Ontario Place Hosts the Aurora Winter Festival
Picture the magic of the Aurora Borealis including Santa’s Workshop with story time, reindeers and elves, sightings of the Abominable Snowman, and epic dance parties at the Disco Den. In years past, you’d probably have to travel all the way to the North Pole to take in that full experience. Fortunately, times have changed and with a little imagination and technological know-how, the Canadian National Exhibition (CNE) is bringing this Winter Wonderland a little closer to home.
Just in time for the holiday season, the CNE has transformed the Ontario Place West Island into a spectacular celebration of light and adventure when the 2019 Aurora Winter Festival comes to life. This high energy, winter-themed destination features four distinct mythical worlds for guests to explore, combining them with enchanting characters, stunning light installations, fabulous food experiences, marketplaces, amusement rides and more. Inspired by the breathtaking beauty of the Northern Lights, the festival features entertainment and interactive experiences intended to entertain visitors of all ages.
With the tagline, “Where holiday magic comes to life,” the Aurora Winter Festival aims to pick up where the Ex leaves off, in hopes of becoming a regular outing for families looking for fun, outdoor activities over the winter holidays. Though it’s marketed for guests of all ages, there’s little doubt that this event is especially memorable for the youngest attendees.
Upon arrival, visitors will have the opportunity to explore four distinct ‘Mystical Worlds,’ including the Arctic Retreat, Hidden Hilltop, Luminous Gardens, and a Whimsical Forest featuring the Fairy Hollow and Gnome Village. Each world is illuminated by awe-inspiring light installations where you’ll meet the characters that inhabit the Aurora Festival world: Thyra, the Ice Queen, who rules from her icy throne. No one dares cross her. She is strong, wise, and often found with her trusted sidekick, Rivera, the ice elf warrior considered to be one of the most talented soldiers. The elvish realm also includes life-of-the-party Elyon and the charming but rebellious, Zaos. Rounding out the crew is Yin, the dance music loving yeti, sworn to protect all of the Mystical Worlds.
Digging deeper into the worlds themselves, the Hidden Hilltop features a number of light sculptures and installations, including three secret caverns, each with its own immersive light displays, as well as Candy Cane Lane with giant candy installations, the Gingerbread Hut, and Candy Shack. The Arctic Retreat is filled with ice and snow, and is where Yin and Zaos tend to spend most of their time. The Whimsical Forest is a quirky world with many curious things, including a family of moose and some foxes. The Luminous Gardens is likely the most alluring of the worlds, and features the palace and ice throne where Thyra and Rivera reside. This world also boasts giant willows and beautiful gardens. You might even see a unicorn.
For those looking for something a little more traditional, there is also the North Pole with plenty of great attractions for the family including Storytime with Santa and his Elves, the craft tent, light installations along Reindeer Way, and wild dance parties in the Disco Den. It’s at the North Pole where Santa and his elves are on-site to share favourite holiday stories in a magical storytelling performance, and where kids are encouraged to make their own holiday gifts and deliver letters straight to Santa from the letter writing station.
Of course, Aurora Winter Festival does offer something for older attendees with a beautiful skating rink, tube park, Christmas Market, amusement rides, food gardens, live music, and other activities. The Frozen Pond is located at the heart of the festival, with picturesque views in a beautiful holiday atmosphere. Visitors can skate around brilliant light installations, while enjoying the holiday soundtrack. If you don’t bring your own pair, skates are available to rent for a fee.
Visitors can also spend time at the Food Gardens for a quick treat or full meal prepared by some of the most recognized food trucks in the city, before perusing the market on Main Street for the perfect holiday gift. And when you need to get out of the cold, a heated tent is available with mulled wine, hot chocolate and live musicians. At the time of writing, the list of vendors was not finalized, but the website will release a complete list before the park opens.
Among the highlights at last year’s festival were the rides and carnival games, and all the main attractions will be returning. Standing over 25 feet tall and 170 feet long, the tube park provides one of the signature experiences, although the rides do cost extra. There’s also a carousel, choo-choo train, and a stunning 60-foot ferris wheel that lights up at night and offers a unique view of the entire festival.
Even though Toronto’s winter season can be cold, wet, and windy, hibernating will always be for the bears. It’s great to see new programs designed to take some of the chill out of the season. Running through January 5th, the Aurora Winter Festival is adding a little holiday cheer to Toronto’s waterfront and is a welcome addition to the growing list of outdoor destinations in and around the city.
To learn more about the Aurora Winter Festival,
visit www.aurorawinterfestival.com/toronto
