Best Christmas Lights Displays in Ottawa
Ottawa is known for being fearsomely cold in the winter, but that doesn’t mean you can’t still get out there and enjoy everybody’s favourite parts of Christmas: Christmas lights displays. Some of the events below are indoors so you’ll stay warm, while others will necessitate a heavy jacket, but they’ve all got one thing in common – they promise a fantastic time for kids and adults alike.
If you want to see some Christmas lights displays in Ottawa this holiday season but aren’t sure where to look, check out the list below, where you’ll find information about some of the very best displays the entire area has to offer.
GLOW OTTAWA: GLOW AROUND THE WORLD
Do a million sparkling lights sound like a lot to you? If it does, you might just have to get on down to Glow Ottawa’s Glow Around The World event, where they make use of at least that many separate lighting fixtures to create a completely unforgettable Christmas lighting experience. Playgrounds and interactive entertainment guarantees to keep the kids busy just long enough for you to enjoy some adult time at the licensed bar.
Meanwhile, over at the vendor market, the very best of Ottawa’s local craftsmen and cooks set out their wares for all comers to taste and try, adding a refreshing local touch to a thoroughly professional Christmas lighting experience.
ALIGHT AT NIGHT: 13740 COUNTY ROAD
In order to experience the magic of Christmas in all its splendour, all Ottawa residents have to do is wrap up warm and take a visually sumptuous stroll through one of the area’s most picturesque neighbourhoods. The festival makes use of nearly a million individual lights, which have been liberally sprinkled across heritage buildings, fences, and trees, adding up to a uniquely magical backdrop for the event.
There are carriages and horse-drawn wagons you can book, as well as carolers, a life-sized toy train, and a merry-go-round that might just remind you of the good old days. And as if you needed any more of an incentive to go, dining is provided for in the form of three licensed restaurants.
MAGIC OF LIGHTS: 411 CORKSTOWN ROAD
Go big or go home, is probably the motto that Magic of Lights had in mind as they were designing their simply dazzling Christmas lights display. 2 kilometres of drive-through holiday lighting features showcase the very best of what the area has to offer, as well as an impressive use of digital animations and LED technology. The twenty dollar price tag only applies to one car, meaning you can cram as many of your friends and loved ones into the backseat at no extra cost.
What’s more, the cost of every ticket goes towards The Ottawa Senators Foundation. The festival has donated more than $100,000 over the last three years, so why not get in on the action this holiday season?
TAFFY LANE
Not to be outdone by some of the businesses who do excellent work putting on exceptional Christmas lighting displays, the residents of Taffy Lane have decided to take matters into their own hands. By coming together in the best seasonal tradition, the native Ottawans have developed a yearly routine of putting on impressive lighting displays. No matter what your itinerary is this Christmas, be sure to set some time aside for a quick walk down Taffy Lane; you won’t be disappointed, and you might just make a new friend or two.
CHRISTMAS LIGHTS ACROSS CANADA: PARLIAMENT HILL
One of the longest-running lighting events in Canada – they’ve been going since 1985 – Christmas Lights Across Canada is one of the most beloved seasonal events the entire country has to offer. A multimedia holiday display meets beautiful, multicoloured lights to create a feast for the eyes that patrons of all ages will be able to enjoy. Head on down to Parliament Street if you get the chance; this event is free, so you don’t need to worry about the price.
MIRACLE AT SAVOY BRASSERIE: 334 RICHMOND ROAD
Taking a slightly different approach to Christmas lighting displays, the Miracle at Savoy Brasserie event is basically a pop-up bar with a Christmas theme that has been travelling around Canada over the last number of years. This year, it will be in Ottawa, making a ton of holiday-themed dreams come true for the local residents who have been dying to experience it.
As well as adorable, inflatable figurines and an impressive array of lights, this Christmas lighting event comes complete with special cocktails and beverages inside, with live bands playing traditional Christmas music. It promises to be a night out to remember, so make sure to add it to your list.
No matter how detailed your schedule already is for Christmas this year, we’re sure you’ll be able to find some room for a couple of the events mentioned above. They’re all guaranteed to be a good time – and as long as you’re suitably prepared for the weather, there’s nothing standing in your way.