Huge festival of lights show will come to Mississauga next fall and winter

Mississauga residents who’ve been anticipating the arrival of a renowned festival of lights attraction since last year are hoping the third time will be the charm.

Illumi by Cavalia, a temporary village constructed of lights and other multimedia displays that has operated in the Montreal area since 2019, has faced difficulties on several fronts that have now twice delayed its Mississauga debut.  

The attraction, billed as the “largest light, sound and multimedia show in the world,” was initially set to open in Mississauga last Nov. 1 on undeveloped land in the city’s north end. 

When that time frame fell through, the plan then was to set up the attraction sometime this month. However, that didn’t work out either.

Now, both residents and City of Mississauga Ward 5 Councillor Carolyn Parrish, in whose ward the attraction will be staged, are looking forward to Illumi setting up in Mississauga next fall.

Parrish told insauga.com today (March 9) that they’re looking at setting up shop on the same parcel of land and at about the same time, early November.

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Last year and earlier this year, troubles both in hiring people and  reportedly getting the displays for the popular fall/winter attraction out of China, where the pieces are manufactured prior to being assembled here, pushed the Mississauga opening dates back.   

Parrish said earlier that the company also had issues getting hooked up with power in time for a late fall opening in 2021.

Illumi is geared towards families and, once set up, is expected to be a large tourist attraction in Mississauga during the fall and winter months. 

The plan for Mississauga calls for the ticketed event to be located on a plot of land in the north part of the city. People can drive and walk through a series of themed light displays.  

Illumi officials said last year they believe Mississauga is a great fit for the attraction.  

The plan calls for a five-year commitment on the privately-owned property that is eventually earmarked for development.  

(Photos from Illumi)