Sparkle Awards

This free outdoor holiday display competition brings our community together to celebrate creativity and festive spirit. Enter your address and showcase your incredible display or check the list of participating homes and get out there and see all the sparkly fun!

The Niagara Falls Sparkle Awards are back for 2025

Last year, more than 50 homes officially entered the competition!  Altogether, nine awards will be issued to our residents across three categories: Judge's Favourite, Best Effects, and the Fred Girardo Community Choice Award. Thanks to all for joining in the fun and showcasing your incredible talent and enthusiasm. We look forward to seeing all the spark-tacular displays!

Registration will start on Sunday, November 16, 2025. Please check back to register online (only accepting online submissions).

Congratulations to our 2024 Sparkle Winners!

Get Sparkly! There are lots of ways to participate:

1. Create an outdoor festive display at your home or business. See Official Entry Rules below. Registration will start on Sunday, November 16, 2025
2. Tour the displays across the city with the Sparkle Map! Displays will be lit up to Christmas, so hop in the car with your family and friends to see all the great decorations! 
3. Cast your vote in the Fred Girardo Community Choice Award. Voting will be open to the public during the judging window (starting at 6 pm on Friday, December 12 to 10 pm Sunday, December 14 only). Voting is closed!
4. Follow the competition on Facebook! Competitors campaign for visits and votes by sharing their photos and videos

2025 Sparkle Entry List

There's no perfect route, but if you follow our list in order, it will take you around to each house as efficiently as possible, starting north to south! Get out there and see all the Sparkly fun!

Check back by December 10 to see a full listing of participants.

Official Entry Rules

• Open to residential and commercial properties in the City of Niagara Falls, Ontario
• Competition dates are Friday, December 12, through Sunday, December 14, between the hours of 6 pm and 10 pm
• Contest is limited to exterior decorations, which must be visible from the curbside
• Decorations must not cover/interfere with any fire safety equipment, roadways or sidewalks/walkways
• Keep everything PG-13
• Special Effects/Lighting/Inflatables must be operating each night during the competition (between 6 pm and 10 pm)
• Voting/Judging may take place anytime during the competition dates/times
• Photos and Media: Participants must agree to have photos of their displays and their addresses posted online, including, at the sole discretion of the City of Niagara Falls: the Sparkle Map, voting forms, and our social media accounts (Instagram, Facebook and X)
• Official Sparkle Awards entry lawn signs must be placed in your yard and easily visible from the curbside. Free of charge, pick yours up at the MacBain Centre starting Sunday, November 16. (MacBain is open Monday to Friday from 7 am to 9 pm, Saturday and Sunday from 7 am to 5 pm)

Rules For Judges and Public Voting for the Fred Girardo Community Choice Awards

• Assessments to be conducted from the curbside (sidewalk) only
• Do not block traffic. Be courteous to others
• Voting for the Fred Girardo Community Choice will be open to the public during the competition (Starting Friday, December 12 at 6 pm through Sunday, December 14, at 10 pm). One vote per person, per entry/display. The online voting form is posted above.

Assessment Criteria

Judges Favorite:

• Originality (20 marks)
• Overall theme (20 marks)
• Creative use of lights and special effects (20 marks)
• Detail/placement of decorations (20 marks)
• Overall Presentation (20 marks)

Best Effects (20 marks)

Prizes

• Prizes will be awarded to 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place in each of the three categories: Judges Favourite, Best Effects, Fred Girardo Community Choice. 
• 1st place winners will receive a Sparkle Awards trophy!
• 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners will receive a commemorative lawn sign acknowledging their sparkly display and category they placed in!

For more information on the program, please email or call Recreation and Culture at 905-356-7521 x 3345 during regular business hours.