Massive lights festival returns for the holidays in Mississauga

Santa Claus, a host of other festive characters and Christmas scenes are all part of the mix as a huge holidays-themed festival of lights returns to Mississauga for a third-straight year.

The renowned illumi–A Dazzling World of Lights, which enjoyed a successful initial run in Mississauga from late 2022 until this past January when financial issues forced it to cancel its summer 2024 schedule, returns for the holidays starting next Friday.

The third annual Holidays at Illumi program will continue its seasonal run until Jan. 5 with the numerous characters and winter scenes occupying the attraction’s many “universes” at its massive north Mississauga site at Hurontario Street and Highway 407.

“For a third consecutive year, the treasured holiday tradition promises an extraordinary, jaw-dropping experience,” festival organizers said in a news release on Friday. “The world’s largest outdoor light, sound and multimedia show transforms into a magical winter dreamscape spanning across 600,000 square feet and features more than 20 million twinkling LED lights and the world’s largest tree of lights.”

Standing 47 metres tall, illumi’s Tree of Lights is twice the size of the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree in New York City.

“It’s comprised of 44,000 interactive luminous spheres that will transform the night sky,” organizers added.

The upcoming holiday season event will feature “dynamic displays of giant snowmen, candy canes, reindeer, gnomes, sparkling snowflakes and more,” they continued. “This breathtaking experience brings to life 16 magical-themed universes. New additions to the attraction include a joyful candy cane tunnel of lights, two brand-new universes and a memorable opportunity to have photos taken with Santa Claus until Christmas eve.”

The attraction’s popular “Doggie Nights,” in which visitors can bring along their four-legged furry pals, are slated for Nov. 17 and Dec. 5.

After a summertime hiatus earlier this year, the festival of lights returned for a four-week Halloween-themed program last month.

Visit illumi’s website for tickets and more information.

The illumi attraction is set up on a 600,000-sq.-ft. site — the equivalent of 10 football fields — at 7174 Derrycrest Dr.

Scheduled to come to Mississauga on several occasions since late 2021, the illumi festival of lights finally opened in the city on Sept. 14, 2022.

The huge lights festival features more than 20 million LED lights and welcomes people of all ages to embark nearly year-round on adventures in a series of “universes” offering various themes.

(Cover photo: Illumi)