Whisper a Wish to the Forest Fairies

For families interested in taking a road trip to experience Forest Lumina, this page provides some tips on how to prepare for your experience, as well as information relating to nearby accommodation. Covid-related updates are also provided. For dog owners, this page also provides some useful information regarding dog accessibility.

Region:

Eastern Townships. Coaticook is approximately a 2 hr drive from Montreal.

Covid Update (taken from the Forest Lumina Website):

From July 18, 2020, the wearing of a mask is mandatory inside the Denis Maurais reception desk including the gift shop. Online booking is recommended before your visit. You must show up at the exact time indicated on your confirmation.

Conditions surrounding covid and safety are liable to change so for more updated info, visit Forest Lumina’s official website.

About Forest Lumina:

Foresta Lumina is a multimedia nighttime experience along Coaticook’s Canyon. Seven beautiful manuscripts introduce the cast of fictional characters presented through sophisticated lighting, mapped media and original sound tracks. Foresta Lumina invites you in a variety of theatrical effects that create a moody but magical setting. Visitors enter an imaginary heritage of the region and capture the mythology of the Quebec forest.

Who would enjoy a visit to Forest Lumina:

Forest Lumina is perfect for families interested in nature and the outdoors, as well as families who have an appreciation for mythological beings and magical settings.

Our walk through Forest Lumina went rather quickly considering it was an estimated 1-2 hour hike. The light show kept the kids occupied so it did not feel like we were hiking at all. There are areas to sit and relax in case your little ones (or you) do need a break. There were times during the walk when our eldest son (13 yrs old) was not as interested as the other two. Particularly, he did not care much for sitting down and having to watch a multimedia clip or two - he preferred the "spookier" parts of the experience (there really wasn't anything particularly spooky about Forest Lumina apart from the fact it was dark out and some of the lighting can be construed to convey a more chilling atmosphere). In truth, our eldest son expected a scarier more-in-tune-with-Halloween experience. Forest Lumina caters to the entire family so for those of you with younger kids, or kids who do not appreciate creepy stuff like ours do, no need to worry about the experience being too frightening.

Some info to help you prepare for your Forest Lumina experience:

1. Be sure to dress appropriately for the activity and the weather. The experience takes place entirely outdoors and you will be walking through partially leveled trails (think hiking) so wear appropriate footwear. The experience takes place, rain or shine, so if rain is in the forecast, also be sure to bring rain jackets for the entire family.
   
   
2. Strollers are not recommended because there is a fair bit of walking uphill and downhill involved. It is recommended to use a baby carrier instead.
   
   
3. When booking your tickets, be absolutely certain that you will be attending on that date and time. I tried changing our booking only to find tickets cannot be changed or refunded (so we stuck to our original booking). 
   
   
4. The trail involves crossing a suspended bridge (nope, there is no way around this bridge). Though the bridge is safe and secure, this is something to keep in mind for those of you who may have some apprehension when it comes to heights. Two of our kids are less than enthused about crossing bridges but they managed to push through it.
   
   
5. For those needing washroom breaks, there are washrooms available before the trail begins, as well as halfway through the experience.

Looking for Nearby Accommodations?

We stayed at the Coaticook campground with our travel trailer. The campground is located less than 5 minutes away from Foresta Lumina. The campground has several sites accessible to tents, travel trailers, and RV’s. Ready to camp tents and shelters are also available for rental.

The campground’s amenities included a playground, pool, and splash pad, which our two younger kids enjoyed. Hiking and mountain biking trails (intermediate levels) are also located within the campground. Access to these trails are included in the accommodation fee, and are thus accessible to campers at no additional cost.

Is Forest Lumina dog-friendly?

Dogs are not allowed on the Forest Lumina site. They are, however, permitted on the campground, and the other hiking and mountain biking trails, located within the campground.

Opening Hours:

June to October annually

Location:

135, Michaud Street, Coaticook, QC J1A 2A4 (approx 2 hours from Montreal) 

Cost(s): 

Adult - $19.50
1st Child (4-15 yrs old) - $11.50
Additional Child - $10
Child 3 yrs and under - Free

For More Info on Forest Lumina:

Forest Lumina