20 Best Christmas Trails in Ontario You Need to Experience (2024)

Here are the best Christmas trails in Ontario that you need to experience this holiday season. These are the top parks and paths throughout the province with the most magical and dazzling displays of twinkling lights.

While these aren’t exactly lengthy hikes by any means (please see our guide to the best winter hikes in Ontario for those!), these are the 20 best places to see Christmas lights in Ontario that involve going for a stroll through the park or the woods.

Please note that there are many drive-thru Christmas trails in Ontario. I’ve chosen not to include those in this list. These are the best Christmas trails in Ontario that you’ll need to explore on your own two feet.

Looking for more holiday experiences in Ontario? Here are 30 Christmas Markets in Ontario to check out, the best holiday events in Toronto, and the best holiday events in Mississauga to experience.

Winter Wonders at the Royal Botanical Gardens is one of the most magical Christmas trails in Ontario. Go for a stroll along Hendrie Park’s picturesque paths to discover interactive light displays, twinkling Christmas lights and immersive sound installations. Indulge in the sights, sounds, and tastes of the holiday season as you wander around one of the most beautiful gardens in Canada.

The experience doesn’t end with the outdoor Christmas trail. Step indoors and get cozy as you observe the Botanical Train display and feel as though you’re in the tropics inside the warm greenhouse. Get your tickets here.

The Winter Festival of Lights in Niagara Falls is a staple when it comes to Christmas lights in Ontario. They’ve been celebrating the winter season for 42 years with their beautiful light displays. It is Canada’s largest free outdoor light festival with millions of lights and spectacular installations. Go for an 8km walk along the Niagara Parkway between Clifton Hill and Dufferin Islands to see the majority of the displays.

In addition, a new illumination light show called “Sparkling Winter Lights” will be projected on the American and Canadian Horseshoe Falls every night. There are also many special events happening as part of the Winter Festival of Lights, like the Hot Chocolate Trail with 17 stops throughout Niagara Falls.

Christmastown at Mountsberg Conservation Area is a wondrous forest experience. Take a wagon ride out to Christmas Town, visit Santa and Mrs. Claus, make a wooden ornament, partake in a holiday scavenger hunt and more. Tickets for this one go fast and it is sold out for 2024.

While Christmastown is more of a holiday experience, I will say that their Winterlit event is more of a lights trail. It runs from December 29th to February 14th, 2025. This award winning display of winter lights is an absolute must and I suggest checking it out. It’s nice that the Christmas trails in Ontario continue beyond the holidays. Get your tickets here.

Illumi isn’t only a magical holiday lights show, it’s the largest of its kind in the world! You’ll go on an enchanting journey through 13 different universes with more than 20 million twinkling lights and decorations.

The more Christmassy/wintery themes include The Land of Frost, The Infinite Poles, and the Illumi Tree of Lights (and its village). The Tree of Lights is a whopping 47 metres tall, the same height as the Statue of Liberty. Don’t miss walking through The Tunnel of Love with your loved ones.

The Holiday Magic Light Trail is a fun and free Christmas trail in Ontario, taking place at Blue Mountain Village. The entire village is decorated and all lit up for you to enjoy.

Go for a 1km walk through Blue Mountain Village to soak up magnificent lights and festive sounds. The entire village is adorned in garlands and bows with many great opportunities for photos with your family and friends.

The Burlington Festival of Lights is a beloved annual event at Spencer Smith Park in Burlington, Ontario. It’s one of the best free Christmas trails in Ontario.

Walk through Spencer Smith Park to witness fantastic holiday light displays on the waterfront. On opening night, the Candlelit Stroll takes place in downtown Burlington to kick off the festivities.

Clow’s Christmas Trail is a 1.5km winter wonderland along one of the best Christmas trails in Ontario. Decorated by one family due to their love for the holiday season, their hope is to spread Christmas cheer to all.

There are many colourful and bright Christmas displays, like the Nativity Scene, winter sports lane, the North Pole post office, the Candy Shop, Elves Lodge, Santa’s toy shop and many more.

The Owen Sound Festival of Northern Lights is a magical Christmas trail in Ontario throughout downtown Owen Sound and Harrison Park. Take a walk from Harrison Park on 2nd Ave East, 1st Ave West and 1st Ave East, on both sides of the river.

This is a fun and free family event for everyone to enjoy. Take a stroll in Owen Sound and marvel at the beautiful holiday lights.

The Simcoe Christmas Panorama is one of the best places to see Christmas lights in Norfolk County, Ontario. There are more than 60 light displays and 200,000 lights in downtown Simcoe parks. Go for a walk at the Simcoe Christmas Panorama River of Lights to gaze at the twinkling Christmas lights, meet lively characters, and visit the Christmas Market.

Light up the County is another event in Norfolk County where you can go for a walk around local neighbourhoods to witness the most decorated holiday homes. You may need to go for a drive to participate in this activity. Even though it’s technically not one of the Christmas trails in Ontario, I thought it was worth mentioning as it is connected to the Simcoe Christmas Panorama event.

Alight at Night is a winter wonderland at Upper Canada Village. You’ll find a number of events throughout the year at Upper Canada Village (like Pumpkinferno at Halloween).

This is one of the best Christmas trails in Ontario with over one million twinkling lights and many beautiful displays. Go for a walk through the trees and past heritage buildings while you gaze at spectacular light installations.

Bright Lights Windsor is an annual celebration at Jackson Park where this public park becomes illuminated with thousands of lights and holiday displays.

As part of the festivities, the WE Made It: Holiday Market will be open on Fridays and Saturdays with local, handmade goods and several food vendors. A partial market will open throughout the week.

Lights On Stratford is an annual winter festival of lights in downtown Stratford. There are many luminous art and interactive light exhibits throughout this quaint, heritage town. Take a walk from Market Square and the City Hall building, down Downie Street, and along the banks of the Avon River to Tom Patterson Island.

Aside from the Lights On Stratford Festival, there are so many things to do in Stratford in the winter. You must check out the town’s Christmas Trail, a fantastic way of exploring the local shops and redeeming your tickets for unique gifts as you complete your holiday shopping.

Night of Lights is an immersive walk-through holiday event with more than 1.5 million lights animated and synced to Christmas music. You can walk through larger than life Christmas ornaments, go for a stroll through lights tunnels, and enjoy the pop-up nighttime hotspot called Mistletoe Lane after you experience the beautiful light displays.

There are also opportunities to meet Santa, do some shopping at the Christmas Market, taste seasonal food and beverages, and even experience bumper cars on ice. This is a one-of-a-kind event with a seemingly endless amount of photo opportunities for your Instagram, too.

It’s the 11th anniversary of the Brantford Lights at Glenhyrst! In addition to taking a walk around the grounds of the art gallery to see the holiday lights, you can also check out the Merry Little Market on December 2nd (an artisan vendors market).

Also, the gallery will be open on Thursday and Friday evenings to visitors, and a beverage truck will serve hot chocolate on Friday and Saturday nights.

The Belleville Festival of Lights takes place in Jane Forrester Park and it’s the unofficial kickoff to the holiday season in the city. Take a walk around the park to witness a wide array of lights, movements and sounds.

On opening night, a big celebration happens at West Zwicks Park with food trucks, a variety of costumed characters, and live musical entertainment.

Light up the Hills in Halton Hills is a Christmas lights festival across three parks in Georgetown, Glen Williams and Acton, Ontario (unfortunately, Acton’s display is cancelled this year, but you can still visit the ones in Georgetown and Glen Williams).

Go for a walk in the decorated parks to view brilliant holiday light displays. There are also Trees of Hope and a Memory Tree at the park in Georgetown. Dominion Gardens Park is the main place to check out the most lights, so I suggest you head there first.

There are many more holiday events taking place in Halton Hills, throughout Georgetown and Glen Williams. Here’s a guide to help you plan your visit.

The Holiday Trail at Ball’s Falls Conservation Area is an evening trail walk experience featuring a 1.5km loop path. Go for a walk through an illuminated 1800’s historic village of Glen Elgin and through natural areas by the Niagara Escarpment and Twenty Mile Creek. Of course, while you’re there, be sure to take a peek at the amazing and beautiful Lower Falls (which is also lit up!).

There’s also a line-up of musical guests on weekends, sensory-friendly nights, the Winter Winefest event on select nights, and other programming and events (fire pits, historical demos, kids crafts, a hot chocolate station, s’mores kits, and more).

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