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This winter, celebrate the season in Ontario with a variety of unique, family-friendly festivals that extol the virtues of ice and snow.  Start your day with a hearty breakfast of pancakes drizzled with local maple syrup, then bundle up and enjoy the thrill of dog sledding, ice carving, and wintery culinary displays, and finish the day with a cup of hot chocolate by an open fireplace in your cosy Canadian cabin.  It’s the juxtaposition of hot and cold that makes Ontario so enchanting in winter.

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2011 Ontario Winter Festival Highlights

	Niagara Falls’ Winter Festival of Lights, 6 Nov- 31 Jan 2011 Niagara Falls, Ontario The Winter Festival of Lights sets Niagara Falls awash with colour.  With over three million sparkling lights along a 5km route, this enchanting attraction has become a family tradition.  Visitors will enjoy grand light displays throughout the city and unique performances such as the annual Christmas Concert Series.  A popular location for viewing the lights against the backdrop of majestic Horseshoe Falls is the Brink Skating Rink, Niagara Falls’ newest outdoor skating experience.  www.wfol.com
	The WinterCity Festival and Winterlicious, 29 Jan- 11 Feb 2011 Toronto, Ontario WinterCity Festival and Winterlicious is a 14 day celebration of culture, creativity and cuisine.   Visitors to the lively festival enjoy free outdoor and indoor entertainment each weekend, which includes an exciting line up of concerts, open-air shows and skating parties.  As part of the festivities, Toronto’s finest restaurants offer unique value menu’s during the Winterlicious restaurant promotion. www.toronto.ca
	Niagara Icewine Festival,14-30 Jan 2011 Niagara Region, Ontario The Niagara Wine Region comes alive during this celebration of Ontario’s famous Icewine. The event features gala dinners, an outdoor ice bar, ornate ice sculptures, winery tours, wine tastings and carriage rides along Niagara's famed wine route. www.grapeandwine.com
	Bon Soo Winter Carnival, 4-13 Feb 2011 Sault Ste. Marie, Northern Ontario Bon Soo commonly referred to as the “fifth season” is not a spectator event.  With more than 75 indoor and outdoor activities for the entire family, Bon Soo is one of the largest winter carnivals in Northern Ontario.  The annual polar bear swim, a major highlight of the festival, is a must see attraction during the event. www.bonsoo.on.ca
	Winterlude, 5-21 Feb 2011 Ottawa, Ottawa Region Winterlude has been called the greatest winter celebration in North America.  This fun-for-the-whole-family open-air event attracts more than 650,000 fun-seekers every year.  Get in the winter spirit with a spin around the largest ice skating rink in the world, the Rideau Canal Skateway.  Afterwards, grab some Canadian Winter Fuel; a cup of piping hot apple cider.  Winterlude also features an impressive display of snow sculptures and the largest snow playground on the continent. www.winterlude.gc.ca

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See Winter Fun