If there’s one way to romanticize your life this holiday season, it’s spending an evening under hundreds of twinkling lights and surrounded by festive cheer!
We’ve rounded up some awesome trails, decked out streets, and local events open in December and January that you can enjoy with the whole family, your besties, or the person you love the most.
Read on for our ultimate holiday lights bucket list in and around Ottawa.
Trails and Planned Routes
Experience a unique and dazzling drive-through holiday lights experience at Magic of Lights! This year’s event is bigger and brighter than ever with more than a mile of spectacular light displays that bring to life your favourite holiday scenes and characters.
Pile the whole squad into the car – admisson is by carload!
Location: Wesley Clover Parks (411 Corkstown Rd, Ottawa, Ontario)
Dates: Open until January 6, 2023
Cost: Prices start at $20/standard vehicle
For a romantic and festive date night, follow the annual illuminated route between Ottawa and Gatineau and admire the decorated sites like Confederation Park, the Peacekeeping monument, and the Garden of Provinces and Territories.
Click here to access the Pathway of Lights Map.
Location: Various locations throughout Ottawa and Gatineau
Dates: On until January 7, 2024
Cost: Free
Festivals and Events
Make memories to treasure with family and friends of all ages at the Vintage Village of Lights! Enjoy the postcard-perfect scenery of a 1920s and 30s village on foot as you explore the festive light displays, seasonal decorations, and true-to-era buildings at Cumberland Heritage Village Museum.
Chat with the villagers and get an up-close look at carpentry, leatherwork, and blacksmith demonstrations. Sing a song around the player piano, then send a telegram to the North Pole. Decorate gingerbread cookies, warm up by the bonfire, or try your skills on the ball hockey rink. And your experience isn’t complete without a visit with Santa!
Location: 2940 Old Montreal Road, Cumberland
Dates: Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays until December 17, 2023.
Cost: $25.50/group (1 – 6 people per group, taxes included)
Located in the Aberdeen Square surrounded by snow-capped heritage buildings and wooden chalets is the Ottawa Christmas Market!
Live your Hallmark Christmas movie dreams under thousands of Christmas lights and decorations accompanied by holiday entertainment, local flavours, and, of course, some holiday shopping.
Location: Lansdowne TD Place, Ottawa
Dates: Weekends until December 23
Cost: Free admission
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!
For a special date night touch during your visit, take a private horse-drawn carriage tour around Upper Canada Village! They offer a package that includes your carriage ride, entry to the event for up to 4 people, plus a parting gift. How cute is that!
Location: 13740 County Rd 2, Morrisburg, Ontario
Dates: Open select days until January 6, 2024
Cost: General Admission is $17 (+HST) and the Pommier Carriage Ride Package is $150 (+HST)
Festive Homes and Streets
The Turcotte Family Home - Stittsville
The Turcotte family in Stittsville has an iconic holiday tradition of creating themed Christmas displays, and this year they’re bringing back National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation! They had the same theme back in 2020 which brought 1,000 visitors each night! This year it’s been created with brand new props including another Chevy Caprice on the front lawn and an amazing Advent Calendar House built with LEGO, just as it appears in the movie!
Their spectacular holiday lights and decor bring laughter and joy to all those who visit, and it’s a must-see when you’re in the area. Be sure to bring a donaton for the Stittsville Food Bank! A sign with a QR code is set-up on the front yard for online donatios, along with a bin for donations of non-perishable food items (for pets too), and a container to collect cash donations.
Location: 18 Cypress Gardens, Stittsville
Dates: On until December 31
Cost: Donations encouraged
Taffy Lane
Every year, hundreds of visitors make their way to Taffy Lane in the east end of Ottawa to witness the extraordinary holiday lights and decor on this festive street! From giant candy canes to inflatable snowmen to thousands of twinkling lights, this is a surefire why to get into the holiday spirit!
Many of the homes also collect donations for charity so be sure to pack some cash or non-perishable food to give back to our community.
Location: Taffy Lane, Orléans, Ontario
Dates: Typically December 1-31 (depends on the residents!)
Cost: Free
Looking to plan a date night getaway this winter? Click here for 5 bucket list winter stays in and around Ottawa!
