Experience NOTL
The NOTL Icewine Village Jan 17/18/24, 2026 - An experience to remember
Ask any of the 50 volunteers
on the Ambassador Team to describe their experience at the 2026 NOTL Icewine
Festival and the first word that comes to mind is “FUN”. And they’re not alone. That was a sentiment shared by close to
11,000 visitors who received a warm Ambassador welcome at the gates of the
Village. By any measure, it was an
experience to remember.
It all started at the Preview
VIP Night on Friday evening, January 16, hosted by the Wineries of
Niagara-on-the-Lake. Volunteers had an
opportunity to tour the Village, relax in the Snow Globes, and enjoy a glass of
icewine paired with a delicious charcuterie prepared by Foodland. Check out the photographs in the Icewine
Gallery below. They tell the story of a
fascinating evening and a great preview to the event.
Mother Nature provided a
perfect Canadian winter setting. From
the wind, ice and biting cold of the first weekend, to the extreme frigid
temperatures of the following Saturday, Ambassadors bundled up, proudly
displayed their colourful blue and white Village scarves, and made sure guests
were welcomed and enjoyed their unique NOTL icewine experience. Visitors loved the Snow Globes, the
Imaginarium, the ice sculptures, the DJ’s music and of course, the wide range
of icewine, cocktails, icewine beer and culinary treats. No one worried about melting ice sculptures
this year!
Then came the weather
forecast for Sunday, January 25 – a massive winter storm that threatened the
safety of guests, staff and volunteers and challenged the organizer’s capacity
to operate the Village. The Wineries of
NOTL made the right decision to close the Village for the final day.
In total, over the three days
the Village operated, Ambassadors welcomed 10,900 visitors. The busiest day was Saturday, January 24
with a record 4,600 guests. Those
numbers compare to 8,800 visitors for the four-day Festival in 2025. Even with the closure on Sunday, it was still
a record crowd.
Now we take a well-deserved
break, gather feedback from volunteers on their Village experience, and then
prepare a final report outlining what worked well, and where we see
opportunities for improvements in 2027. There’s
still time to share feedback and provide input for the final report. The
Icewine Feedback Survey will be open until February 13 and is available at the
following link: https://forms.gle/4tCF7CgNhMhPVVNQA
A huge THANK YOU to the
Ambassador “Dream Team” who made the 2026 NOTL Icewine Village such a unique
experience for residents and visitors.
You made a lasting impression
on the event organizers. To quote Craig
Swanson, Senior Regional Manager Eastern Estates for Arterra Wines Canada:
“I think I speak for everyone
when I thank the entire Ambassador crew for what you collectively bring to the
festival. Not only for the participation
and input to the planning process, but your presence on the street ties
together the small-town touch that makes it a magical event you can’t find
anywhere else.”
It was a privilege to work
with the Wineries of NOTL and the Niagara Grape and Wine Festival who organized
the event. By joining forces with their
staff and volunteers, the Ambassadors helped ensure an extraordinary Village
experience for visitors. Now the focus
turns to 2027 and planning for an even more amazing event.
