One highlight of the season in Niagara-on-the-Lake is walking down Queen Street during the holidays and soaking in the spirit of Christmas and winter.

That’s why this week we wanted to feature some of the well-decorated storefronts that line the historic quarter and show our appreciation for the hard work those businesses do to make it feel like the holidays when December comes around.

From the bright splendour of BeauChapeau Hat Shop to the well-done trees in windows at places like the Shaw Box Office and Wine Country Vintners, there are lights and colours galore.

“It lightens everyone’s spirits and just makes everyone really happy,” said Meghan Harrison, a hatter at BeauChapeau.

Like many NOTL retailers, BeauChapeau decorates its windows every year.

"The owner was in the other day and he was doing all of the garlands and everything," Harrison said.

BeauChapeau has two sets of windows at the front of the store and each presents a picturesque view of holiday decor.

“We do it at night, after the store's closed and everything. It usually takes a couple of hours of hard work and a lot of planning,” she said.

"Every year we do different Christmas windows. Last year, when everything was shut down one of our windows had a 'shop local' kind of thing."

Other dazzling displays can be found at Just Christmas (of course), Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory, Budapest Bakeshop, Greaves, Victoria Gallery to name just a few.

Unfortunately, we couldn’t fit every store in, but we encourage all of our readers to head to Queen Street late in the day to enjoy the extravagant holiday displays that can be seen in stores from Picton to Simcoe streets.