Canada is one of the best places in the world to spend the holidays. It may be cold and snowy at times, but that just adds to the magic!
Across the country, every province has its own set of amazing holiday light festivals that completely transform towns and cities into dazzling winter wonderlands. From illuminated parks and trails to festive Christmas markets, there's never a dull moment in Canada during holiday season!
Here are 28 of the best holiday light festivals in Canada:
Cover photo is of Stanley Park, BC.
British Columbia
The Prairies
Ontario
Quebec
Capilano Suspension Bridge
Canyon Lights
An annual celebration in North Vancouver that turns the Capilano Suspension Bridge into a marvelous illuminated walkway with thousands of glittering lights.
VanDusen Botanical Garden
Festival of Lights
A magical winter wonderland that fills Vancouver's iconic botanical gardens with over one million lights.
The Butchart Gardens
The Magic of Christmas
Experience dramatic floral displays during the day and a completely illuminated green space at night, full of glowing trees and holiday displays.
Stanley Park
Bright Nights
Vancouver's central park is adorned with colourful Christmas decorations and celebrates the holiday season with light tours, train rides and music.
Whistler Blackcomb
Christmas in Whistler
The top ski resort in the country converts itself into a cozy Christmas village, complete with decorated storefronts and illuminated pathways.
Grouse Mountain
The Peak of Christmas
A gondola ride takes you to the top of Grouse Mountain, where illuminated mountain trails and a glorious glowing ice skating pond await your arrival.
For holiday light festivals in The Prairies, click Next.
Calgary Zoo (AB)
Zoolights
A local holiday tradition returns for its 20th year, bringing back iconic light tunnels and glowing pathways to the Calgary Zoo.
Leduc (AB)
Country Lights
The Albertan town of Leduc celebrates Christmas by transforming an entire community acreage into a dazzling winter wonderland.
Castrol Raceway (AB)
Magic of Lights
A drive-thru installation of lights that features an incredible holiday lights tunnel and festive displays.
Alberta Legislature (AB)
Celebrate the Season
Alberta's provincial government building kicks off the holiday season by the lighting of its rotunda and courtyard with tree lights and illuminated statues.
Saskatoon Park (SK)
Enchanted Forest
Saskatoon Forestry Farm Park brings back its Enchanted Forest for its 19th season and fills the grounds with bright decorations for the public's viewing pleasure.
Red River Exhibition Park (MB)
Canad Inns Winter Wonderland
The Canad Inns Winter Wonderland fills Manitoba's Red River Exhibition Park with countless LED Christmas displays that can be viewed in a car or by foot.
For holiday light festivals in Ontario, click Next.
Niagara Falls
Winter Festival of Lights
Ontario Power Generation supplies Niagara Falls with over three million lights to transform the area into the ultimate winter wonderland that's free for all visitors.
Simcoe
Simcoe Panorama
This small town in Ontario adorns its trees, buildings and houses with thousands of Christmas lights and hosts an epic river parade of illuminated floats.
Upper Canada Village
Alight at Night
This historic site in Ontario turns into a cozy Christmas Village. Visitors can take an evening stroll along an illuminated 2-km path that cuts through the area.
Cobourg
Christmas Magic
Every year, the town of Cobourg decorates its harbour and waterfront with over 100,000 lights, making it perfect for romantic evening strolls during the holidays.
Toronto Distillery District
Toronto Light Festival
The historic Distillery District in Toronto becomes a miniature "city of lights" thanks to the addition of gorgeous light installations by local and international artists.
Parliament Hill
Christmas Lights Across Canada
Parliament Hill becomes a festive "Hill of Lights" consisting of glowing trees and an epic light projection on the government buildings. This year, the theme of the light projection will be called "Christmas Lights Across Canada".
Even more to check out in Ontario:
- This 2-km Trail Takes You Through A Park Of Over 90,000 Christmas Lights In Ontario
- This Ontario Park Will Transform Into An Enchanted Christmas Forest This Winter
- Blue Mountain Will Transform Into A Dreamy Christmas Village For The Holidays
- 8 Ontario Towns That Will Make You Feel Like You're In Europe For The Holidays
- 9 Romantic Places To Take Your Girlfriend To In Ontario For Christmas
- This Is The Coolest Christmas Road Trip You Can Go On From Toronto To Québec City
For holiday light festivals in Quebec, click Next.
Trois Rivières
Noël en Lumière
From mid-December to January, this Quebec festival brings the holiday cheer with illuminated gardens, a Christmas market, and over 20 live concerts and shows.
Place des Festivals
Montréal en Lumière
One of Canada's largest winter festivals, Montréal en Lumière combines food, the arts and free outdoor shows for one epic holiday gathering.
Old Québec
Petit-Champlain
Perhaps the most Christmassy place in Canada, Petit-Champlain street in Old Quebec resemble Christmas in France with its cobblestone streets and decorated storefronts.
Aquarium du Québec
Festi Lumière
Located just 2 hours from Montreal, Festi Lumiere converts the Quebec Aquarium into a glowing storybook setting with over 500,000 LED lights.
Coaticook Gorge Park
Foresta Lumina
Foresta Lumina is a multimedia nighttime experience that takes a canyon park and transforms it into a theatrical light show.
Drummondville
The Desjardins Illuminated Village
This historic site in Quebec becomes a cozy winter village complete with colourful trees and beautifully decorated Victorian buildings.
For holiday light festivals in Atlantic Canada, click Next.
Downtown Halifax (NS)
Halifax Lights Festival
Halifax rings in the holiday season with a gorgeous Christmas market where guests can get into a festive spirit with illuminated walks, holiday shopping and comfort foods.
Sherbrooke Village (NS)
Old-Fashioned Christmas
This old-fashioned village in Nova Scotia celebrates a traditional Christmas that entails a nighttime tree-lighting ceremony and classic Christmas dinners.
Magnetic Hill Zoo (NB)
Wild Lights
New Brunswick's Magnetic Hill Zoo turns itself into a dazzling light show filled with gorgeous lights and odd installations.
Bowring Park (NFLD)
Festival of Music and Lights
St.John'sebrates the holidays with live carolling and Christmas light tours through the town's central Bowring Park.
