Niagara’s Festival of Lights

NIAGARA FALLS, Ont. – The 28th annual CAA Winter Festival of Lights will be brighter, larger and most definitely longer.

This year’s event will stretch an extra three weeks, running Nov. 6 to Jan. 31 to accommodate holiday-weary visitors who don’t have time to visit during the Christmas rush.

In addition, the festival’s scenic route along the Niagara Parkway will now extend down to Queen St. with a new district called Santa’s Village. In addition to the 125 light displays and three million individual lights, it makes this Canada’s largest lights festival, and among the largest in North America.

But the biggest addition this year might be a subtraction. Mainly, the tent covering the Rink at the Brink ice rink near Table Rock.

Most everyone who visited the Rink last year agreed they wanted the tent gone, says festival general manager Dino Fazio.

Niagara Festival of Lights

“People loved it, but they wanted that open sky,” he said during a media conference Wednesday to announce this year’s festival. “We thought, we could certainly provide that.”

The rink, which now has TD Bank as a title sponsor, will closer resemble the Rockefeller Plaza-type facility organizers envisioned last year. Mist, snow or rain, people want their outdoor skating to be truly outdoors, says Fazio.

“Many people told us they want it to be more of an iconic Canadian experience.”

Niagara Festival of Lights

The rink will be refrigerated in the event of a warm spell, and will be open for business “in all but the most challenging weather conditions.”

There will also be six designated free skating days for the public.

Among other highlights:

- Glen Campbell performs at the Gale Centre Nov. 28 and 29.

- The Candlelight Stroll returns to Queen St. Dec. 11.

- Opening ceremonies Nov. 6 at Queen Victoria Park.

Niagara Festival of Lights

According to a report compiled by Toronto-based firm Enigma Research Corp., last year’s festival received more than 1.3 million visits, generating about $57 million to the local economy — more than 40 times the festival’s budget.

“I’ve come to recognize one simple fact — the festival is absolutely vital to our community,” says chairman Joe Miszk.

“World class communities have lots of vital things to see and do.”

But to remain vital, the festival needed to forge partnerships with major sponsors, adds Fazio. Both CAA and TD have solidified the event’s future.

“No question, this is a fact of life for any type of event of festival,” he says. “Wherever possible, you’ll see that happening “¦ it’s a matter of whether the (event) has enough assets to provide the sponsor with what they’re looking for.

“We’re fortunate enough to do that.”

The full list of events can be found at www.WFOL.com