Ontario town offers free drive-in holiday light show starting this month

An Ontario town is bringing back a beloved annual festive tradition this month, and you don't even have to leave your car to enjoy it.

River of Lights, a free sound and light show held in Brockville, is returning for the holiday season later this month.

This low-key festive attraction, which first opened to the public in 2019, lets visitors enjoy twinkling holiday lights from the comfort of their climate-controlled cars. No jacket required.

Located on Blockhouse Island (which has not actually been an island for 165 years), River of Lights features a display of lights synchronized to a curated playlist that includes both holiday classics and modern hits.

Guests simply need to park facing the lights, tune into the radio frequency listed on the on-site notice board, and watch the show come to life.

Photo courtesy Brockville Ontario. 

The full show runs for 40 minutes and offers two different experiences. From 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. and again from 10 p.m. to 11 p.m., visitors can enjoy a "static light show" without music, specifically for those who prefer a low-sensory event, while the main synchronized show takes place nightly from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.

River of Lights is free to attend and runs from Nov. 29 to Jan. 4.

The attraction is located at 30 Blockhouse Island Parkway, Brockville, Ont.