Niagara-on-the-Lake offers many enjoyable initiatives and events catering to residents, families, and guests alike. Learn about upcoming events below and ensure you're part of the excitement because community spirit is always alive in our town, and the fun never stops! Don't forget to check out information on how you can contribute to community projects and help support the ongoing initiatives that make our town thrive. See the "Donate" section below for details.
Happening Now
Christmas Parade
The Christmas Parade is scheduled for Saturday, December 14, beginning at 11:00 a.m. The parade will start at the intersection of King and Centre Street in Old Town and will travel throughout its traditional route down Castlereagh, Wellington, Byron/Prideaux, Simcoe, and Queen Streets.
Tractor Parade
The annual Tractor Parade, a beloved holiday tradition, will light up the streets of Niagara-on-the-Lake on Thursday, December 12, 2024. The parade will begin and end at the Meridian Credit Union and Centennial Arenas (1565 Four Mile Creek Road, Virgil), running from 6:00 p.m. to approximately 8:00 p.m.
ROAD CLOSURES IN EFFECT: To ensure the safety of all participants and spectators, road closures will be in effect starting at 5:30 p.m. on December 12. Roads will reopen as soon as the parade ends. A full list of FAQs can be found below.
Tractor Parade FAQs
Deputy Lord Mayor Erwin Wiens and Dorothy Wiens host this parade, which celebrates community, agriculture, and festive spirit.
All roads will close at 5:30 p.m. and reopen when the parade finishes at approximately 8:00 p.m.
Please view the full closure map.
Full Road Closures (Emergency Access Only)
The area within the following roads will be closed to general traffic during the parade. These roads themselves will remain open and serve as detour routes:- Concession 2 Road: From East and West Line to Line 3 Road
- East and West Line: From Concession 6 Road to Concession 2 Road
- Concession 6 Road: From East and West Line to Line 3 Road
- Line 3 Road: From Concession 6 Road to Concession 2 Road
Please use these roads to navigate around the closure area and plan your travel accordingly.
Soft Road Closures (Emergency and Local Traffic Access Only)
- Intersection of East and West Line and Four Mile Creek Road
- Intersection of Line 1 Road and Concession 6 Road
- Intersection of Niagara Stone Road and Walker Road
- Intersection of Niagara Stone Road and Concession 4 Road
Yes, depending on the parade’s location at the time. Barricades will be staffed by Town employees, who can assist if access is needed. However, some delays should be expected.
If you live on a road closed for the parade, we recommend arriving home before road closures begin at 5:30 p.m. For those driving into Virgil to attend the parade, it’s best to arrive by 5:00 p.m. to allow time for parking and to secure a good viewing spot. Planning ahead will help avoid disruptions.
It is recommended to arrive in Virgil by 5:00 p.m. to ensure you have time to park and find a spot to enjoy the parade. Please note that road closures will be in place until approximately 8:00 p.m., so leaving the area may be delayed.
No, the roads will not reopen as the parade passes through. However, barricades will be staffed by Town employees, who can assist if access is needed.
Alternative routes are provided on the parade map. Please refer to the detour routes for specific details.
Yes, in the case of an emergency, all emergency vehicles will be granted access through closed roads.
Deliveries during the road closure period may be delayed. Rescheduling non-urgent deliveries is recommended to avoid disruption.
Parking is permitted in any public parking area or on-street parking in Virgil, except where “No Parking” signs are posted. Pleasant Lane will be closed to parking.
Yes, but delays may occur. It is recommended that you plan your visit to businesses before or after the parade to avoid inconvenience.
The Town is implementing the following measures:
- Town employees staff barricades to support access.
- Detour routes for traffic.
- Advance notices to residents and businesses via social media, the Town website, and digital signs around the Town.
The parade will proceed in light rain or snow. In the event of severe weather, updates will be posted on the Town’s website and social media channels with more information and to announce cancellations.
Staff are actively reaching out to local businesses, churches, schools, and other stakeholders within the closure area to ensure they are informed and to seek their assistance in sharing the information. To further raise awareness, large digital signs will be placed throughout town to notify residents of the event and road closures. Additionally, details will be shared through local media outlets, posted on the Town’s social media platforms, and published on the Town’s website.
For more information about road closures, please contact Town Hall at 905-468-3266 ext. 0 or email info@notl.com.
For more information about the parade, please visit the Tractor Parade Facebook page.
Donations
When making a donation, tax receipts will be issued for donations above $25. Donations can be made online using the button below or in person at the Town Administration Building (1593 Four Mile Creek Road, Virgil) via cash, debit or cheque (payable to the Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake).
To donate to any of the following initiatives, please click the button below.
The Heritage Trail is the only unimproved multi-use trail in the Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake’s Official Plan. It dissects the epicentre of the Wine Route in Niagara-on-the-Lake, a key destination for cycling, eco-tourism and agri-tourism.
As the automobile was responsible for the decline of the railway, it seems fitting that a shift from the automobile to a renewed priority on active transportation has the potential to breathe new life back into the Heritage Trail.
The 66-foot-wide corridor is visibly broken and even unknown to many residents of Niagara-on-the-Lake. Utilization of the trail has been compromised in the last few years by erosion and washout between Line 9 and York Road and in other sections.
The overall integrity of the corridor is eroding due to the inability of people to use it. Vegetation and grass are growing where people used to walk, run, cycle and ride horses. The trail is losing its “visibility” in both a physical sense and in the overall consciousness of the Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake.
The Niagara-on-the-Lake Canada Sesquicentennial Committee, created in 2017 to support and execute events to commemorate Canada’s 150 years of Confederation, chose the rehabilitation of the Heritage Trail as its Legacy project to connect communities and preserve a piece of Canadian history for new generations.
A committee of the Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake, The Heritage Trail, was initiated in 2019 and will be directed by a group of volunteers from the community.
The Burial Ground, located on Mississagua Street between John and Mary Street, is the final resting place of Niagara Baptist Church parishioners. Many of these people were part of Niagara-on-the-Lake's historic Black community, which included enslaved people, freedom seekers from the United States, Black Loyalists, free people, and their descendants.
The Town is committed to honouring those buried at the cemetery and preserving heritage in Niagara-on-the-Lake.
Council has committed to a partnership with the community group known as the Friends of the Forgotten (FOTF) to restore and preserve this burial ground long term. Staff is working with the FOTF concerning next steps and is currently conducting a Stage 1 Archaeological Assessment through funding raised by the FOTF community group. This process is being done in consultation with the Bereavement Authority of Ontario (BAO) and Stage 1 should be completed near the end of April. Once completed, the results will be shared with Town Council, and next steps will be determined.
Services to undertake this archaeological investigation must be done in accordance with the Ministry of Heritage, Sport, Tourism and Culture Industries' (MHSTCI's) current Standards and Guidelines for Consultant Archaeologists and the Funeral, Burials and Cremation Services Act. Any work plans must be approved by the BAO and MHSTCI prior to project initiation.
The Town will work cooperatively with these parties as it respectfully investigates and restores this important burial site and resting place of those buried there.
For more information on the Friends of the Forgotten group, their efforts, and how to contribute, please see the Friends of the Forgotten website at https://friendsoftheforgotten.ca
Make a Donation
Council and Staff have partnered with the Friends of the Forgotten to help lead the burial ground's long-term restoration and preservation process. The Town is accepting donations to help cover the costs associated with the work required, including but not limited to studies and other administration fees.
To learn more about the Negro Burial Ground / Niagara Baptist Church, please click here.
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The Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake is accepting donations to construct a new St. Davids pool. This pool was built in 1969. It sits in a 4-acre park (St. Davids Lions Park) in the village of St. Davids in Niagara on-the-lake. This pool has served the community for 54 years and it is due to be replaced. The pool is classified as Class A - 25 metre – 6 lane pool. The change house is 1900 square feet and hosts a male and female changerooms, mechanical room and guard room. Due to the age of the pool there have been major mechanical problems over the past 20 years.
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The Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake is committed to fostering an equitable and inclusive community where everyone feels a sense of belonging.
At the July 25, 2022, Council Meeting, Town Council approved the locations of one rainbow crosswalk and five rainbow benches in Niagara-on-the-Lake. A public engagement survey, open from June 1 to June 15, 2022, allowed for community feedback about the proposed locations and informed Council’s decision.
As of June 2023, a rainbow crosswalk has been installed at the intersection of Niagara Stone Road and Anderson Lane, and one rainbow bench has been installed at the Centennial Sports Park.
The Town is looking to install additional rainbow benches throughout the community at the following four locations:
- Mary and King Street (Old Town)
- Niagara on the Green Park (Glendale)
- Queenston Firehall (Queenston)
- Sparky’s Park (St. Davis)
Community members are invited to donate to offset the costs of these initiatives.
The StopGap Foundation helps raise awareness about barriers in our built environment and engages communities to work towards removing these barriers.
For more information about the StopGap Foundation, please visit:
Thank you for your generous donations. Our fundraising goal for the Old Town Cenotaph initiative has been achieved and the campaign has closed.
Check out the various community events and initiatives below:
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This program will allow service groups to assist in maintaining parks. A trailer will be assembled to include all of the tools required to clean a park and loaned out to groups on an as-needed basis. There is a sponsorship opportunity for the trailer, and anyone interested in this prospect should contact Kevin Turcotte.
Application - (click to submit an electronic application)
The 2025 Christmas Parade is scheduled for Saturday, December 14, beginning at 11:00 a.m. The parade will start at the intersection of King and Centre Street in Old Town and will travel throughout its traditional route down Castlereagh, Wellington, Byron/Prideaux, Simcoe, and Queen Streets.
For information, including how to participate, a parking map, how to support the parade and more, please visit https://www.notl.com/recreation-community/community-events/christmas-parade.- Image
This Community Centre Open House was made possible by a grant received from ParticipACTION!
Thank you to the vendor booths who promoted their programs and activities and to the residents who came to enjoy the bouncy castle for children, free lawn bowling lessons, door prizes, community goodie bags, free use of the Community Centre fitness gym, and special programming at the Niagara-on-the-Lake Library.
A Community vegetable garden was initiated in 2019 by the Communities in Bloom committee in partnership with the local Library. Local businesses provided funding and plant products. Local volunteers planted, watered and weeded the garden throughout the season and then harvested the crops as they were ready. The vegetables and herbs were distributed to the local community as well as the many migrant farm workers who come each year to work in our farming industry.
More information coming soon.
The 2023 Halloween event was a success! Thank you to all of the families and children who came out to enjoy trick-or-treating, a scavenger hunt, books, crafts and colouring sheets. Stay tuned for information regarding the 2024 event.
Stay tuned for informaton regarding the 2023 National Day for Truth & Reconciliation.
In collaboration with Indigenous Peoples, the federal government was called upon to establish a statutory holiday to honour Survivors of residential schools, their families, and communities, and ensure that public commemoration of the history and legacy of residential schools remains a vital component of the reconciliation process.
Each year, September 30 marks National Day for Truth & Reconciliation (National Orange Shirt Day).
On August 30, 2021, Town Council approved that the Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake commits to recognizing September 30, 2021, as the National Day for Truth & Reconciliation by sharing the stories of residential school survivors, their families, and communities, and engage in meaningful education related to Truth and Reconciliation.
The Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake is committed to reconciliation and ensuring that residential schools' tragic history and ongoing legacy are never forgotten.
Historical Indigenous Figures of Niagara-on-the-Lake
Joseph Brant
Joseph Brant, or Thayendanegea (“two sticks bound together for strength”), Kanyen'kehà:ka (Mohawk) war chief, Loyalist, interpreter, statesman (born circa March 1742/43 at Cuyahoga (near Akron, Ohio); died 24 November 1807 at Burlington Bay, ON); brother of Mohawk leader Mary (Molly) Brant. Loyal to Great Britain during and after the American Revolution, he was an influential military captain. Like his sister Mary, he was a powerful diplomat who encouraged Indigenous tribes to share his political loyalties. A Six Nations (See Haudenosaunee) leader, he met significant political figures such as George Washington and King George III on behalf of his people.
This information was sourced from The Canadian Encyclopedia.
John Brant
ImagePhoto courtesy of Niagara Parks.
John Brant (Ahyouwa’ehs) was the son of Joseph Brant. Along with John Norton, he led warriors at the Battle of Queenston Heights along with other engagements. He was a strong advocate for building schools, he was appointed resident superintendent for the Six Nations of the Grand River, he was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Upper Canada for Haldimand and his mother appointed him as a traditional chief, Tekarihoga.
John Norton
ImagePhoto courtesy of Niagara Parks.
Major John Norton (Teyoninhokarawen) was adopted into the Mohawk Nation by Joseph Brant. He led fighters from Six Nations of the Grand River into battles at Queenston Heights, Stoney Creek and Chippawa. His journal chronicles his 1,000 mile journey from Upper Canada to the homelands of his Cherokee father, stories of Haudenosaunee culture and history, and Haudenosaunee involvement in the War of 1812.
Captain Alexander George E. Smith
ImagePhoto courtesy of the Niagara-on-the-Lake Museum.
Alexander, son of Cayuga chief Alexander George E. Smith Sr., lived on the Six Nations Reserve near Brantford, Ontario. He enlisted in the Canadian Militia and became an officer in the 37th (Haldimand Rifles) Regiment which, in the pre-war years, made their journey to Niagara for the annual summer camp. When the First World War began, Alex went overseas with the Second Contingent and fought as a commissioned officer in France with the 20th Battalion. He was awarded the Military Cross for his bravery on the Somme, and was promoted to Caption, but was sent home in April of 1917. When the Polish Camp opened, in Niagara-on-the-Lake, he was appointed adjutant. Smith was admired by many of the Poles at the camp and for his services, he was named an Officer of the Order of the Black Star. As such, he was one of the most highly decorated Natives officers of the Great War.
Mary Brant
Mary Brant, Kanyen'kehà:ka (Mohawk), Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) leader, Loyalist, diplomat, political activist (generally known as Molly Brant and as Konwatsi'tsiaiénni in the Mohawk language, meaning “someone lends her a flower”) (born circa 1736; died 16 April 1796 in Kingston, ON). Brant was one of the most important Indigenous women in Canadian history. From her influential position as head of a society of Six Nations matrons, she enjoyed a much greater status within the Mohawk nation than her more colourful, younger brother, Mohawk leader Joseph Brant. Consulted by Indigenous people on matters of importance, she was a powerful ally to the British forces and served as their highly effective intermediary with the Iroquois in the American Revolutionary War (1775–1783).
This information was sourced from The Canadian Encyclopedia.
Tom Longboat
Thomas Charles Longboat, distance runner (born 4 July 1886 in Ohsweken, Six Nations Grand River reserve; died 9 January 1949). Tom Longboat (Haudenosaunee name Cogwagee) was an Onondaga distance runner from the Six Nations of the Grand River First Nation reserve near Brantford, Ontario. Largely because of his ability to dominate any race and his spectacular finishing sprints, he was one of the most celebrated athletes before the First World War.
This information was sourced from The Canadian Encyclopedia.
Indigenous Resources
- Celebration Of Nations: Niagara’s annual Indigenous arts gathering that celebrates creativity, diversity and resilience
- Indigenous Perspectives: A three-part docuseries by the Fort Erie Native Friendship Centre intended to help educate about the Indigenous people's history. Topics included are the Indigenous involvement in the War of 1812, Residential Schools and healing as a community.
- Landscape of Nations 360
- National Centre
- Niagara-on-the-Lake Museum Indigenous History Page
- Regional Centre
- Woodland Cultural Centre
- Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada (rcaanc-cirnac.gc.ca)
- NCTR - National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation
- Municipal - Indigenous Relations | AMO
- Famous Aboriginal sportspeople - Creative Spirits
Newark Park Community Garden
The Newark Park Community Garden opened in 2022 to allow residents to grow their own vegetables, herbs and flowers. 32 ground level beds and 2 accessible plots are available. The garden is located in Newark Park on Niven Road near Lakeshore Road.
For more information, or to be added to the waiting list for next year, please send a note to: newarkparkcommunitygarden@gmail.com
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Thank you to everyone who participated in and donated to the 2024 tournament. Stay tuned for details regarding the 2025 event.
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The Niagara Canada Summer Games 13 for 13 Cultural Festival Event and Torch relay in Niagara-on-the-Lake were incredibly unique events for the Town.
Thank you to all of those involved in making this a memorable occasion.
Thank you to everyone who donated to NOTL Gives Back and to our community partners who helped make this special event happen. Families and children in Niagara-on-the-Lake and beyond will be so grateful for the food, toys and clothing donated!
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The 2022 Park Hop has closed. Congratulations to the winner of Park Hop 2022, the Chow family!
Thank you to every participant that made Park Hop 2022 such a memorable adventure. Great job hoppers! - Image
The NOTL Poppy Project displayed thousands of volunteer-crafted poppies at the Court House and Niagara-on-the-Lake Museum for 2023's Remembrance Day. Remembrance Day services, hosted by the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 124, were held at the Queen Street Cenoteaph and the Queenston Cenotaph.
Stay tuned for information regarding 2024's Remembrance Day services.
In honour of Random Act of Kindness Week on February 13 -19, 2023, the Town launched its third annual Shine Light, Spread Kindness Campaign. This campaign was a one-week initiative dedicated to promoting a culture of kindness in Niagara-on-the-Lake. The campaign provided daily suggestions on ways individuals can shine light and spread kindness through words, creativity, giving, stewardship, action, self-care, and gratitude.
Stay tuned for information regarding the 2024 campaign.
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Thank you to everyone who came out to the 2024 Sports Wall of Fame Ceremony! Stay tuned for details regarding the 2025 event.
Click here to view all past inductees for the Niagara-on-the-Lake Sports Wall of Fame!
The Town's 2024 Step Challenge was a wonderful demonstration of community involvement! Thank you to everyone who participated and our sponsors for making this event a great success.
Stay tuned for details regarding the 2025 Step Challenge.
The Town's 2024 Strawberry Social was a great success. Thank you to everyone who came out to enjoy an afternoon of fun!
Stay tuned for information regarding the 2025 Strawberry Social.
Thank you to all those who joined us at the Youth and Family Programming Open House for child-friendly activities, face painting, colouring, and feedback opportunities.