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Spotlights and mist create a spectacular night view of the American Falls. -- Photo by Phil Raby

Niagara Falls, Canada, lights the way this holiday season with its 23rd annual Winter Festival of Lights. This "electrifying" event, running until January 2, includes a variety of glittery experiences, including a night parade, a Disney light display and fireworks.

To keep all of it radiant night after night, this festival gets a little help from some impressive sparkle -- almost two million dazzling lights.

It's a Small World

Stretching itself over five kilometres along the Niagara Parkway, the main lighting spot for the festival is called Winter Wonderland. Here visitors will find a little Mickey Mouse magic at the Enchantment of Disney display. All fans, from the youngest to the oldest, can find a favourite Disney character.

There's Winnie-the-Pooh and all his friends from the Hundred-Acre Wood, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs and even a great display representing the most famous scene from the movie Fantasia: Mickey Mouse as the Sorcerer's Apprentice.

For those who don't remember those classics from a few decades ago, there are displays of Beauty and the Beast, The Lion King and The Little Mermaid among other modern Disney movies.

Further down the road in the Dufferin Islands area, the displays take on a more Canadian flavour. The various lighted scenes in this portion of Winter Wonderland represent wildlife found in Canada.

This is where the Festival has added energy-conserving LED lights, creating an environmentally friendly display that's still downright spectacular. The trend to use these new lights will continue in years to come as the Festival replaces more of their traditional lighting with the LEDs.

Great Falls of Fire

Every night from dusk to midnight, the Falls burst into an explosion of colour. This effect is created by giant lights with bright hues being directed at the Falls, producing an atmosphere reminiscent of a close encounter of the third kind.

But there's more action to be seen at the mighty Niagara. An amazing fireworks show takes place every Friday night at 9:00 until December 23rd. The shows re-start on the 28th and run for the next two nights at 9:00, culminating with the New Year's Eve spectacular display at midnight.

Send in the Clowns

Bystanders can't help but smile as the Winter Festival of Lights Night Parade makes its way through the Niagara Falls downtown every Saturday night.

No matter how cold it gets, the resplendent parade always generates some heat as its numerous illuminated floats travel one of the three routes chosen this year. The elaborate floats include a huge train, a ship and even a castle.

Spectators bundled up against the cold watch the Night Parade which runs every Saturday beginning at 8 p.m. -- Photo by Phil Raby

Accompanying the floats is a continuous stream of clowns, dancing candy canes, glowing snowman, marching bands and dance troupes, all brimming with holiday spirit.

Show Time!

The musical show Winter Wishes will have kids and their parents discovering the magic of the holiday season through a bunch of precocious characters known as the Misty Kids.

This show, which can be seen at the Hard Rock Club, runs every Saturday until December 17th and then every day from December 26th to January 1st. The show goes on three times a day and is free of charge.

Where to stay

Families can stay overnight at the Holiday Inn in St. Catharines, only a 15-minute drive away, after enjoying the lights of Niagara Falls.

The Holiday Inn of St. Catharines/Niagara features many attractive amenities which will appeal especially to travellers with children. The family fitness room features state-of-the-art equipment with an indoor pool and children's play area. There's also a spa with an on-site massage therapist and a family restaurant, Vecera Restaurant & Wine Bar, that will be enjoyed by all members of the family.

The Little Mermaid is just one of the many characters illuminated at the Enchantment of Disney display in Niagara Falls. -- Photo by Phil Raby

The spacious executive suites include a small fridge and microwave for those midnight snack times and there's high-speed wireless internet available in all the rooms.

For more information on seasonal packages at the Holiday Inn,click here.

For more information on the Winter Festival of Lights: wfol.com

For more information on the Niagara region: tourismniagara.com

Travel writer A.P. Rodrigues can be contacted through R + R Creative

A car with snow flake theme is just one of the many brightly decorated floats to be seen in the Night Parade. -- Photo by Phil Raby