The award-winning Lights On Stratford Winter Festival is back for its 7th year, transforming Stratford's heritage downtown and park system into a luminous winter wonderland. This year's theme is Canada: Northern Lights, celebrating Canadian artists from coast to coast.
From December 18, 2026, through January 10, 2027, Thursdays to Sundays between 5 PM and 10 PM, visitors can explore free light art and interactive installations that make Stratford one of Ontario's most magical winter getaways.
Henry House offers a 15% discount code LIGHTSON15 for any stay in December or January.
The main festival sites are Market Square in the heart of downtown and Tom Patterson Island along the Avon River. Both are about a 5 min walk from Henry House. A free, heated hop-on hop-off shuttle bus also loops between the main locations every 15 minutes (except Dec. 24, 25, 26 and Jan. 1, 2).
This Winter's Highlights
Forest Choir by Ottomata (Quebec), an Ontario premiere: step up to a microphone on Tom Patterson Island and watch a ribbon of coloured light travel into the trees as the forest answers with the call of a local animal.
As Water Falls by Iregular (Quebec), an Ontario premiere: a giant glowing cube that shows an ever-changing digital waterfall with its own soundscape. No two moments are ever the same.
Other new installations include Rhythm by ONGA Artful Light (B.C.), a world premiere inspired by the Avon River and the aurora borealis; The Tunnel, The Portal and The Doors by B!G ART (Alberta); and Golden Eye by Tonya Hart (Ontario). Crowd favourites HEART, LIGHTWALL and EVERBRIGHT return, and more than 100 neon maple leaves will glow in downtown storefronts and the windows of City Hall. Check the website for the latest updates: Lights On Stratford, or follow them on Instagram.
More to Enjoy
The festival brings the whole town to life with food trucks on Fridays and Saturdays, free hot chocolate, silent disco parties, glow-in-the-dark curling at the Stratford Country Club, lantern-lit tours at the Stratford Perth Museum, and Here For Now Theatre's winter playbill. Local restaurants serve to-go mulled wine and boozy hot chocolate to sip while you take in the lights.
Dates: December 18, 2026 to January 10, 2027
Hours: Thursdays to Sundays, 5 PM to 10 PM
Admission: Free
Walking Time from Henry House: 5 min
Staying at Henry House during the festival means you are just steps away from the installations, with cozy, luxurious accommodations waiting for you after a night of exploring.
Henry House offers a 15% discount code LIGHTSON15 for any stay in December or January.
Next Steps? Book a Stay with Henry House.
We hope you found this information helpful in planning your next stay in our enchanting city of Stratford, Ontario.
If you want to be located within a 6 min stroll of most of the attractions, please consider staying with us at the Henry House.
