River of Lights
Event Details:
Starting Saturday, November 25, 2023 join us every night on Blockhouse Island for the River of Lights presented by Canarm. Show runs nightly until January 2, 2024.
Times:
Full light and sound show 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm (daily)
Lights only (no music) 5:00 pm to 6:00 pm and 10:00 pm to 11:00 pm
Every night until Monday January 2, 2023 (weather permitting). Join us at this FREE, family friendly, daily event throughout December 2022.
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 COVID-19 safe 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. Tune your car radio to 88.1FM 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.
Please practice all necessary health and safety guidance while on the event grounds.
City of Brockville: River of Lights
Contact: 613-342-8772
Vote for a Song in Next Year’s Show!
Do you love the River of Lights? Is there a song you wish we played 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 Express!
Try a new way to see the show: hop on the Aquatarium Holiday Express train. The train will loop from the Water Street Parking Lot (found at the entrance to Blockhouse Island Parkway) around the River of Lights show area. Tickets are $8 per person and can be purchased at the boarding location in the parking lot.
The train operates Friday, Saturday, and Sunday nights during the River of Lights from 6:00 pm to 8:40 pm, starting on Sunday, November 27th.
Hot chocolate and cookies are also available for purchase where you buy your tickets, and they are one of our Shop Where Your Heart Is partners!
For more information, please visit the Aquatarium’s website.
Shop Where Your Heart Is (2022 information for reference only):
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 last year, this program rewards you for shopping at local businesses this holiday season and with chances to win prize baskets filled with great local items. The more stores you support, the more chances you have to win!
Last year the combined value of all receipts collected through this program totaled over $100,000 of direct local spending!
How does it work?
Collect your receipts from purchases made in Brockville all December long, starting on November 26th with the opening of the River of Lights and ending on January 2nd.
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 for a “Brockville Winter Welcome” package.
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 BIA (3 Market Street West), and Brockville City Hall (1 King Street West)
Turn in your envelope filled with at least 3 receipts (photocopies accepted). 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.
River of Lights Tie in
How does the River of Lights factor in?
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.
2022 Participating Restaurants:
- Aquatarium Holiday Train
- Operating on site from the Water Street Parking Lot
- Friday, Saturday, and Sunday nights during the River of Lights.
- Boboli
- 32 King Street West
- Monday to Saturday, 10:00 am-4:00 pm
- Cosies Tea Room
- 45 King Street West
- Wednesday to Friday, 10:00 am-3:00 pm
- Saturday and Sunday, 9:00 am-3:00 pm
- Harvey’s Brockville
- 358 Stewart Boulevard
- Daily from 10:30 am-10:30 pm
- Moose McGuire’s
- 6 Broad Street
- Monday to Friday, 11:00 am-11:00 pm
- Saturday and Sunday, 9:00 am-11:00 pm
- O’Mally Kourt Fudgery
- 55 King Street West
- Tuesday to Saturday, 10:00 am-8:00 pm
- Sundays 12 noon-4:00 pm
- Richard’s Coffeehouse
- 234 King Street West
- Open Daily 7:00 am-6:00 pm (open until 7:00 pm on nights when the Brockville Arts Centre is hosting performances)
- Tait’s Fresh Start
- 31 King Street West
- Monday to Saturday, 8:00 am-4:00 pm
- Tim Hortons (all Brockville locations)
- Sleeves available from all Brockville locations after 5:00 pm (please ask for a “River of Lights” sleeve).
Sponsorship Opportunities
Love this event? Help support the show by sponsoring this event. Our 2023 event sponsorship package will be available soon.
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.