Tucked away on the lush shores of the Detroit River and Lake Erie, Amherstburg, Ontario, is a beautiful town that is one of the oldest in the entire province. Established in 1812, Amherstburg is steeped in a rich and interesting history, beginning during The War of 1812. This was a shipbuilding location during the war that has evolved into an activity filled town, which is great for families to live and visit. Many of the old buildings still stand today, providing a living history experience unmatched in the region. This is also one of the most scenic locations that you’ll find in all of Ontario. Waterfront vistas that blend into a lush wilderness make for a memorable and scenic backdrop during your visit. No matter your reason for making the trip, Amherstburg has something for you. You can visit the many historic sites like Kings Navy Yard Park, relax or play at one of the beautiful local parks such as Toddy Jones Park, check out the boutique shops or grab a bite to eat at one of the local restaurants. Things to do here are in abundance! Amherstburg is a town that loves to gather and celebrate and it really shows during their River Lights Winter Festival.
Winter can be a time where people tend to stay indoors and not socialize very often. This is not the case in Amherstburg. The hearty Canadian residents who live here don't let the cold slow them down or limit their fun, and it's evident in their winter events and activities. For almost a decade, The River Lights Winter Festival has been celebrating the holiday season with many fun activities and gatherings. It is also the ideal way to see this historic and beautiful town in all of its holiday luster. Amherstburg is adorned with a seeming endless amount of LED lights and many bright holiday displays. The Holiday Village Weekend is perfect for families with activities like horse drawn carriage rides, face painting, live performers, tasty holiday treats and much more. They have a Santa Claus Parade with bands, bright holiday floats, and plenty of live entertainers. Make your holiday season one that you and your family will fondly remember for years to come and take the journey to Amherstburg for this fun and exciting holiday celebration. ResortsandLodges.com got the opportunity to interview Sarah Van Grinsven, the Coordinator of the River Lights Festival, to talk about the event.
RAL: Tell me a little bit about the festival.
SVG: River Lights Winter Festival has been running for nine years. Each year it has gotten bigger and brighter with additional community support. We bring in around 20,000 people throughout the duration of the festival. Our demographic ranges because we are a family-friendly event that is free to enter and an event that has become a tradition for people to participate in.
RAL: What makes this festival unique?
SVG: Our Light Displays are top quality, handcrafted and customised by local artisans. Our 45’x45’ Life Size Gingerbread House is one of a kind. Built by amazing volunteers, it houses our amazing annual Gingerbread House contest submissions, and has free crafts for the children to enjoy along with Hot Chocolate to help warm everyone up.
RAL: What can people expect to find for activities?
SVG: On opening night (“Ignite the Night”) there are 100’s of Santa’s running the streets for the Super Santa 5K run/walk, an outdoor classic film showing, carollers roaming the streets, the count down to the Municipal Tree Lighting, and everything is capped off with Fireworks. From that night until the end of the year, we have our hundreds of LED light displays lit throughout the downtown core and the Gingerbread Warming House open for all to enjoy.
RAL: What can attendees expect to find for local lodging?
SVG: In Amherstburg, we have many B&B’s and one hotel in the downtown core. We don't have any lodging specials at the moment, but as we expand, we plan to look into that for future festivals. Bondy’s Bed and Breakfast is a lodging option that people tend to flock to during the event because it is in the middle of all the action. Don't worry about the availability of lodging during the festival; there are plenty of rooms for all who wish to attend.
RAL: What does the festival mean to the community?
SVG: This is a big event for the community. Since our inception we have attracted many people to Amherstburg for the festival and in turn they spend money at our shops, hotels, and other establishments. Some of the local businesses even create River Lights Specials, which are great deals for shoppers during the festival.
RAL: Does the festival support any special causes in the community?
SVG: Our event is free and therefore requires sponsorship and partnering within the community. We work with the local mission to collect canned goods and local historic sites to showcase and donate to during the Holiday Season.
RAL: Why should people come to your festival?
SVG: Our event showcases the uniqueness of Amherstburg. We are a quaint, historic town loaded with charm. River Lights is a leisurely event that allows families to enjoy and take in all the joy of the season at their own pace. It is an event that becomes a family tradition and helps create holiday memories.
For more information about the River Lights Winter Festival please visit their website.