The 35th Anniversary of the Winter Festival of Lights kicks off its' opening ceremony on Saturday at 6 p.m. in Queen Victoria Park in Niagara Falls, Ontario. The festival is celebrating the season until January 31st.
Saturday's event begins with a fire act and ends with a firework finale.
The Festival's Executive Director, Tina Myers, says she's been working the entire year to get ready for the 75 day spectacular. Crews begin installation after Labor Day.
It takes 8,000 hours of man power, more than 25,000 feet of extension cord, and two million lights in preparation for the festival.
This is a 1.3 million dollar project, which is funded by the city, steak holders, grants, and donations.
The festival began 35 years ago and Myers says at first it was to bring people to the Falls during its' off season. Last year, it brought in over 1.3 million people and Myers is expecting 1.5 this year.
The Winter Festival of Lights is sponsored by the Ontario Power Generation, the City of Niagara Falls, and the Niagara Parks Commission, as well as other sponsors.
This year there are new light displays across Niagara Falls, a new Deck the Falls Holiday Walking Tour and 3D projection.
