Christmas Lights Map 2023
/Ottawa’s Most Magical Holiday Decorations, Lights & Christmas Houses
Looking for Christmas Light Shows and the Best Christmas Decorations? You found the 2023 Holiday Map that will guide you to them all over Ottawa, The Valley, the entire 613 and 819!
NOTE: The Map Above is EMBEDDED - CLICK TO SEE THE FULL 2023 HOLIDAY LIGHTS TOUR MAP FROM EXPLORE 613, COMPATIBLE ON ANY DEVICE: https://map.proxi.co/r/holidays2023
If you have any questions, issues, need your display amended or taken down - please email me anytime at wicked@explore613.ca - thank you so much for participating and making this map a huge success year after year. All submissions will be added from Ottawa and Beyond: 613, 819, 343, 753, 468, 873 & any other area codes close by the Eastern Ontario Region…
On the Ottawa & Beyond 2023 Holiday Events & Christmas Lights Map
Here are the symbols and their meanings:
* * * Listings with GLOWING RED CIRCLES * * * - each spot with a RED circle around it, is FUNDRAISING (most are donate if you can, not required)
Purple Ornament: Details about Explore 613, including links to the website, and the submission form to add your amazing light displays or Christmas Events!
CHRISTMAS TREE: Places to buy a real Christmas Tree: Christmas Tree Farms & Lots (check out the list here: Real Christmas Trees near you!
CANDY CANE: The Famous Taffy Lane of Orleans - read up some tips here before you go: Taffy Lane Feature
SNOWMAN: Blow-up Display - Lawn full of holiday inflatables
LIGHT STRING: Christmas Lights Only - beautiful display of lights
THE GRINCH: Elaborate Displays - full house & lawn completely decorated with lights and inflatables, full streets decorated and lit up, & themed over-the-top Christmas and Holiday displays aka “that house”
MUSIC NOTE: Radio Light Show - lights synced with a private radio station you can park and tune in from the warmth of your car
SNOWGLOBE: Walkthrough Yard (get out of the car, and walk through a dedicated path or garage display - free or fundraising and at private homes only)
STAR SYMBOL: Holiday Event or Attraction (paid entry, tickets, or reservation mostly required)
SANTA: Festivities! Places you may find Santa visits, Parades, Christmas Markets etc (these are mostly free to attend, but may have paid activities and goods at the event (Photo with Santa, Skating Rink, Sleigh Rides etc)
GREEN STATION WAGON: #BiggerBetterBrighter 2023 Christmas Vacation House from the Turcotte’s on Cypress Gardens in Stittsville, raising money for the Stittsville Food Bank
GINGERBREAD COOKIE: Albertini’s CHEO Christmas Home of Lights in Rockland (previously of Elderberry Terrace in Orleans!)
If none of these categories suit your home, display, or event, and you would like your own dedicated symbol on the 2023 #Holidays613 Map, contact me (Jessi!) here: wicked@explore613.ca to discuss the options BEFORE filling out the form:)
Also - if you are posting pics of your house, your event, or houses on the map while you tour around - PLEASE tag the Explore 613 socials - and I will gladly share them or repost them to all our #Holidays613 Map followers!
Socials are all here:
Add the hashtag #Holidays613 to your posts too :)
Ottawa & Beyond’s 2023 Lights Map is completely interactive!
I’ve been using Proxi Maps to build my Halloween & Lights Maps for just over a year now. I love all the customizable features, and the usability for all devices and operating systems… Apple, Google etc. Also, because they are a growing company, they take feature requests. So, if the map isn’t working for you after checking out the tips below, send me a message about any issues or what the map could do to work better for you: wicked@explore613.ca
FEATURE CARDS ON OTTAWA LIGHT MAP
Each point, or “Cheer” as I like to call them, is clickable! Check the list below for all the things you can do with the #Holidays613 Map for 2023!
Magical Features about the Cool Explore 613 Decoration Maps:
Mobile, Tablet, & Desktop Friendly
Click on ANY point and it opens up a “Feature Card”
Feature Cards include all the details people have provided me about their houses, decorations, events etc:
Hours / Lights on & off times
Starting/Ending Days
Websites, Fundraiser Donations Links, or Social Media (also some people have ENTIRE accounts dedicated to their decorations and displays so look for these!)
Tags about the location. ex: Pets Welcome, Free, Paid, Sensory-Friendly, Food, Santa Visits, Chosen Charities, and, of course, Washroom availability etc etc
Check the “I’ve been here” so you know what you have seen already
Click the HEART in the upper corner to “upvote” or “love it” on your favourite Decorated Homes and Holiday Attractions - I will announce the top loved displays at the end of the Holiday season! (after New Years)
Click on “GET DIRECTIONS” and it will map you to that point
Better yet, underneath the Feature Card there is a “select more places” - click this and you can select MULTIPLE points on the map to visit.. then click “GET ROUTE", you can then choose to drive, walk, bike or take public transit, and it will open you up your very own PERSONALIZED “613 Light Display Tour” route to follow in Google Maps!
Near You - you can hit the “near you” arrow in the bottom corner and it will zoom to your location and show you things close by! (Very cool feature when you are the passenger in the car and taking a tour with the map!)
You can click “Show Map Details” on the right or bottom (depending on your device) to see a list of all the points, as well as search the list for streets, names, tags, or keywords.
Click “categories/filters” at the top and click on whatever you want to show/hide points . “Clear all” resets all your chosen filters and shows you everything that has been added to the map so far!
Have fun & if you do, I’d love it if you would share the map, tell your neighbours and friends to add their magical festive displays so we can all enjoy some brightness and joy during December!
Businesses or Attractions can add a Holiday SPECIAL Offer (discount etc) for Explore613 Map Readers
Please consider leaving your decorations and light displays up and available to view until January 1st or later. Many families are so busy leading up to the Holidays that they really get some time during the school breaks to go visit your lights, especially with some schools not going on break until December 22nd 2023. Plus, it makes the streets look so pretty and magical during the dark months.
Final Note from Jessi:
Explore613 is accepting all holiday houses & displays from anywhere with a 613 or 819 area code.
*IMPORTANT: We would love to see all lit up homes added to the map not just elaborate ones - pretty glistening lights in the dark of winter put just as many smiles on faces as huge displays. Upload a photo on the form and people can decide if they want to make it part of their tour. I add every single house that is submitted, not just the “most decorated in the neighbourhood” - that is why we have categories and photos ❤️
Explore 613 wants to see them all. Just like my 613 Halloween Map - if you submit your house, you are added to the map. If you added lights on a beautiful tree in your yard, or you are the only house on the block with lights, an extravagant radio light show synced to Christmas Tunes, inflatables are taking over your yard, the most magical themed Holiday Home, or just a simple classy Christmas Light set up - my Holidays 613 map wants them all. If you have decorations or lights up for anything you may celebrate this winter season - I’d love to see it. My page and map may be Christmas-forward, but I would be so happy to include and enjoy all holidays and celebrations.
This is a great opportunity to go explore your neighbourhood, or discover new ones. Load up the car with hot chocolate and holiday cookies, and take a drive with friends, loved ones, or the entire family to tour some of the most beautiful Christmas Displays and Holiday Homes in all of the 613.
We started these maps a few years ago and they have grown significantly, thanks to all of you. We are always trying to break the barrier that this isn’t only for Ottawa. It’s for anyone with a 613 or 819 Area Code: Aylmer, Gatineau, Quebec, Carleton Place, Almonte, Cornwall, Arnprior, Rockland, Pembroke, Perth, Lanark, Gananoque, Brockville, Osgoode, Carp, Smiths Falls, Kingston etc - submit it, we love the opportunity to explore beyond the Ottawa border and visit new areas, checking out local stores and cafes along the way. It’s all about supporting local. So adding and expanding this map is helping out your neighbours & their local businesses as well.
Happy EggNog Season (FarmBoy’s is the best BTW!)
Jessi 🖤
Head Elf at Explore 613
