local produce and artisans.
- Description
- The St. Catharines Farmers Market offers a diverse selection of local vendors selling fresh produce, baked goods, meats, and handmade items. It hosts various special events, including the annual Music in the Square concert series and the Market Discovery Table.
- Where
- St. Catharines | More Info : Farmers Market Events
Pumpkinville
- What to Expect
- Family-friendly event with music, food, and games.
- Description
- Pumpkinville is a family-friendly event held yearly at Happy Rolph's Animal Farm, featuring music, food, and games.
- Where
- St. Catharines | More Info : Pumpkinville