Fireworks - Niagara Falls

When you go to Niagara Falls if you can schedule your visit to see the fireworks that take place over the falls, I would recommend that. Between the middle of May and the middle of October, the fireworks are every evening at 10 pm and it is a five minute show. If you are fortunate enough to have a hotel room that overlooks the falls, I would say at least one night just stand by your window and enjoy them from there.

We had a room at the Courtyard Marriott on Victoria, and the view was amazing as we seemed to be right where the fireworks were being let off so that was nice. We originally thought we might see the fireworks on the Friday evening, but we were lucky enough to be able to enjoy them two nights and both of them were from our room.

Here are a couple of pictures of some of the fireworks that we saw, and being able to see them very well from our room was nice. If the weather is just right and you have a room that is facing the falls, I would recommend checking the schedule for the fireworks and be prepared for a nice view. 

Niagara Falls normally has fireworks all year on a Friday night and then some other special events like New Years Eve, so you need to check to see when they are happening so that you don't miss the opportunity to see the show.

One of the spots that we found that was really good to watch the fireworks from if you want to be closer to them is near the base of Clifton Hill because the fireworks are set off between there and the Canadian Falls. If you can get down near the Niagara River, it is a nice experience, but you also have to be prepared for crowds because a lot of people will be down there to watch the fireworks.

Here is a short video of some of the fireworks that we saw. Fireworks

 

Fireworks

Here are the rules for Fireworks in Toronto

The Fireworks Bylaw regulates the use and sale of fireworks in Toronto.

Fireworks are only permitted on your private property on Victoria Day and Canada Day until 11 p.m.  A permit is required to set off fireworks on all other days.

Fireworks are banned in City parks and on beaches. Do not set off fireworks in a street, a parking lot, on balconies or any private property that is not your own.

Contact 311 to report the use of fireworks in a City park or beach, illegal sale and possible misuse of fireworks.

You are only allowed to use consumer fireworks on your private property two days a year. Consumer fireworks include low hazard fireworks for recreation, such as fireworks showers, fountains, golden rain, lawn lights, pinwheels, Roman candles, volcanoes, sparklers, and other similar devices.

You can set off consumer fireworks on your own private property until 11 p.m. on:

• Victoria Day
• Canada Day (July 1)

 

Here is what really happens, at least around where we live, and I can imagine it happens in a lot of other areas as well. Fireworks are set off in parks, parking lots, on the street and even off balconies, and they are set off at all times of day and night and from noon until anytime in the middle of the night, like 3am or 5am fireworks are being set off. The fireworks are also set off not just on those two specific days as they are set off on New Year’s Eve, and any other day that someone thinks fireworks are needed.

The bylaw clearly starts that fireworks must be set in a bucket with sand, but that doesn’t happen, at least around us. People simply place the fireworks on the ground and light them, and if they fall over, it doesn’t seem to matter to the people setting them off. Also, in some cases people are actually holding the fireworks in their hand and setting them off, which is extremely dangerous.

The City of Brampton has now passed a bylaw that you can no longer set off or sell fireworks in the City of Brampton. It is going to be interesting to see how that works, but it would be nice to have it here in Toronto as well.

An idea to help control fireworks

• To purchase any fireworks, you must provide proof of owning the property, photo identification.
• No cash sales, (debit or credit only)
• If you are caught selling to minors, there is a big fine.
• You must live within the area of where you are buying the fireworks and own the property.
• Sellers must display regional approval to sell fireworks, so better control on who actually sells the items, not just something in a truck on the side of the road.
• If you don’t see a permit, call the local bylaw enforcement to question if this business is allowed to sell fireworks.
• Sales of fireworks should only be sold the day of and the seven days immediately before the specified allowed dates.

Fireworks are nice to see, but it is very important that they are set off properly and are complying with the bylaws of the area that you are in. So, when it’s time to see some fireworks, why not make it easy on yourself and just go to a place where they are being set off by professionals and enjoy them. Fireworks are nice to see, but being woken up in the middle of the night isn’t fun, and not everyone enjoys hearing them.