❄️ A Little Christmas Magic

A festive little roundup of what’s happening around town:

🕯️ Candlelight Stroll wrap-up

🎀 Spotlight on Pink Pearl Canada

🎅 Tomorrow’s Christmas Parade

🧈 Buttertart Shack’s holiday pop-up

Let’s dive in.

Queen Street glowed last Friday — not just from candles, but from the slow, steady hum of neighbours walking together, bundled against the cold, rediscovering familiar faces in the soft light. The Candlelight Stroll always feels like a pause in the middle of December, and this year’s edition might have been one of the most memorable yet.

The generosity was just as bright: $14,500 raised for Pink Pearl Canada. A huge thank-you to everyone who donated and participated, and to Niagara Motors for supporting the event behind the scenes. Nights like this remind us what community actually looks like.

With the community rallying behind them in such a big way, it feels right to spotlight what Pink Pearl Canada actually does — and why they matter.

Pink Pearl exists because young women diagnosed with cancer often find themselves in a unique, lonely in-between: old enough to understand the weight of it, young enough to feel completely out of place in traditional support spaces. So they built their own.

Their work includes:

The $14,500 raised here in NOTL will go directly toward helping young women in our region find community when they need it most.

The Christmas Parade returns tomorrow at 11 a.m., and Old Town is about to feel wonderfully hectic. For at least one morning a year, Queen Street transforms into a classic holiday scene: brass bands echoing between buildings, floats inching forward, kids vibrating with excitement, and parents pretending they’re not freezing.

Expect:

It’s warm, it’s chaotic, and it’s one of the most lovable days on the local calendar.

For those who already know Buttertart Shack from its Port Colborne beginnings, their expansion into NOTL has been eagerly awaited. Known for their classic butter tarts and creative spins, the team is taking things further with a full café and creamery, opening in spring 2026.

The NOTL location will introduce:

Their decision to open here was influenced by the visibility of the Highway 55 corridor and how naturally the town connects visitors from across Niagara and the GTA. The holiday pop-up — running now through December 23 — gives locals an early look (and early taste) of what’s coming.

If the steady stream of cars pulling in is any indication, NOTL is more than ready.

The middle of December has a way of waking the town up — music spilling out of tasting rooms, holiday menus turning dinners into small celebrations, porches lighting up the sidewalks, and the hint of snow reminding us what month it is.

With the Candlelight Stroll still glowing in our memories and the Christmas Parade rolling through tomorrow, NOTL feels bright, busy, and wonderfully full. If you’re out there on Queen Street, we’ll be right there with you — probably clutching a hot drink and waving at familiar faces.

NOTL News Partners are local businesses and organizations committed to growing alongside us here in Niagara-on-the-Lake. Together, we’re building connections, celebrating community, and sharing the stories that make this town special.

If you’re interested in what it looks like to be a NOTL News Partner, let’s connect.