Everything we’ve planned, accomplished and amassed over the past eight years comes to fruition in 2016. Some call it “the circle of life.” It’s a year of culmination, appreciation and celebration and no place engages in the “celebration of life” better than Niagara-on-the-Lake and its bed-and-breakfast community!

Ring in 2016!

Why not take advantage of great post-Christmas savings and start the New Year with something sassy and new from one of the many shops and boutiques located on Queen Street or at the Outlet Collection of Niagara?

With so many wonderful restaurants and celebrity chefs in the area, Niagara-on-the-Lake is the perfect place to plan a New Year’s Eve gathering with family and friends. In fact, why not make a weekend of it? Reserve all the rooms at your favourite bed and breakfast and book a table for December 31 at any of our fine dining establishments in town. Later, back at your B&B of choice, toast each other as the clock strikes midnight. Don’t forget the champagne!

The annual Icewine Festival is a perfect excuse to visit Niagara-on-the-Lake in January.

What better way to introduce new beginnings than with a good old-fashioned levee, hosted by the Friends of Fort George. Celebrations start at 3 p.m., January 1 at Navy Hall, and include toasts, music performed by the 41^st Regiment Fife and Drum Corps, and a cannon firing to welcome in the New Year. Call 905-468-6621 for information.

If you’re looking for something quiet and relaxing to do on Saturday, January 2 (or any other Saturday in January or February, for that matter), spend a couple of hours at the Shaw Festival Film Series as you enjoy a great movie with a glass of wine. Showings begin at 3 p.m. sharp and movie tickets cost $12 each (including taxes) at the Festival Theatre Box Office. We should mention the series also showcases fabulous documentaries at 6 p.m. every Friday evening from January 1 to February 12.

Chase away those winter blues

January in Niagara-on-the-Lake is all about Icewine, so it’s no surprise we choose to celebrate this liquid gold with a festival held in its honour. For three glorious weekends in January (15, 16, 17, 22, 23, 24, 29, 30, 31), the Niagara Region transforms into a wintry wonderland as it celebrates Ontario icewine. From galas and chestnut roasts to ornate ice bars and winery tours, there’s something for every taste.

Take full advantage of the many festivities and experiences offered at various wineries participating in the Niagara Icewine Festival by purchasing the $40 Niagara Wine Festival Discovery Pass online, at participating wineries or at various travel and tourism centres in Niagara-on-the-Lake and the Niagara Region.

Savour Niagara’s liquid gold at the 2016 Icewine Festival.

Throughout the three-weekend-long festival, a number of participating wineries in Niagara-on-the-Lake host a variety of Niagara Icewine Festival events. Far to many to list here, examples include a classic pairing of Between The Lines 2013 Vidal Icewine and delicious Pear Tarte Tatin at Between the Lines Family Estate Winery; a pork belly taco with apple onion slaw alongside a delicious 2014 Vidal Icewine at Château des Charmes; chicken and waffles paired with a cool and highly awarded Riesling Icewine at Inniskillin Winery; a savoury goat cheese and olive pizza paired perfectly with a Cabernet France Icewine at Jackson-Triggs Niagara Estate Winery; Atlantic Seafood Chowder paired with a medal-winning Vidal Icewine at Konzelmann Estate Winery.

The 2016 Niagara Icewine Festival begins on Friday, January 15, with the Sparkle and Ice Diamond Gala. Join icewine makers from 8 to 11 p.m. at the Grand Hall in the Courthouse on Queen Street in Niagara-on-the-Lake, where you partake in VQA wines paired with icewine-inspired tastings prepared by local restaurant chefs. Tickets are $107.35, including taxes.

Feast on food and icewine pairings at special Icewine Festival galas.

Other planned Icewine Festival events in Niagara-on-the-Lake include a performance by the sensational JUNO-winning Dominic Mancuso Group on January 16; the Flash & Panache: Icewine Cocktail Competition on January 17 from 9 to 11 p.m.; White on Ice Dinner on January 23, an amazing outdoor dinner showcasing delightful culinary creations and perfectly paired wines in a celebration set against the backdrop of the Queen Street Icewine Village; and the Icebreakers Comedy Festival on January 24 & 25 at various venues, with a grand finale on Saturday evening.

Then from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, January 23 and from noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday, January 24, a portion of Niagara-on-the-Lake’s historic Queen Street morphs into a pedestrian-only fantasy world where 26 wineries pour their liquid gold and local chefs tempt your palate with culinary creations. Stroll past sparkling ice sculptures and browse through any of the many shops in the Heritage District. Call 905-468-1950 for more information on the many Icewine Festival events in Niagara-on-the-Lake.

Posted by Donna S. Vieira on behalf of the Niagara-on-the-Lake Bed & Breakfast Association

This is the one and only official website of the Niagara-on-the-Lake B&B Association. Members listed on this site have undergone health and safety inspections, are legally licensed to operate as a B&B and meet all the required standards set out by the association. If you prefer to book online, this option also ensures that commissions go back into the association’s coffers for the benefit of all members of the not-for-profit association and not other, unrelated, commercial entities.

“Are you open during the winter? What is there to do here in Niagara-on-the-Lake during the winter?” These are questions guests ask Niagara-on-the-Lake Bed & Breakfast owners during the busier summer months. Here’s the good news: Most B&Bs do operate throughout the year and often the nightly accommodation rates are lower between November and the end of April. And there is more than enough to do. So why not, stay overnight and enjoy it all? Don’t forget to visit the Niagara-on-the-Lake Bed & Breakfast Association’s website to book your favourite bed and breakfast at bookyourstay.ca.

Taste the Season

This must-do event throughout the month of November celebrates the season’s bounty with local VQA wines and food pairings at each participating winery in Niagara-on-the-Lake. And designated driver passes are available.

Sample local Niagara wines.

Niagara Historical Museum Events

The oldest museum in Canada, located at 43 Castlereigh Street in Niagara-on-the-Lake, has whipped up a calendar of fun events for the months of November and December:

From 7 to 10 p.m. on Friday, November 6, the Mustache Bash invites you to wear your best moustache (real or not) and sway to the live sounds of Aaron Berger and Perpetual Peace Project, dine on food by Smoking’ Buddha and engage in fun activities and more. Cost is $10 at the door and it’s cash only for food and beverages. Call 905-468-3912 for information.

Then, from 7 to 9 p.m. on Wednesday, November 11, join in the singing and share the memories of classic wartime songs, poems, letters and more. Tickets are $15 each. Reservations are required for this one. Call 905-468-3912.

As you may know, the Niagara area is renowned for its very active paranormal visitations. The Niagara Area Paranormal Society (NAPS) completed a paranormal investigation of the Museum in September and you’re invited to come and learn about their findings and other local investigations they have conducted from 7 to 9 p.m. on Saturday, November 21. Tickets are $5 and space is limited, so please call 905-468-3912 to reserve your seat.

On December 5, from 6 to 11 p.m., the Phoenix Soiree is a holiday fundraiser in support of the Niagara Historical Society. Call the Museum at 905-468-3912 for information.

Remembrance Day, November 11

From noon to 1 p.m. on November 11, Music Niagara is presenting a free Remembrance Day Concert and “Soup Canteen” lunch at St. Mark’s Church located at 41 Byron Street. The Diary of a Young Soldier features a reading by Edmund Stapleton with the music of Suppé, Vaughan Williams, Waldteufel, Offenbach and Koussevitzky, played by accomplished musicians. Both concert and lunch are free with a “pay what you can” collection to support the Canadian Armed Forces Military Families Fund. Call Chris Blake at 905-468-5566 for more information.

Fabulicious is back!

From November 12–19, enjoy 14 of the finest restaurants in Niagara-on-the-Lake at amazing prices. These veritable feasts invite you to enjoy the local seasonal artisan cuisine, prepared by renowned chefs throughout the area and offered at prix-fixe prices for three-course menus consisting of an appetizer, main course and dessert. For instance, chef Frank Dodd’s Fabulicious selections at the Trius Winery Restaurant range from $25 per person for a three-course lunch menu to $35 per person for a three-course dinner menu while chef Jason Parsons at the Peller Estates Winery Restaurant offers a three-course lunch menu for $25 per person or a three-course dinner menu for $39 per person. Prices exclude wine, coffee/tea, taxes and gratuities. Spots are limited and reservations are required. Reserve online or call 1-800-583-8412, ext. 3.

Fabulicious features three-course menus at amazing prix-fixe prices.

Cork’s 3rd Annual Great Gatsby Party, November 20

From 8 p.m. to midnight, Friday, November 20, Cork’s restaurant is transformed into a speakeasy, with staff dressed up in 1920s-inspired clothing and a live DJ spinning fabulous tunes. There are also a casino and a silent auction, where you can walk away with some amazing finds. There’s no cover charge. Costumes are not required, but they are encouraged.

St. Andrew’s Ball, November 27

On Friday, November 27, put on your best attire (kilts encouraged) and march on down to the Niagara-on-the-Lake Court House for live music performed by the Juke Box Junkies, cocktails, dinner, a grand march and dancing. It all begins at 6 p.m. with cocktails. For tickets, please contact Margaret & Neil Middleton at 905-468-1539 or 905-468-0802 or email mwmiddleton@cogeco.ca or nmiddleton@cogeco.ca.

Festive Emporium at St. Mark’s Rectory, November 28

From noon to 3 p.m. on Saturday, November 28, St. Mark’s is showcasing its first-ever emporium at 41 Byron Street. Here’s your chance to pick up unique Christmas presents for those special people on your shopping list.

‘Tis the Season to be Jolly…and Charitable

Niagara-on-the-Lake is the place to be to get you into the Christmas spirit:

Get into the Christmas Spirit in Niagara-on-the-Lake.

It all begins with the Candlelight Stroll from 6:30 to 9 p.m. on Friday, December 4, which winds through the historical town, accompanied by local choirs and seasonal entertainment. Proceeds from candle sales support local family/non-profit organizations.

From 10 a.m., Saturday, December 12 to 5 p.m., Sunday, December 13, the Fort George Garrison features a family holiday event that includes activities, crafts and games for all to enjoy. Call Parks Canada t 905-468-6614 for more information.

AND, on Saturday, December 12, Santa comes to town! Join us in welcoming him to Niagara-on-the-Lake as you watch the sweetest little parade in all of Canada. It all starts at 11 a.m. Call 905-468-4261 for details.

Welcome Santa to Niagara-on-the-Lake on December 12.

Shopping for Special Gifts?

A visit to Niagara-on-the-Lake also gives you time to get some Christmas shopping done at any of the many unique boutiques and galleries found throughout Niagara-on-the-Lake.

If you’re in town on December 4 & 5, check out the Artful Treasures Show & Sale at the Niagara Pumphouse Arts Centre from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. This is the best place to find holiday gifts for those who appreciate unique and beautiful objects crafted by Niagara region artists. It’s held in coordination with the Rotary Holiday House Tour happening the same weekend.

Don’t forget we also have the Outlet Collection at Niagara, featuring close to 100 marquee retailers including Old Navy, North Face, Pandora, Bench, Ugg and so many more. Other venues definitely worth exploring for very special gifts include the NEOB Lavender Boutique, Chocolate F/X and the Queenston Pottery located at 1648 York Road in Queenston.

See you in Niagara-on-the-Lake!

Posted by Donna S. Vieira on behalf of the Niagara-on-the-Lake Bed & Breakfast Association

This is the one and only official website of the Niagara-on-the-Lake B&B Association. Members listed on this site have undergone health and safety inspections, are legally licensed to operate as a B&B and meet all the required standards set out by the association. If you prefer to book online, this option also ensures that commissions go back into the association’s coffers for the benefit of all members of the not-for-profit association and not other, unrelated, commercial entities.

Judges at the 2015 Royal Agricultural Winter Fair‘s annual wine competition held earlier in September in Toronto are raising their glasses to the Niagara College Teaching Winery. The student-run winery at the college’s Niagara-on-the-Lake campus took home the prizes for “Best in Show Red” and “Best in Show Overall” for its delicious 2012 Dean’s List Merlot.

“It is a real honour to be recognized for such a prestigious wine award, particularly considering the wide field of extremely high-quality VQA wines from well-established Ontario wineries that this competition attracts,” said Gavin Robertson, Winemaker at the Niagara College Teaching Winery. According to Robertson, the warm 2012 growing season in Niagara helped produce spectacular later-ripening red Bordeaux varieties with a good balance of flavours and structure. “I’m happy we were able to carry this quality through to bottle, and it’s wonderful that the end product of a great growing season in the vineyard and gentle handling in the winery should be recognized as it is now,” he said.

2012 Dean’s List Merlot – Best in Show and Best in Show Overall in 2015.

Wine Description: Deep ruby with violet tinting in appearance, this wine is a bold hefty Merlot that shows the ripeness of the warm 2012 growing season. The nose is plummy with floral notes, mocha, cedar and fresh turned earth. The palate is full and round with flavours of red currant, plum cake and raisins for a warm, spicy finish.

Run in co-operation with the Independent Wine Education Guild, the annual wine competition event provides an opportunity for wineries to earn recognition for VQA wines made with 100% Ontario-grown grapes from some of the province’s most-respected wine experts. The Independent Wine Education Guild is considered the premier organization for wine and spirits education in Canada. Its experienced faculty have graduated thousands of students, many of whom have progressed to leading positions in the Canadian wine and spirits industry.

Winning wines will be served at dining venues at The Royal and featured at various events during its 10-day run from November 6–15, 2015, at Exhibition Place in Toronto.

You might want to pick up a few bottles of the award-winning vintage at the Niagara College Teaching Winery on your next stay in Niagara-on-the-Lake!

Posted by Donna Vieira on behalf of the Niagara-on-the-Lake Bed & Breakfast Association.

This is the one and only official website of the Niagara-on-the-Lake B&B Association. Members listed on this site have undergone health and safety inspections, are legally licensed to operate as a B&B and meet all the required standards set out by the association. If you prefer to book online, this option also ensures that commissions go back into the association’s coffers for the benefit of all members of the not-for-profit association and not other, unrelated, commercial entities.

Cooler temperatures. Check! Trees awash in colour. Check! Food and wine festivals. Check! Fresh fruit and vegetable markets and stands. Check! Wine tastings. Check! Cycling paths. Check! Entertainment. Check! Accommodation booked at your favourite B&B. Check!

What’s not to love about fall—especially if you’re lucky enough to spend a few days in Niagara-on-the-Lake? In addition to the Shaw Festival performances, winery tours and cycling adventures you many have on your bucket list for this fall, here are a few more reasons why you should plan a fall getaway to “the prettiest town in Canada.”

Beautiful fall colours sweep across the Niagara escarpment.

Niagara Wine Festival: September 12, 13, 19, 20, 26 & 27, 2015

There is no better time than now to experience the wine and fresh produce across Niagara and the Niagara Wine Festival is the perfect venue at which to sample the best. If you’re a wine enthusiast, these are the weekends to visit Niagara’s wine country. Travel the wine route with a $40 Discovery Pass as you enjoy live entertainment and attend educational seminars, food and wine tastings or demonstrations. Each pass has eight tickets, which allow for eight opportunities for wine tasting and culinary pairings at any of the participating wineries. The passes can be redeemed on the Saturdays or Sundays on the weekends noted above and do not have to be used in one day. Click here for a full list of participating wineries.

And while you’re touring around, be sure to set time aside to enjoy the great lineup of activities and entertainment, such as CCMA artists Autumn Hill and Small Town Pistols, at Montebello Park in St. Catharines. Admission is free and so is parking on weekends and evenings in City parking garages and lots. View the entertainment lineup here.

Taste Niagara’s fine wines at the Niagara Wine Festival in September.

Ghostly Apparitions: September 18 & 19 and 25 & 26

Join the Niagara Historical Society and Museum as they take you on a cemetery tour to meet the spirits of local residents buried at St. Mark’s Church. Tours start at 6, 7 and 8 p.m. Tickets are $10 and must be purchased in advance from the Niagara Historical Museum or call 905-468-3912.

Grand Canadian Steampunk Exposition: September 25, 26 & 27

From noon, Friday, September 25 to 5 p.m., Sunday September 27, an exposition of Canadian Steampunk grandeur promises a festival of epic proportions, filled with sights, sounds and experiences that have to be seen to be believed. Time travel to Fort George where delights and pleasures abound as you take in performances, workshops, photo opportunities, tours and other activities planned throughout the weekend.

Konzelmann’s WINEFEST 2015: September 26 from noon to 8 p.m.

Enjoy wine by the glass, gourmet food vendors, fun games and live music at this beautiful lakefront vineyard located at 1096 Lakeshore Road in Niagara-on-the-Lake.

Get Your Mojo Moving: October 1 from 5:30 to 8 p.m.

Get it on with Ronnie McNeir of the Four Tops for an evening of Motown, R&B, Blues & Jazz under the big tent at Jackson-Triggs Winery. This event is presented by Nyanyas of Niagara (Swahili for grandmothers) who fundraise in support of The Stephen Lewis Foundation’s Grandmothers to Grandmothers campaign. Tickets are $65/person and include two glasses of wine, charcuterie and two 45-minute performances. For another $45 why not join the after party at the Old Winery Restaurant where additional food, dessert and coffee will be served (cash bar)?

BRAVO NIAGARA! North Star Festival: October 2, 3 & 4

Explore the journey to freedom and equality and pay tribute to the courageous freedom-seekers who followed the North Star to Niagara, a terminus of the Underground Railroad. This festival is officially endorsed by the UNESCO Slave Route Project and will feature music and other art forms to give voice to the Niagara Region’s rich Black history. Performers include Canadian jazz icon Joe Sealy with special guest Jumaane Smith, the Nathaniel Dett Chorale, Blues sensations Diana Braithwaite and Chris Whitely, and Blues & Motown legend Harrison Kennedy. For tickets, click here.

Battle of Queenston Heights Commemorative Tour: October 10 & 11

Join the Friends of Fort George and Parks Canada as they commemorate the 203rd anniversary of the Battle of Queenston Heights and the death of major General Sir Isaac Brock. Brock’s Monument National Historic Site will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. all weekend and guided tours of the battle site are scheduled for 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. See if you can climb the 235 steps to the top of the Monument to enjoy majestic views of Queenston Heights and the Niagara River.

The Friends of Fort George and Parks Canada organize special events that celebrate the history of Niagara.

2015 Big Band Ball: October 17 from 7 to 11 p.m.

Dance the night away to the hits from the big band years featuring Jackie Lane & His Swinging’ 17-piece Big Band and guest artists at the Niagara-on-the-Lake Community Centre. Tickets are $39 each. Proceeds from ticket sales go to support the Red Roof Retreat. Call 905-468-8232 or email jackjazzman@cogeco.ca.

Halloween Ghost Tours: October 16, 17, 18, 23, 24, 25, 30, 31 & November 1

October is the perfect time for a good ghost story. Explore the scariest aspects of haunted Fort George in Niagara-on-the-Lake on a two-hour walking tour, which includes stories too frightening to be told on summer tours. Halloween tours start at 7, 7:15, 7:30 p.m., and 10, 10:15 and 10:30 p.m. (excluding Sundays). Tickets are $17 and must be purchased in advance by calling 905-468-6621.

BOO!

Posted by Donna S. Vieira on behalf of the Niagara-on-the-Lake Bed & Breakfast Association

This is the one and only official website of the Niagara-on-the-Lake B&B Association. Members listed on this site have undergone health and safety inspections, are legally licensed to operate as a B&B and meet all the required standards set out by the association. If you prefer to book online, this option also ensures that commissions go back into the association’s coffers for the benefit of all members of the not-for-profit association and not other, unrelated, commercial entities.

While August may signal the end of summer is fast approaching, the folks in Niagara-on-the-Lake don’t let that dampen their spirits. As the Music Niagara and the Peach Festival wind down, festivals and music continue to take to the streets, parks and wineries throughout the area. So grab your favourite partner, book a room at your favourite B&B and get ready to take in everything Niagara-on-the-Lake has to offer. And if you don’t believe us, then check out what they’re saying about us at http://www.flightnetwork.com/blog/niagara-now.

August 7 to October 10: The Rocky Horror Show LIVE

Every Fridays and Saturday evening at 8 p.m., this classic cult hit returns LIVE to the stage at Corks’ Playhouse Theatre, complete with a four-piece band. Doors open at 7:30 p.m. and it’s highly recommended you arrive early to find seats. Purchase your drinks at the bar right in the theatre and enjoy the pre-show! Tickets are $22 for students and $30 for general admission. Dial 289-668-0482 for information. Dress up as your favourite character if you dare.

August 15 & 16: Fife and Drum Muster & Soldier’s Field Day

Fife and Drum Corps and Infantry Units from historic sites across Canada and the U.S. converge on Fort George and showcase military music and drills of the early 1800s. A special evening tattoo takes place on Saturday, August 15.

August 15: Diamonds in the Rough Music Festival

From 3 to 8 p.m., Diamond Estates Winery is turning their front lawn into the ultimate Saturday afternoon concert venue! Bring your own chair to this outdoor concert or pull up a bale of hay to enjoy live entertainment performed by local talent. Tickets are $10 in advance of $15 at the gate.

August 22: Niagara Craft Beer Festival

From 1 to 9 p.m., head on over to the Market at the Village at 111 Garrison Village Drive where more than 20 Ontario Craft Breweries, food trucks and local restaurants will gather to bring you live music, games and vinyl sessions. Proceeds support the Red Roof Retreat. Please note this is a 19+ event.

August 23: Car Show

From 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., cars will be on display at the Virgil Fire Hall located at 1391 Concession 6. The entry fee is $5 per vehicle; pedestrians walk in free. There’ll be plenty of food and refreshments, come rain or shine. For information, call 905-988-3542.

August 29: Peller Estates Wine Country Fare

It’s time to hoedown in the vineyards at Peller Estates from 5 to 10 p.m. at what promises to be the country fair of the season featuring more than six food trucks, a pig roast, mechanical bull rides and beautiful harvest wines. Kick off the evening with entertainment provided by the boot-stomping sounds of Leah Daniels, River Town Saints and this year’s headliner, Canadian country artist Jason Blaine. Tickets are $45 person plus tax and fees. Purchase them online or call 1-888-673-5537, ext. 2. Cowboy boots and stetsons are optional.

Dust off your boots and join the hoedown at Peller Estates on August 29.

Posted by Donna S. Vieira on behalf of the Niagara-on-the-Lake Bed & Breakfast Association

This is the one and only official website of the Niagara-on-the-Lake B&B Association. Members listed on this site have undergone health and safety inspections, are legally licensed to operate as a B&B and meet all the required standards set out by the association. If you prefer to book online, this option also ensures that commissions go back into the association’s coffers for the benefit of all members of the not-for-profit association and not other, unrelated, commercial entities.

Always a favourite among visitors, the gardens are in full bloom in Niagara-on-the-Lake. But there’s so much more happening in this historic enclave located on the southern shores of Lake Ontario. July and August are busy months here in Niagara-on-the-Lake so be sure to book your B&B or cottage rental early.

Shaw Festival:

Daily performances at 2 and 8 p.m., except Mondays, continue to take centre stage at the Festival, Royal George and Courthouse theatres. If your schedule doesn’t include stage performances, then perhaps an hour-long backstage tour fits the bill. Tours take place at 11 a.m. on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays. Tickets are just $10/person. Book tickets in advance or, if available, just prior to the tour.

One of four distinctive theatres, all within easy walking distance of each other, the beautiful Festival Theatre is the Shaw’s flagship theatre. (© Cosmo Condina Photography)

Battle of Fort George Re-enactments:

The 202nd anniversary of the Battle of Fort George takes place on July 11 & 12, when re-enactors from all over North America recreate one of the pivotal events in Niagara during the War of 1812. Battle re-enactments are scheduled on both Saturday and Sunday, and a special sound and light show will take place Saturday evening. Call 905-468-6614 or visit pc.gc.ca/fortgeorge or friendsoffortgeorge.ca for information and tickets.

The Friends of Fort George and Parks Canada organize special events that celebrate the history of Niagara.

If you missed the above re-enactments, not to worry. Another event, the Second Annual Celtic Festival at Fort George, kicks off with a special concert by the critically acclaimed band, “The Tartan Terrors,” who will perform inside Fort George on Friday, July 24 from 7:30 to 9 p.m. Tickets are $19. On Saturday, July 25, Fort George opens at 10 a.m. with a full day of music, dance and activities for the whole family. For information, call Fort George at 905-468-6614 or visit friendsoffortgeorge.ca.

Music, music, music:

Music Niagara 2015 Summer Festival swings into Niagara-on-the-Lake for five glorious weeks from July 11 to August 9. Tickets range from free performances in Simcoe Park to $59/person at indoor and outdoor venues. Whether you appreciate classical, jazz, swing or organ recitals, you’ll find something to your liking. In some cases, performances can be paired with high tea, intellectual debates or picnics. Concert locations include St. Mark’s Church on Byron Street, the Epicurean Bistro on Queen, Simcoe Park, Ravine Vineyard Estate Winery in St. David’s, Peller Estates Winery on John Street East, Niagara Oast House Brewers and the Shaw Festival Theatre. Tickets are on sale at www.musicniagara.org or www.shawfest.com, by phone at 1-800-511-7429, in person at the Shaw Festival Box Office or at the door 45 minutes before each performance. A Music Niagara Six Pack is available for $185 and student tickets are specially priced at $10 for college and university students and $5 for high-school and elementary students.

Featuring five weeks of spectacular musical performances from around the world, Music Niagara 2015 Summer Festival begins July 11.

Niagara Lavender Festival:

At NEOB Niagara, July 11 & 12 are all about lavender. From 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day, enjoy culinary delights such as lavender root beer, lavender pizza, lavender lemonade, lavender shortbread and more. Roam through fields of lavender, pick your own lavender, tour the facility to see how essential oils are made. $5 gets you the Island Hopper Pass, which includes entrance to the festival, demos and tours, sampling of ice cream with lavender syrup, a NEOB botanical beverage, tickets to their garlic festival and $2 off u-pick lavender. For $15, your World Traveller Pass entitles you to all of the above plus additional tastings (10 products). This one’s an annual favourite with young and old alike.

It’s all about lavender at NEOB Niagara. (V&V Hospitality & Media Services)

All that jazz:

Starting July 23 with its Flagship Launch Event at Stratus Vineyards and featuring the finest Canadian and internationally acclaimed jazz musicians through July 26, the TD Niagara Jazz Festival is a new, cutting-edge, four-day celebration of jazz at indoor and outdoor venues in the heart of Niagara’s stunning wine country. Tickets and weekend passes can be purchased online or in person at the Chamber of Commerce in Niagara-on-the-Lake.

Enjoy jazz performed in the vineyards from July 23-26 at the TD Niagara Jazz Festival. (Cosmo Condina Photography)

Culture and History:

The Niagara Historical Society & Museum chronicles the history of Niagara-on-the-Lake from its earliest inhabitants to the present day. Located at 43 Castlereigh, the museum is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. If you’re interested in our history, consider taking a walking tour of Niagara-on-the-Lake. Tours meet at the gazebo in Queen’s Royal Park at 11 a.m. on Saturdays and Sundays and end at the Niagara Historical Museum. Tickets are $10/person and include museum admission.

If you’re up for scary encounters, Ghost Tours at Fort George invite you to step inside Fort George after dark to learn about its history and haunting during a candlelight walk. Tours gather in the parking lot of Fort George; just look for black capes and lanterns. Tours happen Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays at 8:30 p.m. Tickets cost $13/adult and $7/child under 13 and can be purchased from the guide at the time of the tour.

Located in Queenston and open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., the RiverBrink Art Museum features a variety of exhibits that include:

• Cartooons, caricatures and satirical prints

• Avant la lettre: Canadian landscape before the group

• The Group of Seven Project: Arthur Lismer: the artist as teacher

• Marc Aurèle de Foy Suzor-Coté

• Josh Silburt: Artist in turbulent times

Other historic sites worth visiting in and around Niagara-on-the-Lake include:

• Fort Mississauga located on the grounds of the Niagara-on-the-Lake Golf Club

• Laura Secord Homestead in Queenston, open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

• Brock’s Monument at Queenston Heights, open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

• Mackenzie Printery and Newspaper Museum in Queenston, open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

• McFarland House on the Niagara Parkway, open daily from noon to 5 p.m.

• The Niagara Apothecary on Queen Street, open daily from noon to 6 p.m.

Considered the best hands-on museum in Ontario, the restored home of William Lyon Mackenzie reveals 500 years of printing technology.

Lively Entertainment:

Enjoy live entertainment by some of Niagara’s best musicians:

• Every Friday from 9 to 11 p.m. an Saturday from 8 to 11 p.m. at the Churchill Lounge in the Prince of Wales

• Every Saturday from 7 to 10 p.m. at the Bacchus Terrace at the Queen’s Landing

• Every Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 9 p.m. to midnight, the Olde Angel Inn Pub rocks

• Every Friday and Saturday from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. on the outdoor patio overlooking Lake Ontario at the Niagara-on-the-Lake Golf Club

Spend lazy summer hours on the lakefront patio at the Niagara on the Lake Golf Club. (V&V Hospitality & Media Services)

• Every Friday and Saturday from 8 p.m. in the Wine Bar at the Old Winery Restaurant

On July 22 at 8 p.m., American roots music legend Stanley “Buckwheat” Dural Jr. and his Buckwheat Zydeco band takes you on a “propulsive, rollicking, swamp-boogie joy ride” at The Old Winery restaurant. Dinner packages are available. Call 905-468-8900 for tickets.

Rock at the winery from 5 to 10 p.m. to the sounds of Juno award-winning SLOAN and a chart-topping guest artist on Saturday July 25 at Trius. Tickets are $45 per person for the concern, but you can save $5 on general admission tickets by using the promo code ROCK5. Tickets for a VIP dinner and concert tickets are also available for $160 per person.

Posted by Donna S. Vieira on behalf of the Niagara-on-the-Lake Bed & Breakfast Association

This is the one and only official website of the Niagara-on-the-Lake B&B Association. Members listed on this site have undergone health and safety inspections, are legally licensed to operate as a B&B and meet all the required standards set out by the association. If you prefer to book online, this option also ensures that commissions go back into the association’s coffers for the benefit of all members of the not-for-profit association and not other, unrelated, commercial entities.

Every year on July 1 Niagara-on-the-Lake holds the Canada Day Parade down Queen Street and the creation by Willow Cakes & Pastries always “takes the cake.” So what’s in store for 2015?

JUNE 22, 2015

Here are your first clues:

The beginnings of the Canada Day Cake in Niagara-on-the-Lake. What can it be? (© David Levesque)

What in the world….? (© David Levesque)

JUNE 25, 2015:

More characters and colour have been added. What’s your best guess as to the theme for this year’s Canada Day Cake? Let us know.

Hmmmm, what can it be? (© David Levesque)

And monkeys too? (© David Levesque)

Snowflakes are a major clue to this year’s Canada Cake theme. (© David Levesque)

JUNE 27, 2015:

The plot thickens. Because the Cake will parade down Queen street, not everything can be edible. Some items that could have been made in chocolate need to be adapted. Just like this park bench, which ends up being made out of wood for solidity purposes; however, it will be covered in fondant of course! Yumm!

A wooden bench will be covered in fondant, of course! (© David Levesque)

Meet Catherine, the mad and very imaginative creator behind the Canada Cake at Willow Cakes & Pastries. (© David Levesque)

June 30, 2015:

Just one day to go.

A chocolate covered beaver is chillin’ on a bench, waiting to be dressed.

The stars of the show are ready. Are you? (© David Levesque)

Join in the fun on Canada Day in Niagara-on-the-Lake. The “Giant Cakewalk Parade” marches down Queen Street at 3 p.m. to Simcoe Park where the celebratory cake will be sliced and served to all who come.

Posted by Donna S. Vieira, on behalf of the Niagara-on-the-Lake Bed & Breakfast Association.

This is the one and only official website of the Niagara-on-the-Lake B&B Association. Members listed on this site have undergone health and safety inspections, are legally licensed to operate as a B&B and meet all the required standards set out by the association. If you prefer to book online, this option also ensures that commissions go back into the association’s coffers for the benefit of all members of the not-for-profit association and not other, unrelated, commercial entities.

What better place to celebrate the birth of our nation than in the original capital of Upper Canada, Niagara-on-the-Lake? Come and join in the fun!

Here’s what you can expect in the way of Canada Day celebrations in Niagara-on-the-Lake:

From 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., entry into Fort George is complimentary.

08h00 – Rotary Club of Niagara-on-the-Lake Pancake Breakfast in Simcoe Park

12h00 (noon): Rotary Club of Niagara-on-the-Lake BBQ lunch in Simcoe Park

13h00–15h30: Kindred takes “Kitchen” music to new heights in the bandshell in Simcoe Park

15h00: Watch the Giant “Cakewalk Parade” as it makes its way along Queen Street featuring the 41st Regiment Fife and Drum Corps, which accompanies the giant cake (donated by Willow Cakes & Pastries) to Simcoe Park to be sliced and served.

Fort George festivities:

Take advantage of free admission for all from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. at Fort George to take in more celebrations at the fort:

18h00: Friends of Fort George BBQ

18h30: The evening program begins with:

• Kiddie Militia and Drill

• The 41st Regiment Fife & Drum Corps

• Fort George Artillery demonstration

• Musical entertainment by the Howling Horns

22h00: Spectacular fireworks display!

For more information, visit friendsoffortgeorge.ca or call 905-468-6621.

The Friends of Fort George and Parks Canada organize special events that celebrate the history of Niagara.

Ravine Winery:

For a truly spectacular view of the valley and Lake Ontario as well as spectacular fireworks, consider spending the evening at Ravine Winery. Bring along a blanket or a lawn chair and enjoy the view and the spectacle. They’ll have the BBQ lit and the wood oven fired up for delicious wood-oven pizza. Catch a bird’s-eye view of the fireworks at Fort George and Paul’s annual grand fireworks display in the vineyard. Entry is complimentary however a non-perishable food item for donation to Newark Neighbours is appreciated.

Take in “le grand spectacle” at Ravine Winery on Canada Day.

Stratus Vineyards:

Stratus Vineyards is whooping it up on Canada Day with a “Wildass Picnic” prepared by Canadian Chef Jamie Kennedy. This casual, high-energy luncheon features a collection of Wildass wines paired with delicious, summertime picnic fare among the vines. Cost is $85/person.

Happy Canada Day to everyone from the Niagara-on-the-Lake Bed & Breakfast Association!

Posted by Donna S. Vieira, on behalf of the Niagara-on-the-Lake Bed & Breakfast Association

This is the one and only official website of the Niagara-on-the-Lake B&B Association. Members listed on this site have undergone health and safety inspections, are legally licensed to operate as a B&B and meet all the required standards set out by the association. If you prefer to book online, this option also ensures that commissions go back into the association’s coffers for the benefit of all members of the not-for-profit association and not other, unrelated, commercial entities.