Alight at night festival – Upper Canada Village
/by Natasha I love Christmas lights, and one of the best places to visit during the holiday season is Upper Canada Village, during their Alight at night festival. It takes about two hours to get there, but it is well worth the drive.
The festival starts on December 2, and is open Thursday to Sunday, December 2 to 18th and nightly starting on December 19 to January 7. The Village is open from 4:30 to 9pm. I recommend arriving early or purchasing your tickets in advance online because the line-ups can get quite big.
Festival admission which includes, admission, wagon ride, the train and parking is $13 for adults, $10 for seniors and kids 6 to 12 and kids 5 and under are free.
If you have never been to the "Alight at night" festival before, you are in for a treat. The village is beautifully decorated with half-a-million lights. On select evening you can join the sing-along carollers in the Christ Church. It is magical to hear the music and walk through the snow and enjoy the lights, it really gets you in the holiday spirit.
One of my favourite things about Upper Canada Village this time of year, is watching the sounds and lights show that happens multiple times a night. This is not to be missed, make sure you bring your video camera.
If you need a break from walking, you can hop on the Toy Train and take a ride through Crysler Park, or you can grab a hot chocolate and jump on an old fashioned horse-drawn wagon ride. These are great ways to enjoy the multitude of lights.
On your way out you can visit the gift shop that is filled with a variety of festive Christmas decorations and décor that are available to buy. Last year we purchased the cutest Santa cookie plate for Baby H.
They also have a beautiful Santa display, the kids can visit with Santa and get their photos taken.
Another little tip – make sure you bundle up, it can get very cold on a windy night by the water.
If you get a chance to visit the Alight At Night Festival, tell me what you loved most.
Natasha is a new mommy to her first born, Baby H. She runs ShopHaven, a blog that reviews products and profiles local businesses and individuals from the Ottawa area. Natasha is also the creative force behind ShopHaven Baskets; a highly customized gift baskets service.
