Simcoe Christmas Panorama will be lighting up the riverside at Wellington Park in downtown Simcoe every night from Saturday, November 30th to Sunday, January 5th. The lights will come on at 5 pm until 11 pm to create a dazzling display of colour along the Lynn River. The event has been designated a Top 100 Festival by Festivals and Events Ontario, and admission is completely free.

A great time to come and see the display is during the Official Light-Up Ceremony, when the lights are flicked on for the season. The ceremony will be held on Saturday, November 30th at 6 pm. Tens of thousands of sparkling LED lights on dozens of Christmas-themed displays will turn on throughout the downtown park system. Santa Claus will also be arriving at the festival in an antique fire truck.

The scenic light show makes for a wonderful evening activity during the holiday season. The displays, which are crafted into whimsical designs and three-dimensional structures by a group of dedicated volunteers, are divided into three main categories: traditional, religious, and fantasy. Because the lights are reflected in the water, the show is often referred to as a “River of Light.”

Simcoe Christmas Panorama is a charming, family-friendly affair that is also a great choice for a romantic date or an outing with friends. The lights can be enjoyed from inside of your vehicle but you can also park and wander the pathways by the river on foot at your leisure. If you’re going to be outside, make sure you bundle up as it can get quite chilly by the water.

Over the weekends at Simcoe Christmas Panorama, you will be able to take in the displays from the comfort of a horse-drawn trolley ride through the park. Once you are finished, you should stop by the welcome centre where visitors can warm up with hot chocolate or apple cider. You can also do some Christmas shopping at the Gift Store, where 30 local merchants will be set up.

The idea for Simcoe Christmas Panorama came about in 1958, when inclement weather during Simcoe’s annual Santa Claus Parade made the event so cold and miserable that it could not continue, and the floats had to be left in Wellington Park. The annual tradition was born when organizers decided that they would not hold a parade again the following year. Instead, they would decorate the parade floats in lights and set them up on display in the park for everyone to enjoy when they had time and when the weather was cooperative.

What became the first Christmas light display in Ontario of its kind has now been going strong for six decades. Come experience the magic of the holidays with a drive past the displays or a walk through the park. It’s definitely worthwhile to make the time and brace the cold to see Simcoe Christmas Panorama over the holiday season.