The Festival of Lights - Night Parade Float
A
pictorial of festive displays during the Winter Festival of Lights
History of the Festival of Lights
The Festival of Lights has its roots dating back to the early 1900's. In the early years as electricity became available, the small business districts strung coloured lights from buildings across streets to attract shoppers. The era of the lights festival had begun. In 1918, Niagara Falls, New York became the first to illuminate the American Falls and the upper rapids by the location of spotlights above and below the waterfall. The Festival of Lights night parade originated in Niagara Falls, New York where a festival was held in June of each year. The parade consisted of a number of floats adorned with coloured lights. Officials from Niagara Falls, Ontario were later invited to join the festivities. They did so by contributing several floats, marching bands and a number of city dignitaries. In 1925, the Festival of Lights became a truly International affair with festivities taking place in both cities. On May 25th 1925, the twenty-four new carbon arc illumination lights which were mounted on the Ontario Power Company surge tank in Queen Victoria Park were lit for the first time. These lights produced the power of 1,320,000,000 candles. A Festival of Lights celebration was planned to coincide with the official dedication of this light system. The official ceremony took place on June 8th 1925 and was held to celebrate the first permanent night illumination of the Horseshoe Falls and the American Falls. The celebration included a light parade in Niagara Falls, New York followed by an International ceremony in the middle of the Upper Steel Arch Bridge which was attended by many Canadian and American dignitaries. Following this ceremony, the lights were turned on to illuminate the Falls with many thousands of spectators looking on. The light parade and illumination of the Falls became the predecessor of the current Festival of Lights. Because of the success of the first festival, a second festival followed in 1926. It was known as the Festival of Lights. This time a gigantic parade was organized by both cities of Niagara Falls, New York and Niagara Falls, Ontario. The City of Niagara Falls, Ontario entered an electrically lighted float on which rode "Miss Canada" - Winnifred Stokes of the Evening Review staff. This float was lighted by 57 electrical lights bearing the inscription "Miss Canada" on each side. Overhead lights were focused on Miss Stokes. At the onset of the world wide depression the festival was not continued beyond 1926. Although the festival was a financial success, organizers felt the money would be better used to help the less fortunate in the community. The City of Niagara Falls, New York began the modern era of the Festival of Lights in 1980. In December of 1982, the executive of the Niagara Falls (Ontario) Visitor & Convention Bureau, authorized the planning of a Canadian version of the Festival of Lights. The Canadian Festival of Lights in Niagara Falls, Ontario premiered between November 17th 1983 and February 26th 1984. Under the direction of Mr. George Bailey of the Niagara Parks Commission, the first festival had a budget of only $18,000. In March of 1985, the City of Niagara Falls (Ontario) changed the name of their event from the Festival of Lights to the Winter Festival of Lights in order to accentuate the winter theme. Today, the Winter Festival of Lights continues to evolve. In addition to the nightly illumination of the Falls of Niagara, many hundreds of street and park light displays containing tens of thousands of lights abound on both sides of the border. It has grown each year with added attractions, concerts and dazzlingly beautiful light displays which now rival the illumination of the Falls themselves as the premier tourist attraction. In the Summer of 2001, the City of Niagara Falls, New York announced the end of their Festival of Lights citing financial difficulties.
Since the World of Disney joined the Festival of Lights in Queen Victoria Park they have contributed the "Enchantment of Disney Lights Display" featuring more than twenty animated light displays of favourite Disney cartoon classics. In 1998, a Night Parade was introduced in Queen Victoria Park featuring a dozen electrically lighted floats. The electric night parade has become an enormous success. Many new lights are displayed throughout Queen Victoria Park and Dufferin Islands each year. In 2005, the Winter Festival of Lights committee decided not to fund the New Year's Eve Concert in Queen Victoria Park due to financial constraints. The monies normally spent of this event would be directed to creating and presenting more festive lights displays. The Niagara Parks Commission in association with the City of Niagara Falls and other tourism partners took over the planning and presentation of the New Years Eve Party in Queen Victoria Park. In 2006, the Winter Festival of Lights committee decided to cancel the weekly Night Parade of Lights which consisted of more than a dozen festively lighted floats after eight years. In doing so the committee has committed $250,000 to new lights, displays and events.
Festival Lights Displayed daily from 5 p.m. to 12 a.m.
The Disney Light Display at the Niagara Falls Winter Festival of
Lights
2007-2008
Saturday November 3rd 2007
5:00 p.m.
- Opening Festivities
- Stage in Queen Victoria Park featuring Mickey & Minnie Mouse
Friday November 9th 2007
9:00 p.m.
- Fireworks
Friday November 16th 2007 9:00 p.m. - Fireworks
Friday November 23rd 2007 9:00 p.m. - Fireworks
Friday November 30th 2007 9:00 p.m. - Fireworks 6:00 p.m. - Cheerleading Championship - Niagara Falls Memorial Arena - Cost $9 10:00 a.m. - Art by the Falls - Optimist Hall (Dorchester Road at Morrison Street) - Cost $2
Saturday December 1st 2007 8:00 a.m. - Cheerleading Championship - Niagara Falls Memorial Arena - Cost $9
10:00 a.m.
- Art by the Falls -
Optimist Hall (Dorchester Road at Morrison Street) - Cost $2
Sunday December 2nd 2007 8:00 a.m. - Cheerleading Championship - Niagara Falls Memorial Arena - Cost $9
10:00 a.m.
- Art by the Falls -
Optimist Hall (Dorchester Road at Morrison Street) - Cost $2
Tuesday December 4th 2007
Wednesday December 5th 2007
Friday December 7th 2007
9:00 p.m.
- Fireworks
Saturday December 8th 2007
7:00 p.m.
- Mantini Sisters - Home for
the Holidays Concert
Friday December 14th 2007 9:00 p.m. - Fireworks
Friday December 21st 2007 9:00 p.m. - Fireworks
Wednesday December 26th 2007 9:00 p.m. - Fireworks
Thusday December 27th 2007 9:00 p.m. - Fireworks
Friday December 28th 2007 9:00 p.m. - Fireworks
Saturday December 29th 2007 9:00 p.m. - Fireworks
Sunday December 30th 2007 9:00 p.m. - Fireworks
Monday December 31st 2007 7:30 p.m. to 1:00 a.m. NEW
YEAR'S EVE PARTY IN THE PARK - Queen Victoria Park - Niagara Parks
Commission LOVERBOY 9:00 p.m.
- Fireworks
Tuesday January 1st 2008 NEW YEAR'S DAY
2008
Wednesday January 2nd 2008 9:00 p.m. - Fireworks
Thursday January 3rd 2008 9:00 p.m. - Fireworks
Friday January 4th 2008 9:00 p.m. - Fireworks
Saturday January 5th 2008 9:00 p.m. - Fireworks
Sunday January 6th 2008 9:00 p.m. - Fireworks
Monday January 7th 2008 LAST DAY OF 2007-2008 NIAGARA FALLS WINTER FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS
The Festival of Lights - Night Parade Float
The Disney Light Display at the Niagara Falls Winter Festival of
Lights
The Disney Light Display at the Niagara Falls Winter Festival of
Lights
The Disney Light Display at the Niagara Falls Winter Festival of
Lights
For further information, contact:
Niagara
Falls, Canada
: falls@iaw.com
THANK YOU FOR VISITING THE
NIAGARA FALLS
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