Niagara-on-the-Lake Candle Light Stroll

Last night I dragged my husband out into the minus 3 (Celsius) temperatures to the annual Niagara-on-the-Lake Candle Light Stroll.  I grew up in Niagara-on-the-Lake (NOTL) and I remember when the stroll started I was 8 years old.  I have attended almost every year since.  This marks the official start of Christmas for me.  The stroll is free unless you want to buy a candle, which at $3 is a great deal as all of the proceeds go to a local family in need, usually with a sick child.  Last night my snow wishes came true and there was a beautiful dusting of snow and large Christmas movie snowflakes swirled around us.  You truly feel as you have magically drifted into the middle of Bedford Falls or Stars Hollow.  (I am a nerd, just go with it.)

For those who are interested in a little bit of history.  Niagara-on-the-Lake (NOTL) proudly boasts a colourful history.  Niagara-on-the-Lake was formally known as Newark.  Newark was the first capital of Upper Canada.  This year marks the Bi-Centennial of the War of 1812.   The town of Niagara-on-the-Lakeis made up of an amalgamation of four historic villages: Queenston, St.David’s, Virgil and Niagara (Formerly Newark).  The town of Newark and Queenston, both played host to two battles during the War of 1812.  One of the first battles of the War of 1812 on Canadian (British at the time) soil was the battle of Queenston Heights and the following year in May 1813, the battle of Newark took place and the Americans captured Fort George and the town of Newark.  Later, in December of 1813, when the Americans retreated, they burnt the town to the ground.  Such a colourful history and growing up in NOTL, an appreciation for history becomes deeply ingrained in your being.  I can’t imagine what it would be like not to have grown up in a historical town!  For special events I always come home to participate. 

Now you can visit Fort George and see what life was like for British and American soldiers of that time period.  If you are lucky you get to hear the Fort George Fife and Drum Core, which is my favourite.  I am sure my fellow NOTLers can agree that it just isn’t the Canada Day Cake Parade/Candle Light Stroll Night/Christmas Parade day without the sounds of the Fife and Drum Core. I get giddy every time I hear them.  (If you follow my blog for long you will see if given the chance to talk about my hometown I wax on poetically.)

Back to the stroll!  We headed down and parked in our secret location so we didn’t have to walk too far and were able to leave with no problem with traffic.  We walked the short walk to hub of the action, we enjoyed the sights along the way.

Are you familiar with the artist Tricia Romance?  Her gallery is here in this beautiful, historic home.  When I was little I wanted to live here.  If I ever win the lottery I am going to offer her an ungodly amount of money so I can.

We strolled up and the crowd was already formed in front of the Courthouse.  It is no longer used as the Courthouse, it now houses the NOTL Chamber of Commerce. When I was little, the Public Library was housed in the back of this building.  My Mom took my younger sister and I to the library every week.  We are all bookaholics.  I digress...

 

 

 

I think they estimate 10 000 people show up every year.

 

Crowd shot of the stroll in action

I must confess I do not usually complete the whole stroll.  I get to the Fifeand Drum Core and I stand there until they are done for the evening, then we head back up the main street. 

 

 

All of the local stores are done up in their Christmas finery.

 

This company is a local icon.  Greaves Jams has been in business since 1927 and make the most amazing jams!  I love it also for the building is one of my favourites.

There is something so eerily beautiful about heading back up the street after the crowd has left.  It’s quiet except for the Christmas carols piping through the town speakers on each corner.  The snow was falling and the roads had been blocked off by the police so no need to worry about being run over.  I LOVE this moment.  Especially considering in the summer you can’t move through the crowds of tourists, for that brief moment the street is mine. 

We rounded the corner to head back to the car and we came across the guests of honour, the stroll leaders, (the stroll essentially goes around two blocks)  It was nice to see them as when the stroll starts the crowd is so thick you can’t see the horse and buggies.

 

 

Of course you can't go to NOTL without sampling some of the goodies from the local shops.

 

British sweets from Wee Scotish Loft

My most favouritist night of the year!!!  (Next to Christmas Eve!)