Ottawa 
The 25th edition of Upper Canada Village’s magical light display kicks off on November 28, illuminating one of Ontario’s largest outdoor light festivals.
Credit: Upper Canada Village
More than a million lights will transform one of the largest living history museums in Canada into a captivating winter wonderland, providing a fun, festive, and family-friendly experience for all ages from November 28 to January 15, running select nights from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Here is what to See & Do at the 2025 Alight at Night Festival:
- What is new: To mark the 25th season, an extra 80,000 bulbs have been woven into the display.
- Guests can step into the newly created Toy Factory, an interactive space inside the redesigned Family Activity Centre, where Victorian Saint Nick greets visitors for photos.
- The Toybox Café offers warm drinks and a curated selection of toys, handcrafted items and anniversary souvenirs celebrating the festival’s place as one of Ontario’s most enduring winter traditions.
- Alight at Night will participate in the Canada Strong Pass, expanding access and affordability. The pass brings free admission for youth aged 17 and under, half-price tickets for those 18 to 24, and a nightly schedule from December 18 to January 15.
- Witness the Festive Sound & Light Show at Crysler Hall, featuring hundreds of lights synchronized to holiday music.
Credit: Upper Canada Village
- Enjoy a 15-20 minute ride on a life-sized, colourfully lit toy train, complete with photo stops. Availability is limited, and the location is near the Village parking lot.
- Sing along to carols at Christ Church or join activity stations featuring ornament decorating, holiday games, and photo opportunities.
- A Pommier Horse-Drawn Carriage Ride includes a 30-minute tour for up to four guests and festival access, with bonus tickets for 2026 programming.
- Step into Alite-Brite’s glowing display, capture fun photos with Snowy Silhouettes and gingerbread figures, or cozy up on the Mistletoe Loveseat. Then visit the Frosty Fun Zone for hot drinks, holiday games, ornament decorating, and creative sketches on the Chilly Chalkboard.
- Explore unique artisan gifts, Village-made bread, and cheese at the Village Store after your festival experience.
- Harvest Barn offers full food service, including grilled and luncheon specials, and serves beer and wine. Nightly Special Christmas Dinners offer oven-roasted turkey with glazed carrots, mashed potatoes, stuffing, cranberry sauce, and coffee or tea, available as Santa’s Portion ($26.99) or Santa’s Little Helper Portion ($19.99). Santa’s Platters ($15.99 each) include Caesar salad, chili, hamburgers with fries, or chicken fingers with fries. Kids can choose hot dogs with fries ($7.95) or chicken fingers with fries ($9.95), each served with a drink.
- Willard’s Hotel, built in the late 1790s, offers period-style meals in a historic setting, complete with costumed staff. Its table d’hôte menu is the highlight, offering hearty choices such as turkey dinner with stuffing and cranberry sauce, baked glazed ham, beef stew, or a bean-based vegetarian stew, all served with mashed potatoes and vegetables. Guests finish with blueberry pie, pumpkin pie, toffee cake, or a gluten-free brownie, plus coffee, tea, or a cold drink. Adult meals cost $44.95.
- Additional food options include BeaverTails and snack huts that serve holiday classics.
- Those with limited mobility or sensory processing issues can visit during Accessibility Nights (December 3, 10, and 17) to ride in the comfort of their vehicles to view Alight at Night.
Romantic or Cozy Family Getaway: In addition to enjoying the multi-sensory experience through a one-of-a-kind evening stroll through a picture-perfect postcard setting steeped in holiday magic, the Village during December is a perfect romantic holiday getaway. Stroll through the magical village; enjoy a dinner at Harvest Barn or Willard’s Hotel, go for a romantic horse-drawn carriage ride in the comfort of one of the Village’s Pommier Carriages and book a stay at one of the two accommodations (historic log building/ two-story farmhouse – $215 per night plus HST & up) at Upper Canada Village.
- Places to See Magical Christmas Lights in Ontario
- 15 Picturesque Small Towns For a Weekend Trip in Eastern Ontario
- Resorts for a Winter Getaway in Ontario
Credit: Upper Canada Village
Alight at Night: Trip Planning
What: Bundle up for an evening stroll through this picture-perfect postcard setting! Over one million lights adorn the heritage buildings, trees, and fences of Upper Canada Village creating a one-of-a-kind magical backdrop for its annual Alight at Night Festival – a true winter wonderland!
When:
- November 28 to 30, 2025 | 5:00 PM – 9:00 PMDecember 4 to 7, 2025 | 5:00 PM – 9:00 PM
December 11 to 14, 2025 | 5:00 PM – 9:00 PM
December 18 to 23, 2025 | 5:00 PM – 9:00 PM
December 26 to January 3, 2026 | 5:00 PM – 9:00 PM
January 4 to 15, 2026 | 5:00 PM – 8:30 PM - Accessibility Nights: December 3, 10, and 17, 2025.
The Alight at Night experience is approximately 40 minutes.
How Much:
Adult (25-64): $18 (Plus HST)
Senior (65+): $17 (Plus HST)
Young Adult (18-24): $9 (Plus HST)
Student (13-17)/Youth (5-12)/Child (0-4): Free
Accessibility Night: $18 (Plus HST)
Pommier Carriage Ride: $200 (Plus HST)
Miniature Toy Train (ages 5+): $8 (Plus HST)
Pommier Horse Drawn Carriage Ride: A private tour around the Village. Rides include general admission for 4, a half-hour tour through the Village streets and a gourmet departing gift.
Where:
Upper Canada Village, 13740 County Road 2, Morrisburg, Ontario
Free Parking
