The Niagara Parks Butterfly Conservatory is currently hosting an exciting new Nocturnal: Creatures of the Night exhibit, which is a wonderful family-friendly activity for people visiting Niagara Falls.

Nocturnal: Creatures of the Night is running from February 7^th until May 10^th and is showcasing fifteen different nocturnal creatures and a number of smaller animals that people are able to interact with while visiting the exhibit. Zoo educators will be on-site daily to offer interactive and fun programming and educate people on these very interesting and diverse species.

If you are looking for some unique family fun and want to interact with creatures like the Common Snapping Turtle, Emperor Scorpion, and Burmese Python, stop by the Niagara Parks Butterfly Conservatory and check out this fun new exhibit!

Family Day is on February 16^th, and if you’re planning to spend the day in Niagara Falls, check out these three family-friendly destinations for tons of fun and excitement:

Fallsview Indoor Waterpark

The 3-acre Fallsview Indoor Waterpark is the perfect destination for families looking to escape the cold and splash the day away. With a 1,000-gallon tipping bucket, 16 waterslides, a giant wave pool, adult-only hot tubs, and an outdoor activity pool and sun deck, there is something for everyone to enjoy.

Niagara Falls History Museum

On February 16^th, the Niagara Falls History Museum will be hosting a Family Fun Day at the Museum event featuring special exhibits and activities, such as crafts, scavenger hunts, and free family portraits. People of all ages are welcome to attend and have some fun while learning about local history.

Winterfest 2015 at Heartland Forest

Bring your family to Heartland Forest on February 16^th for Winterfest 2015! Meet a lynx, learn wilderness skills, and roast some hot dogs for a day of learning and fun. Admission for this event is free, and guests will have the chance to take a photo with the lynx and enter a raffle for Heartland Forest’s March Break Winter Camp.

Head to the brand new Meridian Centre in St. Catharines on January 30^th, 2015 at 7:30pm for the very first Skate Niagara Ice Show, featuring many of Canada’s favourite Olympic and World Champion skaters, such as Tessa Virtue, Scott Moir, and Kurt Browning.

The Skate Niagara Ice Show will be an exciting night of live entertainment with Canadian legends performing spectacular skating acts. Olympic gold medalists Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir, four-time World Champion Kurt Browning, St. Catharines native Kirsten Moore-Towers and her partner Michael Marinaro, Canadian Synchronized Team Champion NEXXICE, aerial team Flying On Ice, Mery Acevedo, and Alfonso Campa will all be displaying their skating talents for one night only at the Skate Niagara Ice Show!

Tickets for the show start at less than $49 and can be purchased at ticketmaster.ca or the Meridian Centre Box Office.

Niagara Falls and the surrounding region have a long and exciting history that anyone can experience with a visit to the Niagara Falls History Museum. The museum is located within walking distance from the city’s main tourist district and has a number of exciting exhibitions and events for people of all ages to experience.

Current exhibitions at the museum include the Gale Family War of 1812 Gallery, dedicated to the War of 1812 and its impact on Niagara Falls, and the Niagara Falls Community Gallery, which is an interactive exhibition dedicated to the history of the city. An exhibition entitled “Nature” will be running from January 14^th until April 19^th, which focuses on various natural species and habitats, and the importance of biodiversity.

Upcoming museum events include Playwrights Niagara on January 22^nd, which sees local writers giving dramatic readings of their plays, and the Jazz Dramas: Winter Film Series on January 29^th, which will screen the 1943 film “Cabin in the Sky”. The museum is open late every Thursday night, and admission is free on this day from 5-9pm. Stop by the Niagara Falls History Museum for a unique and interactive experience that teaches visitors about the rich and important history of Niagara Falls.

This year’s Ontario Power Generation Festival of Lights will be illuminating the city of Niagara Falls until January 12^th, 2015 and on December 16^th, a number of new light displays were unveiled at the top of Clifton Hill.

In partnership with Paramount Canada, the festival has unveiled four Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles light displays that depict the Ninja Turtles Raphael, Michelangelo, Donatello, and Leonardo. They are located at the top of Clifton Hill, on Victoria Avenue and were unveiled in correspondence with the Blu-Ray and DVD release of Paramount’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles film.

Visit Victoria Avenue to experience the new light displays and Dufferin Islands to see the many other dazzling lights in this year’s Ontario Power Generation Festival of Lights. It is a wonderful winter activity for families visiting Niagara Falls!

The holiday season is a time to come together with family, and Niagara Falls offers a number of exciting activities, attractions, and outings for people of all ages to enjoy.

The Butterfly Conservatory is now hosting a “Blue Christmas” exhibit, running until January 5^th, 2015 that displays over 500 amazing Blue Morpho butterflies in the indoor rainforest setting of the conservatory. Along with the beautiful butterflies, the exhibit will feature festive décor and holiday floral arrangements that will help visitors get into the spirit of the season.

You can also celebrate the season at Fort George in Niagara-on-the-Lake on December 13^th and 14^th at the Fort George Garrison Christmas. This family holiday event will feature games, crafts, activities, treats, beverages, and musket demonstrations. Visitors can also stop by the Fort George gift shop for holiday shopping items such as books, games, and toys.

And for some indoor thrills and fun, families can visit the 3-acre Fallsview Indoor Waterpark, located right across the street from the Niagara Falls. With 16 waterslides, a 1,000-gallon tipping bucket, full sized wave pool, adult-only hot tubs, and children’s play area, everyone is sure to have fun.

Come and experience all of the unique family fun that Niagara has to offer this holiday season!

Head to the historic McFarland House in Niagara-on-the-Lake on December 13^th and 14^th to enjoy a wonderful Christmas Tea Weekend that will feature a holiday inspired menu in the building’s beautiful tea room.

The McFarland House was built in 1800 and was used as a hospital and headquarters for the British and American armies during the War of 1812. Guests can take guided tours of this historic home and fully experience the charm and beauty of one of the oldest structures in Niagara-on-the-Lake, and the oldest building owned by Niagara Parks.

Immerse yourself in the region’s rich history at McFarland House while enjoying wonderful tea and holiday inspired recipes. Make your reservations now for the Christmas Tea Weekend event!

The excitement doesn’t stop in Niagara Falls when the cold weather arrives, making it one of the most exciting places to be this winter season. And if you’re looking for amazing indoor activities that people of all ages can enjoy, look no further than the city’s tourist district.

The Bird Kingdom is the world’s largest free-flying indoor aviary and is an incredible indoor activity where guests can experience exotic and colourful birds flying around a multi-level tropical rainforest. It’s a family-friendly destination that is unlike any other you’ve experienced.

For some thrills and fun away from the cold, families can also visit the exciting Adventure City arcade. It features more than 125 classic arcade-style games, the only bumper cars in Niagara Falls, Glow in the Dark Wild Safari Mini Golf, and the lively Adventure Heroes Laser Ride.

And for a warm and memorable retreat, visit the amazing Butterfly Conservatory, which features over 2,000 colourful butterflies floating around a tropical indoor environment.

Make sure to check out all of the fun indoor activities that Niagara Falls has to offer this winter, providing warm and happy memories for people of all ages!

It has recently been announced that the Red Bull Wings for Life World Run is coming to Niagara Falls on May 3, 2015, with more than 100,000 people expected to participate. The run will be taking place in 40 locations around the world and is a unique and exciting sporting event unlike any that Niagara Falls has previously hosted.

According to the Wings for Life World Run website, “All over the world, everyone taking part starts running at exactly the same time. Thirty minutes after the start a Catcher Car sets off at each location. As long as you stay in front of this car, you stay in the race. When you are passed by the Catcher Car, your race is over. This continues until there’s a single man and single woman left running. Only they will be crowned the Global Champions of the Wings for Life World Run.”

This unique run raises money for spinal cord research with 100% of the money from entry fees going to the Wings for Life research foundation. It is an exciting event for the City of Niagara Falls to be hosting and will definitely be a must-see for locals and visitors alike.

On November 15^th, 2014, Niagara Falls and the surrounding parklands will be illuminated with millions of sparkling lights for the annual Ontario Power Generation Winter Festival of Lights, running until January 12^th, 2015.

The OPG Winter Festival of Lights attracts more than 1.5 million visitors annually with dazzling lights illuminating Dufferin Islands and the surrounding parklands. There is no admission fee to view the five-kilometre illumination route, however donations are accepted at the exit of Dufferin Islands for upkeep and enhancement of the displays.

Opening ceremonies for this year’s festival will take place on November 15, 2014 in Queen Victoria Park, which will feature live performances, an exciting fireworks show, and a flip-the-switch ceremony. Fireworks shows will also be happening every Friday night at 9pm during the OPG Winter Festival of Lights Season, with additional shows occurring during the holidays.

The OPG Winter Festival of Lights is an exciting and beautiful tradition in Niagara Falls, offering a wonderful activity for people of all ages. The amazing lights are sure to dazzle and get visitors and locals alike into the spirit of winter and the holiday season.