NIAGARA FALLS ILLUMINATION

The spectacular lighting displays of Niagara Falls may seem like a relatively recent invention, given the amount of power and technology involved to achieve the look.

However you may be surprised to learn that the first time the Falls were illuminated was way back in 1860 by using 200 Bengal lights (a type of firework which gives off a blue flame).

This was to honor a visit by the 18 year old Prince of Wales, Albert Edward, during his goodwill mission to Canada and the USA.

NIAGARA FALLS ILLUMINATION SCHEDULE

Niagara Falls is illuminated every night all year round and can be enjoyed from either side of the border.

Time: Dusk (as early as 5:00 pm in the winter) - 1:00 am

Dates: Nightly, January 1st - December 31st.

WHERE TO SEE NIAGARA FALLS ILLUMINATION?

The best places to view Niagara Falls illumination are the same places where you would get the best view of Niagara Falls during the day.

UP CLOSE (AND FREE):

• Outside of the Table Rock House along the edge of the Horseshoe Falls
• Along the edge of the American Falls from Goat Island on the US side of the border

UP HIGH:

• Observation deck of Skylon Tower
• Fallsview hotel rooms (Embassy, Marriott, Hilton, Tower, Sheraton etc)
• During a night time helicopter tour
• Clifton Hill SkyWheel

DOWN LOW:

• Viewing platform of the Journey Behind the Falls
• Riverside on the observation deck of the Niagara Falls Tunnel experience
• During a night time boat cruise

Thanks to thoughtful decisions by the Niagara Parks commission to have plenty of open green space surrounding Niagara Falls, you can enjoy a lot of different (free) views of the Falls, including from A significant distance at the Oakes Garden Theatre.

Various parking options are available along the Niagara Parkway and throughout Niagara Falls (Fallsview Blvd, Clifton Hill) and no tickets are required to view the nightly illumination.

WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR NIAGARA FALLS ILLUMINATION?

The Niagara Falls illuminations we all enjoy are managed by a bi-national Niagara Falls Illumination Board.

The Niagara Parks Commission administers all special color illumination requests within the NFIB policy and current guidelines approved by the Niagara Falls Illumination Board.

NIAGARA FALLS ILLUMINATION HISTORY AND TIMELINE

Below is as detailed of a timeline as we could collect from a variety of sources about the history and evolution of the Niagara Falls illumination.

• September 14th, 1860 at 10:00 pm: The first recorded instance of Niagara Falls being illuminated at night using 200 Bengal lights.


• 1879: the Falls were illuminated with electricity for the first time using carbon arc lights during a visit by Princess Louise and her husband, Sir John Douglas Sutherland Campbell (royalty has certainly played a significant role in the history of Niagara Falls!)


• 1907: The American Falls were illuminated at night for an entire month when General Electric of Schenectady New York installed 36 searchlights. This was also the first time when the lights were color changing, when workers were paid $0.50/hour to change films and adjust the colours projected onto Niagara Falls.


• Early 1920s: a group of Niagara Falls businessmen pushed to have Niagara Falls illumination improved and done more often. Known as the “generators”, they raised money to buy and install 24 new searchlights.


• 1925: The Niagara Falls Illumination Board was formed. Using a budget of $28,000, their responsibility was to oversee ongoing operations related to Niagara Falls illumination. The first permanent lights turned on during an event called “Festival of Lights” on June 5, 1925. Anyone recognize that name? :)


• 1974: 20 new Xenon gas spotlights were used.


• 1997: the old illumination lights were replaced with a new system that provided 60% more illumination while only using 4,000 watts.


• Today: Thanks to a $4,000,000 investment in 2016, Niagara Falls is now illuminated by energy efficient LED lights, which are controlled by an operator inside the illumination tower. Using 2 large tablets (1 for each side of the Falls), the lights can be changed to any color at any time on demand with a buttons.

The Niagara Falls Illumination is a spectacular nightly light display that enhances the beauty of one of the world’s most famous natural wonders.

After your day time tour of Niagara Falls Canada, we highly recommend coming back at night to witness the Falls in a whole new light (pun fully intended). Walk Niagara Tours offers all-inclusive walking tours of Niagara Falls. Our tour guides lead groups 7 days a week between April and November.