FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – November 6, 2025

Niagara Falls, ON — Downtown Niagara Falls is excited to launch the Believe campaign, a holiday discount program, encouraging residents and visitors to shop, dine, and celebrate local this season. The campaign begins at the Santa Claus Parade, on Saturday, November 15th, where community volunteers will distribute the Queen Street Express Magic Tickets to the thousands of visitors who attend the event. 

The Magic Ticket is inspired by the spirit of the beloved holiday movie The Polar Express and captures the wonder of giving, sharing, and believing in community. The discount program is an invitation to parade visitors to return downtown throughout the holiday season to shop, celebrate and support local businesses. 

Present the Magic Ticket at participating downtown businesses to receive a 10% discount until Dec 31, 2025. Nearly $1,500 in prize giveaways from twenty-four downtown businesses are also being offered during the Believe campaign’s social media promotions with “share-and-tag” contests running from Nov. 15  through Dec 23.

The Believe campaign is the latest initiative to showcase downtown businesses and is championed by Sandor Ligetfalvy, the community leader behind the Niagara Falls Queen Street Area (QSA) marketing project that was recently supported by the Downtown Advisory Committee. “We believe magic happens when we work together,” says Ligetfalvy.

Mayor Jim Diodati serves on the Downtown Advisory Committee along with Councilor Mona Patel and ten representatives from businesses on Queen Street. “In decades past people came from all over to do their Christmas shopping downtown.  This magic ticket will transport you to a simpler time, with handmade vendors, small businesses and unique shops in its core.  This Christmas everyone will have a goodie from one of our downtown vendors on their list!” says Mayor Diodati. 

The project has recently re-established an official online presence for Downtown Niagara Falls that includes a new website and social media content.  Alexi Pacquin of Pump Marketing has helped support the project with a recently launched “hidden gems” video campaign that showcases businesses on Queen Street.

Cheryl Hamilton, Manager of Lumberjacks & BreakOUT Escapes Niagara, has volunteered to support the project and is among those who have generously contributed to the giveaways and discounts.

 “As a downtown business we hear all the time, ‘I didn’t even know all this was here.’ Events like this are wonderful opportunities to bring people to Queen Street and introduce them to all the wonderful businesses downtown,” says Hamilton.

Special thanks to project partners The City of Niagara Falls, Niagara Falls Innovation Hub, and Mainly Niagara.