Alight at Night open for 19th season

A million lights of wonder – Alight at Night opens at Upper Canada Village – One of the many buildings decorated with lights during the 18th annual Alight at Night Festival on December 22nd, 2018. (The Leader/Blancher photo)

MORRISBURG – Over one million lights combined with the historic setting of Upper Canada Village. For 18 years, the Alight at Night Festival at the village has drawn record crowds from around Canada. The festival opened for its 19th season on November 29th.

Last year, the village set an all-time attendance record of over 47,900 for the month-long holiday festival.

Returning for its second year is the Carousel Corner featuring a 1960’s vintage merry-go-round for young visitors.

Over at Crysler Hall is the Village’s own Victorian-era Santa, holding court at Saint Nick’s Merry Mansion. Santa will be at the Village to hear the Christmas wishes from the young and young-at-heart until December 23rd before he returns to get ready for his yearly journey at Christmas.

Returning for another year are the romantic Pommier Carriage rides. These are half-hour private tours for two through the streets of the village.

At Christ Church, join vocalists and musicians in a traditional Christmas sing-a-long.

The event is open from Thursday to Sunday each week between November 29th and December 23rd. Alight at Night is closed December 24th and 25th. It reopens December 26th and operates nightly until January 4th, 2020. Admission includes a ride on Santa’s Toy Train, horse-drawn wagon rides through the village, and all the activities inside the village.

Begun in 2001, Alight at Night has won numerous regional, and provincial tourism awards. It was named as one of the top-100 events by Festivals and Events Ontario in 2012.

Village officials recommend purchasing tickets in advance as some evenings have seen long line ups to enter. Tickets and pricing information can be found at www.alightatnight.ca.

Check out some of The Leader’s photos from previous Alight at Night Festivals in this gallery.

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