River of Lights
Event Details:
Starting Saturday, November 30, 2024 join us every night on Blockhouse Island for the free light and sound show, the River of Lights presented by Canarm Ltd. Show runs nightly until January 6, 2025.
Funded by the Government of Ontario.
Nightly Schedule:
Every night until Monday January 6, 2025 (weather permitting). Join us at this FREE, family friendly, daily event throughout December.
- Full light and sound show 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm (daily). Set your car radio to 94.3FM on site to pick up the music.
- Lights only (no music) 5:00 pm to 6:00 pm and 10:00 pm to 11:00 pm. These hours are sensory-friendly and feature softy glowing lights that slowly change from one colour to the next. No strobing or flashing lights, and no accompanying music or effects.
Location:
Blockhouse Island Parkway, Brockville (at the base of Market Street West at Water Street).
Public washrooms in the harbour building (on site) will be open daily until 9:00 pm.
Description:
The River of Lights is a holiday light display on Blockhouse Island which includes thousands of twinkle lights and flood lights set to music. The show is approximately 40 minutes in length before repeating the Set. Find a parking space facing the show, tune your car radio to the show frequency, and enjoy the show from the comfort of your vehicle. The first and final hours each night display a static light show (no music), while between 6:00 pm and 10:00 pm each night the light and sound show will run in a loop, making the trees dance with lights as a mix of contemporary music and classic holiday tunes entertain you.
You can also ride the Aquatarium Holiday Train around the grounds. Click here for details on the holiday train.
Please practice all necessary health and safety guidance while on the event grounds.
City of Brockville: River of Lights
Contact: 613-342-8772
Sponsorship
Love this event? Help support the show by sponsoring this event. We have corporate levels as well as levels perfect for individual supporters.
Our 2024 Sponsorship Package is now available. Please click here to download a copy of our sponsorship package.
2024 Sponsors and Partners
Funding provided by the Government of Ontario
Presenting Sponsor: CANARM Ltd.
Gold Level Sponsors
Silver Level Sponsors
Bronze Level Sponsors
Media Sponsors
Partners
Vote for a Song in Next Year’s Show!
Do you love the River of Lights? Is there a song you wish we play in our line up? Vote for a song to appear in next year’s show when you complete our event survey.
Take the Aquatarium Holiday Train!
Try a different way to see the show: hop on the Aquatarium Holiday Train. Starting at the tunnel parking area on Blockhouse Island Parkway, the train will do 2 laps of Blockhouse to see the River of Lights.
Tickets are $10 per person now FREE (thanks to a generous donation to the Aquatarium) and can be reserved in advance. Hot chocolate is available for purchase at the starting location.
The holiday train operates on select nights:
- November 30
- December 6, 7, 14, 20, 21, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31
- January 2, 3, 4
Departure times:
- 6:00pm
- 6:30pm
- 7:00pm
- 7:30pm
- 8:00pm
- 8:30pm
The train cannot operate during inclement weather, please follow the Aquatarium on Facebook for announcements.
For more information, please visit the Aquatarium’s website.
Shop Where Your Heart Is:
The River of Lights is partnering with the Brockville & District Chamber of Commerce and Downtown Brockville on the “Shop Where Your Heart Is” program throughout the month of December.
What is “Shop Where Your Heart Is”?
Introduced in 2021, this program rewards you for shopping and dining at local businesses this holiday season with chances to win weekly prizes and Downtown Brockville gift cards. The more stores you support, the more chances you have to win!
How does it work?
Collect your receipts from purchases made in Brockville all December long, starting on November November 16th at the downtown ‘Miracle on King Street’ event and ending on January 6th following the final night of the River of Lights show.
- Shop at local businesses
- Collect your receipts
- Remit your receipts
Every 3 receipts earns you 1 ballot towards weekly prizes, and envelopes with receipts totaling over $250 will also be entered into a grand prize draw. Eligible entries include retail, restaurants, experiences, and overnight stays in paid accommodations.
Essential purchases (gas, food, prescriptions), along with LCBO/Beer Store, lottery tickets, tobacco/vape/cannabis products are not eligible.
Pick up your receipt envelope in store or from any of the following locations: Brockville & District Chamber of Commerce (3 Market Street West), Downtown Brockville Business Improvement Area (3 Market Street West), and Brockville City Hall (1 King Street West).
Turn in your envelope filled with at least 3 receipts (photocopies accepted), or submit your entries online with our new submission tool (save your receipts though! If you win you will need to produce your receipts in order to claim your prize).
The drop box for completed envelopes will be available 24/7 just outside of the Chamber office at 3 Market Street West (find the drop box on the side entrance by the stairs).
Please visit the Shop Where Your Heart Is website for more details.
Warm up to Win with the River of Lights + Shop Where Your Heart Is
Pick up a hot beverage from one of our restaurant and café partners to earn an extra entry into the weekly “Shop Where Your Heart Is” prize draw, OR enjoy a beverage in-house at one of our participating restaurants and get a “River of Lights + Shop Where Your Heart Is” coaster.
The coffee sleeve and beverage coasters you receive with your order serves as your extra ballot. Fill in your name and contact details and drop if off at the Chamber office.
2024 Participating Restaurants:
- Boboli: 32 King Street West
- Monday to Saturday: 10:00am – 4:00pm
- Brockville Country Club: 1548 King Street West
- Monday to Saturday: 11:30am-7:00pm
- Sunday: 11:30am-6:00pm
- Cosies Tea Room: 45 King Street West
- Wednesday to Friday: 10:00am-3:00pm
- Saturday and Sunday: 9:00am-3:00pm
- Fat Les on King: 59 King Street West
- Sunday to Wednesday: 11:00am-9:00pm
- Thursday to Saturday: 11:00am-11:00pm
- Finnigan’s Tavern: 72 King Street West
- Sunday to Thursday: 11:00am-11:00pm
- Friday and Saturday: 11:00am-midnight
- Harvey’s Brockville: 358 Stewart Boulevard
- Daily: 10:30am-midnight
- The Nosh~er~y: 209 King Street West (buy any size “Nosh~tail” and your drink will be served on our coaster)
- Thursday to Tuesday: 3:00pm-8:00pm
- Richard’s Cofeehouse: 234 King Street West
- Daily: 7:00am-3:00pm
- Studio Even: 164 King Street West
- Tuesday to Friday: 10:00am-5:00pm
- Saturday: 10:00am-4:00pm
- Sunset Grill: 2511 Parkedale Avenue (with the purchase of one of their 6 new specialty espresso drinks)
- Daily: 7:00am-3:00pm
- Sweet Life Café: 20 Market Street West
- Monday to Friday: 7:00am-3:00pm
- Sweet Ofelia Café and Market: 52 King Street East
- Tuesday to Friday: 9:00am-6:00pm
- Saturday: 10:00am-4:00pm
- Tait’s Fresh Start: 31 King Street West
- Monday to Friday: 9:00am-3:00pm
- Saturday: 8:00am-4:00pm
- Tim Hortons: after 5:00 pm from all Brockville locations
- Aquatarium Holiday Train
- Purchase a hot chocolate at the River of Lights on nights when the holiday train is running
Download our poster of participating restaurants and their hours of operation here.
Are you a restaurant operator who wants to take part? Let us know!
Opening Night Showcase Video (2020)
Our thanks to Mitchell Beattie and Beattie Films for producing this amazing video of our 2020 opening night.
See lights across the river? Morristown has put together a Christmas Festival at Bayside Park for December that we can see at night when we look across the river.