Last updated: October 21, 2026. Dates, hours, ceremony and festive night details, and the answers below come from Tourism Harrison’s official Lights by the Lake page. Skate rental fees and the full entertainment lineup have not been published there, so check the schedules on the page closer to the date.
Every year, the quaint lakeside in the Village of Harrison Hot Springs lights up in true holiday fashion. Lights by the Lake is a stroll along the beach promenade past glowing light displays, charming winter window paintings and plenty of holiday cheer, with a free skating rink, an opening ceremony with fireworks and two festive nights with Santa and Sasquatch.
The 2026 season runs daily from dusk until 11:00 PM, from Saturday, November 21, 2026 to Sunday, January 10, 2027. Here is the schedule, what’s on, and how to plan your visit.
Lights by the Lake 2026: Quick Facts
| Dates | Saturday, November 21, 2026 to Sunday, January 10, 2027, seven days a week |
| Hours | From dusk until 11:00 PM. Dusk this time of year is typically between 5:00 and 5:30 PM |
| Location | Harrison Hot Springs beach promenade, from St. Alice Street to the Public Boat Launch area |
| Opening ceremony | Saturday, November 21, 2026, 5:00 to 8:00 PM |
| Festive Nights | December 5 and 19, 2026, 5:00 to 8:00 PM |
| Starlight Skating Rink | Free to enjoy all season. Skate rentals for a fee on select days |
| Parking | Free in the Village from September 15 to May 15 |
| Official page | tourismharrison.com |
Opening Ceremony: November 21
The season opens on Saturday, November 21, from 5:00 to 8:00 PM, with:
- photos with Santa and Sasquatch
- free hot chocolate, first come, first served for the first 1,000 attendees
- Christmas carols
- the Jingle Paws Pet Parade
- fireworks and more
Festive Nights: December 5 and 19
Two festive nights, on December 5 and 19, run from 5:00 to 8:00 PM, with photos with Santa and Sasquatch, live music and Christmas storytime. Free hot chocolate is first come, first served for the first 100 attendees.
Starlight Skating Rink
The Starlight Skating Rink is a synthetic rink set beneath a canopy of twinkling lights, open to all ages and free to enjoy throughout the season. Bring your own skates, or rent a pair from the concession for a fee on select days. The rental fee has not been published.
How to See the Lights
- Where the displays are: they start on St. Alice Street and run to the Public Boat Launch area.
- Which way to walk: signs ask visitors to go west to east along the paved promenade in front of the displays, then loop back east to west on the gravel path behind them.
- Driving: there are lights throughout Harrison that you can see from a car, but the organizers say the displays that use motion are best experienced from the beach walkway.
Accessibility, Washrooms and Dogs
- Access: the walkways along the beach are paved and flat, with 5 wheelchair ramps.
- Washrooms: at the Boat Launch parking lot, open during operating hours, and by the Civic Centre Plaza, open until 5:00 PM, or until 8:00 PM during special events.
- Dogs: dogs on leash are welcome on Harrison’s trails and beach walkways, with waste bags and receptacles around the Village.
- The Plaza: a paved, open-air gathering place at the end of Hot Springs Road where it meets Esplanade Avenue at the beach.
Parking and Getting There
Parking in the Village of Harrison Hot Springs is free from September 15 to May 15. Larger vehicles and RVs can use the overflow lot at the corner of Hot Springs Road and Miami River Drive, 340 metres from the Plaza. The Village has five regular public charging stations for electric vehicles.
Tips for Visiting
- Go at dusk. The lights come on at dusk and turn off at 11:00 PM.
- Come for the opening ceremony or a festive night for Santa, Sasquatch and hot chocolate.
- Arrive early for hot chocolate. It is limited to the first 1,000 people at the ceremony and the first 100 on festive nights.
- Dress warmly. It is an outdoor evening beside the lake.
- Bring your skates, or ask about rentals, which are on select days.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is Lights by the Lake in 2026?
Daily from dusk until 11:00 PM, from Saturday, November 21, 2026 to Sunday, January 10, 2027.
When is the opening ceremony?
Saturday, November 21, 2026, from 5:00 to 8:00 PM.
Is it free?
The organizers say the skating rink is free. The page does not list an admission fee for the lights, and parking in the Village is free from September 15 to May 15.
Is there live entertainment?
Yes. Check the opening ceremony and festive nights schedules for details.
Can I bring my dog?
Yes, on a leash.
Is it accessible?
The beach walkways are paved and flat, with 5 wheelchair ramps.
Can I just drive around to see the lights?
You can see many lights from a vehicle, but the motion displays are best seen from the beach walkway.
Sources: Tourism Harrison: Lights by the Lake.
