One of the most enduring and reliable entertainment events in Niagara Falls is the “Oh, Canada, Eh?” musical dinner theatre. A seven-time winner of the Niagara Falls Tourism’s Attraction of the Year, the popular Canadian-themed show is resplendent with jokes, songs, delicious food, and audience interaction has delighted more than 750,000 people from around the world for more than 20 years.
Well, the cast and crew of “Oh, Canada, Eh?” are expanding their creative reach this holiday season with a holiday-themed musical called, “It’s a Wrap,” and it’s every bit as entertaining, raucous, and memorable as the production that started it all. Here is a closer look at what you and yours can expect if you take in an evening of musical theatre in Niagara Falls this holiday season.
A Little History
The theatre opened its doors back in 1994 and quickly became a mainstay of the area’s already stellar entertainment options. Set in a rustic log cabin less than 10 minutes from the Falls, the theatre seats 240 people for a theatre experience that’s both intimate and lively. While the “Oh, Canada, Eh?” production runs from April through October, the holiday season is always a perfect time to grab a ticket, since there is usually a new holiday-themed production —like this year’s “It’s a Wrap” — on the calendar.
The Show
“It’s a Wrap” is set back in the 1970s and features two television hosts of a Christmas variety show named Dandy and Candy, who are getting ready to film their last show of the season. Set in front of a live television audience — or in this case, a live musical theatre audience doubling as the fictitious television audience — “It’s a Wrap” includes everything you could possibly want in a holiday-driven variety show set in the ‘70s. Bell bottoms are in fashion. Platform shoes are dangerously high. Your favorite Christmas carols give way to hilarious original songs sung by an enthusiastic and talented cast. Watch Santa’s elves show off their hip hop and rap skills. Be amazed as fruitcakes come alive and dance. The show is fun, surprising, completely family-friendly, and there’s never a dull or forgettable moment. Written by Melissa Penner and Louisa O’Keane, the writers behind the popular “Swingin’ Little Sleigh Ride” and “Mistletoe Magic,” “It’s a Wrap” will have you laughing and singing throughout the entire production.
The Food
While you can certainly get a ticket to the show that doesn’t include the meal, as anyone who’s eaten at one of the theatre’s productions would ask: “Why wouldn’t you?” A family-style, five course meal is served throughout the musical by the very cast providing the entertainment. Hot and tasty Canadian holiday favorites are featured on the “It’s a Wrap menu,” so you can come hungry, knowing you’ll have your cake and eat it, too.
Whether you’re headed to Niagara Falls to visit family for the holidays, celebrate an anniversary, or you’re just coming to enjoy a much-needed vacation in the dark of winter, take some time to enjoy our fantastic musical theatre. You’ll be amazed at how good you feel after laughing that much.
All across Canada, the United States, and throughout much of the world, families and friends will soon gather to celebrate and mark another holiday season. In between catching up with one another, opening presents, and taking long and treasured walks down memory lane, the activity that’s bound to receive the most preparation and attention is definitely holiday eating. While every get-together will have its own spin on the classics, whether you’re indulging in latkes or Christmas cookies, one solid standby that will appear on almost every holiday table is roast turkey. This year, let that bird shine, by pairing it with a perfectly chosen glass of Niagara Peninsula wine.
A little bit of sugar can be a great help with the saltiness that often accompanies a holiday meal, and a crisp and off-dry riesling is often seen as turkey’s best companion. Especially if you can find something that has a bit of fruit it in, a riesling can sit next to turkey as well as the finest of cranberry sauces. Some of the best rieslings in the Niagara Peninsula come from the following wineries:
For the average eater of cheese, cheddar is cheddar and a gouda is indistinguishable from provolone. To the cheese lover, however, there are worlds of difference to be experienced even within the same variety of cheese. No two gorgonzolas or comtes are alike given the fact that everything from where the cheese was made to how long it was aged can all heavily influence a cheese’s outcome.
Behind the excellent cheese and craftsmanship of the Upper Canada Cheese Company is the milk that’s used to make their cheeses. Only milk from Guernsey cows is used, and the ones that supply the Upper Canada Cheese Company come from the herd that resides at the Comfort Family Farm. Guernsey cows are rare — there are only six Guernsey herd in all of Canada — and they are known for producing a golden milk that’s higher in butterfat and, therefore, richer in flavor. They also enjoy a storied history that reaches back into the 10th century onto a small island in the English Channel called the Isle of Guernsey.
While it could easily be argued that every season in Niagara is a magical one, the winter holiday season’s bounteous and festive offerings make the month of December a particularly special time to visit. From the mystical ways the ice forms on the waterfalls during a particularly cold spell to the Winter Festival of Lights, it’s no wonder millions of people make their way to the Niagara region each holiday season.
Every year, the Niagara Historical Society hosts The Phoenix Soiree at The Phoenix Hotel, a fundraiser, party, and dinner of epic holiday proportions. This year’s event will be held on December 5 from 6 p.m/ until 11 p.m. There will be socializing, food, drink, live music, and more, and it will all be enjoyed amidst a beautifully decorated Memorial Hall. Whether you come with a loved one or venture out alone, meet local movers and shakers at one of the season’s most-loved holiday parties.
Whether you’re at work or going back to graduate school, autumn can be a very busy and hectic time, as the easy, breezy skin of summer’s lull is finally and fully stripped away. Add the holiday squeeze of Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah, and New Year’s to that, and the months of November and December can begin to feel downright overwhelming for some of us.
Unlike most parades, the Port Colborne Annual Lighted Santa Claus Parade takes place in the evening, which transforms the seemingly commonplace experience of attending a parade into a magical experience that’s perfect for the holiday season. Head to Port Colborne on December 5 by 5:30 p.m. to get a good spot, and bring along some hot cocoa or cider, as well as some non-perishable canned goods if you’d like — the Port Colborne Optimist Club will be collecting them along the parade route. The parade gets underway by 6:30 p.m., and after it’s over, you’ll have plenty of time to enjoy Port Colborne’s charming downtown. Grab a bite of international and Asian-inspired fare at The Smokin’ Buddha after the parade, or, if you get to town early enough, grab a fresh fish lunch or afternoon snack at Minor Fisheries.
Whether you’re a serious student of yoga or just beginning what you hope will be a life-long practice, going on vacation can throw a wrench into the spokes of your well-meaning routine. After all, isn’t that why we go on vacation in the first place? To rest from our labors, reawaken our delight in the uncommon, and jolt ourselves out of our habitual endeavors? Unlike many of the habits of daily life, however, yoga isn’t something that clouds our vision or adds stress. Instead, it brings the practitioner more fully into the present, which actually makes it the perfect companion to a vacation.
A teacher who found her way to yoga first via the practice of Kundalini Yoga, Diane Manjeet Herring opened Shine On Yoga in Niagara Falls in 2011. A deep interest in yoga as therapy has driven and continues to drive her practice and instruction, and she is a tireless advocate of yoga for everyone, regardless of age, income, or ability. Especially if you’re new to the practice or have worried about past injuries or limitations, taking a class at Shine On while you’re vacationing is a great idea. The yoga studio is beautiful and welcoming, and a wide variety of different types of yoga classes are available. Shine On Yoga also offers a free yoga class for the community and visitors now and again at the Niagara Falls Museum.
For many people, the holidays are often more stressful than fun, prompting many to take to the roads and skies in search of destinations where fun can be had without any feelings of accompanying obligation. However, especially for Americans who have only a short four-day weekend with which to mark their gratitude at Thanksgiving every November, getting out of town is often more trouble than it’s worth. But if you don’t venture too far out of the way, Thanksgiving can be a great holiday to experience in a new location.
Eating in the Niagara region is one of the highlights of any knowledgeable foodie tourist. The farm to table movement is alive and well in the Niagara area, which means there is plenty of local, delicious produce available for area chefs to work with — even in November. Regardless of what you like to eat, you can find an entirely new Thanksgiving menu to enjoy when you spend your last Thursday of November in Niagara. Skip the cranberry sauce, the dressing, and the turkey, and choose one of the area’s award-winning, farm-centered restaurants instead — many of which are located at area wineries, including:
The Niagara region is known for a lot of things: Amazing waterfalls, the Niagara Gorge, world-class wineries, and plenty of excellent family entertainment. While it isn’t usually the first thing that comes to mind when people speak about Niagara, another routinely heralded form of fun and satisfaction that can readily be had is the exceptional cuisine available at so many area restaurants. Aided by bountiful farms, orchards, artisanal cheese makers, and talented chefs, mealtime — especially dinner — is its own reason to come to Niagara. If you love to eat and you’re considering 
If, on the other hand, you’d like a culinary experience only a celebrity chef can provide, reserve your seat for Friday, November 13, at Massimo Capra’s Rainbow Room for a culinary tour of Piedmont. Many foodies and experts consider Piedmont to be the centerpiece of Italian cuisine, especially as it relates to both the global slow food movement and the area’s white truffle season, which gets celebrated in delicious decadence each autumn. As both wine and food are held in the highest esteem in Piedmont, both will be in grand abundance at the Rainbow Room.
It’s hard to believe, but Elvis Presley — the King of Rock and Roll — died almost 40 years ago. Since that time, his music and legendary prowess as a musician, performer, and singer have only grown in popularity, as is evidenced by the fact that he is still the world’s best-selling recording artist — over 600 million records have been sold around the world. It’s a number that continues to grow daily.
Joined by Cynthia Pepper, the woman who starred with the King in the film, “Kissing Cousins,” Tim E and the Yes Men are a force to be reckoned with. The 12-piece band has more than enough ammunition to showcase Tim E’s uncanny ability to channel Elvis in all his splendor, talent, and passion. You’ll get to see and feel what it must have been like to be a teenager 60 years ago with the music, the moves, and the emotion of Tim E as Elvis Presley.
Summer is great for fruity frozen drinks; winter needs deep, warming cocktails; but autumn is indubitably the beer season. Fortunately, Niagara Falls is an excellent destination for a beer-cation, especially during September and October when the regional hops fields are being harvested and the local brewers are hard at work fermenting new ales and lagers. This year, you shouldn’t bother trying to scrounge up tickets to Belgium or Germany — Oktoberfest is 
If these two events don’t provide nearly enough ales and lagers, you can round out your Niagara beer-cation with a tour of the Niagara beer trail. Though the region is known better for its excellent wineries, Niagara is quickly becoming a craft brewer’s paradise due to the plethora of fresh ingredients for beer-making.