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Alight at Night Festival at Upper Canada Village, Ontario
Updated: Jun 17
Canadian Christmas lights done right! Almost one million lights adorn the trees and buildings of the historic pioneer Upper Canada Village at this beautiful winter festival. It is one of the largest of its kind in Ontario and is a truly captivating experience, especially in the snow!
Alight at Night is located in Morrisburg, Ontario and was established in 2000, making this year its 22nd anniversary. Upper Canada Village is already a great place to visit throughout the year but Alight at Night elevates it to another level!
Check out some of our highlights, find out about the famous Canadian Beaver Tails, the history of Upper Canada Village, and all you need to know about visiting Alight at Night.
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Our Alight at Night highlights
We had just returned to Canada after a year and a half away traveling, and we wanted to go to Alight at Night to enjoy quality time with the family. Jenn and the kiddos had been here many times before when they were a little younger, so it was also a tad nostalgic to! It was really fun this time around as always, and everyone had a great time. A cherished memory for sure!
Around 50,000 people visit this enchanting display ever year and it is easy to see why. It captures the essence of Christmas and the festive season in a truly multi-sensory way and in our opinion it makes for a lovely evening stroll either with that special someone or the entire family.
There are lots of activities here, aside from the lights themselves. There are horse drawn carriage rides, good old fashioned carol singing, a sit down with Santa, train rides (and many other fun activities for children), light and music shows (check out our YouTube video for that), a gift store, restaurants, refreshments and even Beaver Tails!
The gift store has your typical souvenir memorabilia but also has many other high end items including hand knit roll sweaters, things for the home, beautiful Christmas decorations, ornaments for trees and the like.
What are Beaver Tails?
Beaver Tails are a trademark Canadian sweet pastry consisting of a flat piece of fried dough, dusted with sugar and cinnamon or served with a wide selection of other delicious toppings. Beaver Tails Canada Inc is a restaurant chain established in 1978, now famous all over Canada and in many other parts of the world such as Mexico, France, UAE, Republic of Korea and Japan.
Fun fact - one of Jenn's very first jobs was working at a Beaver Tail hut at Ottawa's Winterlude Festival when she was 16!
Read on for more information on how to get here, where you can book tickets and our Alight at Night rating.
The history behind Upper Canada Village
Upper Canada Village is a living history museum located in Morrisburg, Ontario, Canada. It depicts a 19th-century village in Upper Canada, which is the historical name for the southern part of what is now Ontario.
The village was founded in 1961 as part of the St. Lawrence Seaway project. The Seaway required the flooding of ten villages in the area, known as the Lost Villages. Upper Canada Village was a part of the project's heritage preservation plan. Many of the buildings in Upper Canada Village were transported directly from the villages to be flooded.
The park, owned and operated by the St. Lawrence Parks Commission, was opened to the public in 1961. It is one of the largest living-history sites in Canada, with over 40 historical buildings. These include homes, functioning mills and trades workshops.
The village is staffed by interpreters who dress in period clothing and demonstrate the skills and trades of the 19th century. Visitors can learn about farming, cooking, blacksmithing, and other aspects of everyday life in Upper Canada.
Upper Canada Village is a popular tourist destination, attracting over 200,000 visitors each year. It is a great place to learn about the history of Ontario and experience life in the 19th century.
1958: Construction of Upper Canada Village begins as part of the St. Lawrence Seaway project.
1961: Upper Canada Village opens to the public.
1972: The village is designated a National Historic Site of Canada.
1980: The village is expanded to include the Lost Villages Museum.
2000: The village celebrates its 40th anniversary.
2011: The village celebrates its 50th anniversary.
There are plenty of activities available including village tours, camping and dining. Find out more at uppercanadavillage.com. Despite Canada being a relatively young country there is much to learn about its history and Upper Canada Village is a great place to begin!
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How to get tickets for Alight at Night
You are only able to purchase tickets in advance exclusively through the Upper Canada Village website. There are no on-site admissions. You must arrive approximately 15 minutes prior to your ticket time and there is plenty of parking available at no extra charge. Also please note that only service animals (not pets) are permitted for this event.
The tour itself will take around 40 minutes depending on your level of activity. If you would like to take the Pommier Carriage Ride this too must be booked online and is an additional charge to the entry fee.
Alight at Night opening times & ticket prices
Alight at Night is typically in operation from December 1st to January 6th. Opening times are usually between 5pm to 9pm.
In 2023, ticket prices were $14 - $17 CAD per person, with children under 4 permitted free entry.
Please note that prices and opening times for 2024 have yet to be confirmed. Check back closer to event for updates.
Tips for visiting Alight at Night
⪢ Dress warmly: It can be quite cold at night in November and December, so be sure to dress warmly.
⪢ Wear comfortable shoes: You will be doing a lot of walking, so wear comfortable shoes.
⪢ Bring a flashlight: The paths can be dark in places, so it is a good idea to bring a flashlight.
⪢ Take your time: There is a lot to see at Alight at Night, so take your time and enjoy the experience!
How to get to Upper Canada Village
There are a few different ways to get to Alight at Night in Upper Canada Village, depending on how close you are. The village is slightly remote and a little out of the way if you are staying in Ottawa or Montreal. Ideally you do need a vehicle to get there, unless you live nearby.
⪢ By Car
The village is located at 13740 County Road 2 in Morrisburg. There is a large parking lot available for festival attendees.
⪢ By Bus
There is a bus stop located at the corner of County Road 2 and Upper Canada Village Road. OC Transpo bus 712 stops at this location.
⪢ By Bike
The village is located on the Trans Canada Trail, so it is possible to bike there. However, the roads are not paved, so it is not recommended for road bikes.
Our Alight at Night experience rating
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5/5
We are rating Alight at Night 5 stars... or should it be five lights?! There is a really cool (pun intended) appeal here and it is a lovely location to get one into the spirit of the festive season.
It is really well put together and we felt the Christmas spirit in the air as we wandered through the village. With plenty of activities and events it will indeed get you ready and excited for Christmas!
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