Alight at Night returns for holiday season

Alight at Night

The Alight at Night festival, one of Ontario’s premiere winter events at historic Upper Canada Village, opens on Friday, November 29th.

A million lights transform this 60-acre heritage site into a magical winter wonderland that you can explore by foot, horse-drawn wagon or romantic carriage ride. This year, the festival is open Thursday to Sunday nights from Friday, November 29th to December 23rd; closed on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day and is open nightly from December 26th to January 4th.

Ticket Information

Alight at Night pricing offers an all-inclusive experience. One admission price provides entry to Upper Canada Village, a horse-drawn wagon ride, Toy Train ride, Saint Nick’s Merry Mansion (until December 23rd), Carousel Corner, singing at Christ Church and a visit to the Bakery. Tickets are $16 for adults (13+), $12 for youth (5-12) and free for children 4 and under. Advance ticket purchase, particularly during the holidays, is strongly recommended to guarantee entry into the festival.

Click here to purchase tickets online

New for 2019

Families with youngsters should plan to drop by Alight at Night early in December to experience the ultimate Santa visit at Saint Nick’s Merry Mansion (Crysler Hall). Alight at Night’s Victorian Saint Nick will be on-site to hear Christmas wishes in his festively decorated holiday mansion until December 23rd.

Accessibility Night

Upper Canada Village offers an Accessibility night on Tuesday, December 3rd. This is an evening where people can ride in their own vehicle to view the Village adorned in lights. Only cars or accessibility vans are allowed. Coaches and school buses cannot be accommodated due to their size. For safety, Upper Canada Village will provide a trained and licensed staff person familiar with the Village roadways in the dark, to lead these vehicles through the site. Reservations are required, admission is $16 per person (plus HST.)

Romantic Pommier Carriage Rides

You won’t find a more romantic holiday setting than Alight at Night. Plan a private tour in the comfort of one of the Village’s Pommier Carriages. Rides include admission for two, half-hour private tour through the Village streets, gourmet departing gift (fresh-baked Village bread, cheese and Sparkling Apple Cider) and a 20% off coupon for Pommier Jewellers in Cornwall. Limited availability, reservations are required, $92.10 (HST & administration fee included).

Holiday Dining

For a treat, follow the enticing smell of fresh bread and cinnamon rolls baking in the wood-fired oven at the Bakery or stop by the Village Store to purchase and take home. Festive dining is available on-site at two locations: table service at historic Willard’s Hotel or self-service at the Harvest Barn. Menus range from light dining and warm-you-up food to full course turkey dinners. Call Bytown Catering 613-543-0660 for reservations. Groups are welcome, reservations recommended.

Christmas Carols

Get in the holiday spirit with some old-fashioned carol singing at Christ Church. Vocalists and musical accompaniment are on site each night featuring guest choirs and solo performers to encourage all to sing-a-long. This experience is consistently one of the visitor’s favourites year after year.

Make a Night of it

Make a night of your Alight at Night visit with a stay at one of Cornwall’s many excellent accommodations. Cornwall has a wide variety of accommodations to suit every taste! For more information, please click here.

Additional Information

Complete festival details can be found at www.AlightatNight.ca or by calling the St. Lawrence Parks Commission Customer Service Unit at 613-543-4328 or 1-800-437-2233.

Additional Events

Looking for other fun things to do in the area? Make sure to check out our Events page for info on upcoming events in Cornwall and SDG Counties.

Dine with us!

From casual to fine dining, local favourites to tastes from around the world, Cornwall has something for everyone. Check out one of our many great restaurants during your visit! For more information, please click here.

Visit Cornwall!

Do you have other questions? Cornwall Tourism can help. Email us at info@cornwalltourism.com to request a copy of our Visitor Guide or contact us at (613) 938-4748. You can also stop by the Cornwall Tourism office at the Cornwall Civic Complex (100 Water Street). The office is open Monday to Friday from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm – we would be happy to answer your questions and provide you with recommendations and information to make your visit to Cornwall even more memorable!

You can also reach out to us on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram!

Article and photos courtesy of St. Lawrence Parks Commission