🗓️ A Fresh Calendar, the Same Small-Town Magic
Why January in NOTL might be the most underrated time of year
There’s something quietly powerful about the stretch between New Year’s Day and the first real workweek.
The decorations are coming down. The inbox is filling back up. Everyone’s “starting fresh” — but in Niagara-on-the-Lake, that fresh start still smells like coffee on Queen Street and lake air drifting in from the waterfront.
If December is about spectacle, January is about attention. And this weekend, there’s plenty worth paying attention to.
❄️ What’s Actually Happening in Town This Month?
Let’s start with the practical stuff — because plans are easier to keep when they’re already made.
🍷 Icewine Festival Season Is Here
January doesn’t just happen in Niagara — it crystallizes.
The Niagara Icewine Festival is officially ramping up and officially starting on January 16th. This is the window locals know to lock in their tickets early and begin planning their January.
If Icewine has always been a “we should do that sometime” idea, consider this your nudge to make it a this-weekend plan.
What to know:
Icewine Discovery Passes are now active across wineries in Niagara
Icewine Village returns to Old Town on select weekends, bringing tastings right into the Heritage District
Signature events (including the Cool as Ice Gala) anchor the season through the end of January
(Trust us — this is one of the best-value ways to experience multiple wineries in a single weekend.)
Local tip: Go earlier in the day, then roll it into lunch in Old Town. You’ll avoid peak crowds and actually get time with the people behind the pours — which is half the experience.
This is one of those NOTL traditions that feels even better when you don’t wait for visitors to enjoy it.
🛍️ A Slower, Better Way to Shop Local
January weekends in NOTL are a gift if you know how to use them.
Shops along Queen Street are open, calm, and stocked with things you probably walked past all December. This is the time to:
browse without bumping shoulders
ask questions
discover something you didn’t know you needed
👉 If you’ve been meaning to “support local more this year,” start small. Pick one shop you’ve never stepped into before and give it ten minutes.
☕ Coffee, Walks, and Cold Air That Wakes You Up
This is the season for:
hot drinks
long walks
conversations that aren’t rushed
A loop through Old Town, down to the water, and back through Queen Street is still one of the best free activities in town — especially when the air reminds you you’re alive.
👉 Remember… You don’t need a New Year’s resolution. You just need a good walk and a warm cup.
Need some coffee suggestions?
Check out our previous article mentioning the local coffee spots in town!
🎯 New Year, New Intentions (Without the Pressure)
Here’s the thing about January that rarely gets said:
You don’t have to reinvent your life this week.
But you can be more intentional about how you spend your time, your attention, and your dollars — especially locally.
That’s something we’re thinking a lot about at NOTL News this year.
Wondering about the new shops in town? Check our previous coverage on some of 2025’s newest spots! ➡️ 🔔 Need a New Spud Spot?
Let us know which businesses and events in town you are looking forward to supporting!
💬 A Note From Us
As we head into 2026, our focus is simple:
highlight what’s happening now
support local businesses doing meaningful work
help readers discover things they might otherwise miss
If you’re a business owner, organizer, or creative in town with something coming up this year — now is the time to tell us about it.
🧐 Have an event, promotion, or story worth sharing?
Or
Email [email protected]
And if you’re just here to read, explore, and enjoy town a little more intentionally — you’re exactly where you need to be.
Here’s to a slower start, a fuller calendar, and another year of small-town moments worth noticing.
— Matt
Editor, NOTL News