33rd annual Wonders of Winter festival returns to Waterloo Park
Posted Nov 28, 2025 03:24:03 PM.
Last Updated Dec 5, 2025 08:19:01 AM.
Waterloo Park is packed with many festival displays and hundreds of thousands of lights, as the 33rd annual Wonders of Winter returns for another season.
From Nov. 28 to Jan. 3, the public will be able to walk through the park and enjoy the festive lights and displays for free, which has been a part of the community since 1993.
Speaking on the Mike Farwell Show on Friday, Dave Hollinger, a volunteer for the festival, said the park has a whole new look for this year after some renovations were done.
“The park has more lights than ever,” he said. “Eby Farm is gone, so there is more open space, and we have been able to put displays where we’ve never been able to put them before.”
A group of 20 volunteers worked January through April to build and repair the displays. Hollinger said they bring the “vigour” when it comes to running the festival, and it always brings something special every year.
“We get marriage proposals in the park as well,” he said. “The Victoria Gardens near the Young Street entrance had an absolutely amazing proposal last year. When we see things like that, we know we are doing the right stuff.”
Last year, over 52,000 people came out for the festival.
Once it gets underway, the lights will be turned on daily at 5 p.m. and run until 10:30 p.m. It is also free for the public to attend.
The opening ceremony for the festival will be happening on Saturday at 4:30 p.m. at the Park Hill Inn, with the lights being turned on at 5 p.m. sharp.
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