Canada's Top 10 Christmas Illuminations

	Illuminated Christmas Tree1

WINTER FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS

Niagara Falls is undoubtedly one of Canada's most beautiful natural sites at any time of year, but come the Christmas season its beauty is even further enhanced during the Winter Festival of Lights. One hundred and twenty-five animated lighting displays, including the world-famous Enchantment of Disney, and 300 million tree and ground lights turn the 5-km (3.1-mi) route along Niagara Parkway into a winter wonderland, while 21 light projectors illuminate the Horseshoe Falls in all colours of the rainbow. A number of activities are available for visitors to the festival, including skating at Rink at the Brink and nightly fireworks shows above the falls.

CHRISTMAS LIGHTS ACROSS CANADA

Christmas Lights Across Canada is a program that illuminates all Canadian capitals during the Christmas season. The official illumination ceremony is held early December at Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Ontario. The end of the ceremony is marked by the "flick of the switch," when over 300,000 shimmering lights brighten Parliament Hill, as well as other notable landmarks along Confederation Boulevard.

CAVALCADE OF LIGHTS

Fireworks, free concerts and skating parties are frequent events during one of Toronto's most celebrated festivals, the Cavalcade of Lights. This month-long Christmas extravaganza kicks off in Nathan Phillips Square with the lighting of the city's official Christmas tree, followed by the illumination of various light displays in the downtown core. The ceremony concludes with live musical performances and a fireworks display, which are also held every Saturday during the festival.

CAROL SHIPS PARADE OF LIGHTS

What began with a single decorated boat in the 1960s has turned into one of Vancouver's favourite Christmas traditions, the Carol Ships Parade of Lights. Today, over 80 boats decorated in colourful, shimmering lights parade nightly over a twenty-day period during the Christmas season. Many of the boats are cruise companies that offer an elegant dinner and the chance to be a part of the parade. Participating vessels meet at 7pm each night, before setting off on the evening's preplanned route. Routes can include False Creek, West Vancouver, Deep Cove and Port Moody.

Niagara Falls Light Show2

VANCOUVER FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS

Forget visiting the North Pole, Santa's living room can be found in VanDusen Botanical Garden during its Festival of Lights celebration. For three weeks every Christmas season, this serene 55-acre (22.5-ha) botanical oasis is transformed into a winter wonderland with over one million sparkling lights adorning the entirety of the garden. Highlights of the festival include Candy Cane Lane, Gingerbread Wood and the Dancing Lights display, which showcases the lights around Livingstone Lake "dancing" to holiday music. A visit to the Festival of Lights would not be complete without taking in some favourite Christmas songs performed by the community choir, or stopping at Mrs. Claus' Kitchen for some delicious holiday treats.

AIRDRIE FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS

It isn't just the large metropolises that put on the best Christmas illuminations. In fact, the small Albertan city of Airdrie boasts the largest walk-through light display in Western Canada. For the month of December, Nose Creek Park is adorned with a collection of light displays to be enjoyed while on a nice stroll through the park or aboard the miniature train set up for the length of the festival and sure to draw kids of all ages. The Airdrie Festival of Lights also showcases local talent during nightly entertainment. Performances include concerts by local choirs, open mic night and the Airdrie Festival of Lights Got Talent competition.

CHRONICLE HERALD PARADE OF LIGHTS

Kick off the holiday season in Halifax, with their annual Chronicle Herald Parade of Lights through the downtown core. This parade is held on an evening in late November and features lights, music and live entertainment. Over 100,000 people gather to watch this anticipated holiday event every year and are never disappointed by the festive floats, holiday carolers, majorettes, marching bands and of course a guest appearance by Santa Claus and his elves.

Light Show at Parliament Hill 3

ZOO LIGHTS

Christmas in Calgary, Alberta is not complete without a trip to Zoolights, one of the city's favourite holiday traditions. Every year the Calgary Zoo celebrates the Christmas season with a month-long extravaganza of lights, activity and music. Kids and adults alike will enjoy the beautiful light displays set up around the grounds, which include annual favourites Candy Cane Lane and Tunnel of Love. Zoolights also features extensive children's play areas—Snowball Alley, Snow Bowling and the Reindeer Stables. Hoping for a chat with Santa Claus? Talk with Father Christmas live from the North Pole using Zoo Light's SantaVision.

BRIGHT NIGHTS

Each December, Vancouver's Stanley Park is adorned with over one million twinkling lights. Although visitors may walk, the best way to appreciate the enchanting displays is aboard the Stanley Park Miniature Train, known as the Christmas Train during Bright Nights. After visiting Santa in his living room at the train station, hop on the Christmas Train for a 10-minute ride through the decorated woods. Kids will also enjoy a trip to the Children's Farmyard where they can see a number of farm animals, including sheep, pigs, goats and more. Special nights throughout the festival offer performances by local choirs and bands in the plaza.

	Decorated Home 4

CANDY CANE LANE

In the early 1970s only a few homes located in the Edmonton community of Crestwood were decorated with impressive Christmas light displays. The spirit quickly spread and fellow residents began to follow suit, each trying to outdo the next in a friendly Christmas competition. Eventually people from all over the city began to visit the neighbourhood to view the spectacular displays and it became known as Candy Cane Lane. Today, the official Candy Cane Lane is located on 148th Street from 92nd to 100th Avenue and is open for a three-week period over the Christmas season. Visitors may view the impressive displays on foot, by car or aboard a horse-drawn sleigh.

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1. Illuminated Christmas Tree; Ottawa, ON, Canada
2. Niagara Falls Light Show; Niagara Falls, ON, Canada
3. Light Show at Parliament Hill; Ottawa, ON, Canada
4. Decorated Home; Edmonton, AB, Canada