Sparkle Awards

2026 Niagara Falls Sparkle Awards

Last year, 45 households and businesses officially entered the competition! Winners are awarded in three categories: Judges' Favourite, Best Effects, and the Fred Girardo Community Choice Award. Get ready to join the fun and showcase your incredible talent and enthusiasm. We look forward to seeing all the sparktacular displays!

For more information on the program, please email or call 905-356-7521 ext. 4359 during regular business hours.

Get sparkly! There are lots of ways to participate:

1. Create an outdoor festive display: Decorate your home or business. See Official Entry Rules below. 2026 registration opens from November 16 to December 6 at midnight.
2. Explore 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. Vote for your favourite: Cast your vote in the Fred Girardo Community Choice Award during the competition window from December 11 to 13, 2026.
4. Follow the competition on Facebook: Competitors campaign for visits and votes by sharing their photos and videos

Official entry rules

• Open to residential and commercial properties in Niagara Falls, Ontario
• 2026 entries open on November 16 and close on December 6 at midnight
• Contest is limited to exterior decorations, which must be visible from the curbside
• Decorations must not cover/interfere with fire safety equipment, roads, sidewalks, or walkways
• Keep everything family-friendly (PG-13)
• Special effects, lights, and inflatables must be on each night during competition hours (between 6:00 pm and 10:00 pm)
• Voting and judging may take place anytime during the competition date and 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. Signs are free of charge. We will provide a date for picking up the lawn signs at the MacBain Centre for the 2026 competition. (MacBain is open Monday to Friday from 7:00 am to 9:00 pm, Saturday and Sunday from 7:00 am to 5:00 pm).

Rules for judges and the voting public

• Judging takes place from the curbside (sidewalk) only
• Do not block traffic and be courteous to others
• Public voting for the Fred Girardo Community Choice Award is open during competition hours from December 11 to 13, 2026. One vote per person per entry/display. 

Assessment criteria

Judges Favourite:

• Originality (20 marks)
• Overall theme (20 marks)
• Creative use of lights and special effects (20 marks)
• Detail and decoration placement (20 marks)
• Overall presentation (20 marks)

Best Effects (20 marks)

Prizes

• Prizes will be awarded to first, second and third place in each of the three categories: Judges' Favourite, Best Effects, and Fred Girardo Community Choice
• First place winners will receive a Sparkle Awards trophy
• First, second and third place winners will receive a commemorative lawn sign acknowledging their sparkly display and the category they placed in