Festival of Lights to kick off holiday season in Gananoque
This holiday season, take the short drive to Gananoque for cheerful events and exciting festivities during the 2022 Gananoque Festival of Lights.
Starting Thursday, Nov. 24, 2022, the Town of Gananoque, along with community partners, will light up the season with the 2022 festival, featuring a fun-filled schedule of events that will take place in November and December.
According to a media release from the Town of Gananoque, the Festival of Lights team has worked hard over the past several months to help create and implement events that can be enjoyed by families and people of all ages.
The kick-off begins on November 24 with the Downtown Gananoque BIA Holiday Shopping Event. Then, on Friday, Dec. 2, 2022 at 6:30 p.m., they will light up Town Hall Park with the official tree lighting and opening of Candy Cane Lane, which will also be in Town Hall Park this year. According to the release, there will be live music, photo opportunities, hot chocolate, apple cider, and other delicious treats provided by local businesses.
On Saturday, Dec. 3, at 5:30 p.m., the 1000 Islands Gananoque Chamber of Commerce will be hosting the Gananoque Santa Claus Parade, featuring festive floats from community groups and businesses and the long-awaited return of Santa Claus!
Also on the schedule are special feature performances, Makers Studios, an Art Show, and other festive activities at the Thousand Islands Playhouse, including the ‘How Sweet It Is’ Christmas Concert on Saturday, December 17. The Rotary Club and Lions, two Gananoque service groups, will be hosting Santa Days in Town Hall Park with treats and activities planned for the little ones to enjoy while visiting with Santa, organizers stated. The Royal Theatre will provide carolling along King Street, the Gananoque Skating Club will be performing a show on Wednesday, December 21, and an outdoor public skate with music will take place at the Gord Brown Memorial Canada 150 Outdoor Rink.
According to the release, the Town will also be hosting their annual Winter Lights competition. Residents are encouraged to decorate their homes for the holiday season. A group of local judges will pick a winner from each ward (North, South, and West), and one award is given to the business with the best window/light display, the Town stated. The judges will travel through every street in town and winners will be announced on Saturday, Dec. 19, 2022, on the Town’s Facebook page. Each winner will receive a prize from a local business.
The Town of Gananoque has created an interactive online events calendar to help keep track of all the special events taking place in December. According to the release, the events calendar will also include other events planned throughout the holiday season by other businesses and groups. For more information on each of the events visit https://www.gananoque.ca/explore-gananoque/gananoque-festival-of-lights.
The 2022 Gananoque Festival of Lights is brought to you by the Town of Gananoque, the Festival of Lights Event Committee, a tireless group of volunteers and dedicated community partners that include: Ray Stedman – Laverne’s, Meg Dabros – Thousand Islands Accommodations Partners, Allison Hess – Thousand Islands Playhouse, Jennifer Baril – Thousand Islands Gananoque Visitor Centre, Jaime Peterson – HMG Silver Cinema, Debra Donaldson, Lions Club of Gananoque, Rotary Club of Gananoque and Gananoque Public Library, 1000 Islands Gananoque Chamber of Commerce, and many more!