The Norfolk Insider

๐ŸŒŸโœจ Hello Norfolk! โœจ๐ŸŒŸ

From historic tales that send shivers down your spine ๐Ÿšข๐Ÿ”ฅ, to laugh-out-loud stories from our own neighbours ๐Ÿ˜‚๐Ÿ‘ด, and weekends packed with live music, festivals, and community fun ๐ŸŽถ๐ŸŒฝ๐ŸŽ† โ€” The Insider has it all.

This week, weโ€™re turning the spotlight on you ๐ŸŽค๐Ÿ’ก. Writers, poets, photographers, storytellers โ€” Norfolk is full of voices waiting to be heard, and weโ€™re opening the door wide. Plus, weโ€™ve got unforgettable history, hilarious local wisdom, and a stacked lineup of happenings thatโ€™ll keep your calendar full. ๐Ÿ“…๐Ÿ™Œ

So grab a coffee โ˜•, settle in, and letโ€™s dive into what makes Norfolk shine. ๐ŸŒžโค๏ธ

โ€” Brad

Ps. If you want to contribute, partner, suggest something, or just make a new friend, reach out to me HERE


CONTRIBUTE

โœ๏ธ Calling All Creatives! ๐ŸŽจ๐Ÿ“๐Ÿ“ธ๐ŸŽถ

Do you have a story to tell ๐Ÿ“–, a poem to share โœ’๏ธ, or an eye for capturing life in Norfolk ๐Ÿ“ท๐ŸŒณ? The Insider is opening its doors to citizen journalists, writers, poets, and creatives of all kinds ๐ŸŒŸ.

Whether itโ€™s local history ๐Ÿก, community news ๐Ÿ“ฐ, a personal essay ๐Ÿ’ญ, or a snapshot of everyday life ๐ŸŒžโ€” weโ€™d love to feature your voice ๐ŸŽค. This is your chance to share your creativity with thousands of readers across Norfolk County ๐ŸŒโค๏ธ.

If youโ€™d like to contribute, send us a note ๐Ÿ“ฉ and letโ€™s get your work out into the community! ๐ŸŒŸ๐Ÿ™Œ


NORFOLK HISTORY

The steamer Atlantic

๐Ÿšข๐Ÿ”ฅ The Burning of the Atlantic

In August 1852, the passenger steamer Atlantic caught fire after colliding with the steamer Ogdensburg off Long Point, with more than 500 people on board โ€” many of them Norwegian immigrants heading west ๐ŸŒ. Within minutes, flames raced through the wooden decks ๐Ÿ”ฅ. Lifeboats were scarce ๐Ÿšฃ, and panic overtook the ship as desperate passengers leapt into Lake Erie ๐ŸŒŠ, clinging to wreckage or trying to swim for shore.

Local settlers rushed to the beaches ๐Ÿ–๏ธ to rescue survivors, but the loss was staggering. As many as 300 lives were lost โšฐ๏ธ, making it one of the worst disasters in Great Lakes history. For days afterward, bodies washed up along Norfolkโ€™s shoreline, leaving the community shaken ๐Ÿ’” and cementing Long Pointโ€™s reputation as the โ€œGraveyard of the Great Lakes.โ€ โš“

The tragedy was the subject of a documentary on the show โ€œThe Sea Huntersโ€ which you can watch here: YouTube: The Sea Hunters โ€“ The Steamship Atlantic


FUNNY

Local writer (and Insider reader) โœ๏ธ Allan Eizinas reached out after hearing we were looking for contributors. He shared a witty ๐Ÿ˜„, laugh-out-loud ๐Ÿคญ, embellished account of aging in Norfolk ๐Ÿ‘ดโ€”too good not to pass along.

Thanks, Allan ๐ŸŽฉ, for letting us in on the fun! ๐ŸŽ‰

I am an 81 yr old who lives a very dull life disturbed occasionally by reminders of my age. A few days ago I passed my mandatory retest at 80 yrs for the Ontario drivers licence for the next two years. I shared the details of this experience with my family and decided to also share the particulars at the Wednesday weekly meetings with my fellow members of the “tall story” round table at our local Legion of which I have been a proud member for over 50 years. There is a sculpture of a 10 inch bull in the middle of the table. This group usually consists of about 7 octogenarians and a couple of really old guys.

Most at the table had also successfully gone through the licence renewal process, some a number of times. Julius recounted that a few years ago he arrived for his test and told to take the elevator to the third floor. He joined a queue of obviously old fellow participants lined up outside a locked storage room door waiting for the elevator which never came. Eventually they were led to the proper site.

I also shared my difficulty with finding my dentures in the morning. I was assured to not worry about this common occurrence because there was a constantly replenished supply to be found at any one of our four funeral homes. Apparently, these were also guaranteed sources for free glasses, hearing aids and new shoes if you knew the right people and timed it right. Our local nursing home was also identified as a bountiful source for dentures.

I got an email from one of my grandchildren stating “Gramps, there is something special about the following phrase: WAS IT A CAT I SAW. Look at it backwards!”. I printed the phrase out in large letters and then looked at it in the mirror – gibberish! Scrambled mess. This grandson is not the sharpest knife in the drawer and I just wrote it off as an attempt to punk me.

Went to bed after another dull day but also considering my new found possible sources of free personal products.

HAPPENINGS

Event poster 1
Event poster 2
Event poster 3

Thursday September 11th

  • ๐Ÿค Delhi Legion General Meeting | Delhi Legion | 7pm – 9pm | Bring membership card
  • ๐Ÿงผ Non Toxic Cleaners Class | Generations Marketplace | 6pm | Learn to make safe cleaning products | Register
  • ๐Ÿ— Wing Night | Simcoe Army, Navy, Air Force Club | 4pm – 7pm | Dine In/Take Out/Phone for Pick Up before 6:30pm (519-426-9768). 1lb Wings with a generous portion of fries, onion rings or 1/2 & 1/2 for $14.00. 1lb Wings $12.00, Sides $4.00. Bar is open regular hours | More

Friday September 12th

  • ๐Ÿ“ฝ๏ธ Free Movie: How to Train Your Dragon | Delhi Soccer Club | 8:30pm | Cash BBQ and concession starting at 6pm | More
  • ๐Ÿคฃ Stand up Comedy | Capitol 33 | Laugh with Martin Philips | Tickets
  • โ›ณ๏ธ Mini Putt Classic and BBQ | Arbortown Mini Golf | 4:30pm or 6pm | A Port Dover Foundation event | Register
  • โ›ฒ๏ธ Festival Of Fountains Show | Whistling Gardens | 22 acres of paradise | Musical fountain show at nightfall | More

Saturday September 13th

  • ๐Ÿ›น Axtion Sports Jam for Child and Youth Mental Health | Waterford Skatepark | 9:30am – 3:30pm | Skateboarding, BMX, and scooter showcases | Register
  • ๐ŸŒณ Forest Bathing Walk | Harlow Dune Nature Reserve | 1pm – 3pm | Slow down, practice mindfulness, reconnect with nature | Register | (Join the waitlist)
  • ๐ŸŽธ Papaโ€™s Hope Fundraiser | Simcoe Legion | 5pm – Midnight | Silent auction, 50/50, cash bar | Elvis, Johnny Cash, country music | Advance tickets only | Contact Lou Porter 519-410-3002 or Liz Starr 519-770-6970
  • ๐ŸŒฝ Pork on a Bun Dinner with Corn on the Cob | Marburg Hall | 5pm – 7pm | $15/Adult and $10/Child | Dine in or take out | More
  • ๐Ÿš— Summer Showdown 16 | Norfolk Fairgrounds | 10am – 5pm | Car show, driving competition, audio competition, camping | More
  • ๐ŸŽธ Whole Lotta Love: A Tribute to Led Zeppelin | Capitol 33 | 7pm | Tickets
  • ๐ŸŽ† Fall at the Fields | Delhi Soccer Club | 10am – 1am | Full market with vendors, amazing race, touch a truck, 4H Club, cornhole, BBQ, live music | More
  • ๐Ÿ•บ Line Dance Lessons | Red Fox Farms | 7pm – 10pm | $20 at the door | More
  • ๐Ÿณ Menโ€™s Breakfast | St. Peter’s Lutheran Church Simcoe | 9am – 11am | More
  • ๐Ÿ’ช Tough Mudder | Gopher Dunes | 2 day event | Register
  • ๐ŸŒฝ CORNStalk 2025 | Meuse Brewery | 3:30pm – 10pm | All you can eat corn, live music, corn eating contest | Tickets
  • โ›ฒ๏ธ Festival Of Fountains Show | Whistling Gardens | 22 acres of paradise | Musical fountain show at nightfall | More
  • ๐Ÿธ๏ธ Irisโ€™s Speakeasy | Ferrera | 7pm – 10pm | 1920โ€™s fundraiser | Email [email protected] or call 519-426-0130 X2456 (LIMITED TICKETS) | More
  • ๐Ÿพ Bottle & Can Drive | Delhi German Home Parking Lot | 10am | The Kin Club of Delhi bottle drive | More

Sunday September 14th

  • ๐Ÿƒโ€โ™‚๏ธ Terry Fox Run and BBQ | Simcoe Lions Ball Park | 10am | Prizes, food, t-shirts | More
  • ๐ŸŽท Latin Jazz Ensemble | Red Fox Farms | 3pm – 5pm | Tickets
  • ๐Ÿ›ถ Sunday Safari Paddles | Newfie Nautical Tours | 9:30am | Register
  • ๐Ÿ’ช Tough Mudder | Gopher Dunes | 2 day event | Register
  • ๐Ÿถ Pug Dog Meetup | Hounds of Erie Winery | 12pm – 2pm | One free drink and a treat flight for your furry friend | Register
  • ๐Ÿง‘โ€๐ŸŒพ WHAM Agricultural Hall of Fame | Waterford Heritage & Agricultural Museum | 2pm | New exhibit unveiling | More
  • ๐ŸŽค Courtland Country Open Mic Jam | Courtland Community Centre | 1pm | $7 admission โ€“ Dinner at 5pm ($14) | More

Monday September 15th

  • ๐Ÿš— Show and Shine | Silver Lake Park | 4pm – Dusk | Classic cars, music, food
  • ๐Ÿ›ถ Free Summer Social Paddles | Newfie Nautical Tours | 6pm | Register
  • ๐Ÿฅซ Canning Class | Cashmere & Cobwebs | 4pm – 7pm | Register

Tuesday September 16th

  • ๐Ÿชจ Rock Dot Painting Workshop | Blue Elephant | 6pm – 8pm | Register
  • ๐ŸŒณ Under the Willows | Simcoe | 6pm – 8pm | $30 per person or 2 for $50 | A relaxing evening of guided breathwork, reiki energy and visualization | Pre-registration: [email protected]

Wednesday September 17th

  • ๐ŸŽฏ Summer Darts | Delhi Legion | 7pm – 11pm | Make friends and score points

COMING UP

Coming up poster 1
Coming up poster 2

The Port Dover and Woodhouse Agricultural Society are a very active group of almost 300 members involved in various horticultural activities. They maintain the community gardens in Port Dover, including a garden which provides harvest for the local food bank.


LIVE MUSIC

Friday September 12th

  • ๐ŸŽถ Teeterville Legion | Mudmen | 8pm | See poster above for details
  • ๐ŸŽถ Frisky Beaver | The Jazzman Band with Scott Bollert | 6:30
  • ๐ŸŽถ 211 Main | Shane Pinchen | 7:30pm
  • ๐ŸŽถ Sandbar On the Beach | Justin Sawicki | 6pm

Saturday September 13th

  • ๐ŸŽถ Delhi German Home | Pure Vintage | 8pm
  • ๐ŸŽถ Frisky Beaver | Sharla Ross | 6:30pm
  • ๐ŸŽถ Capitol 33 | Whole Lotta Love: A Tribute to Led Zeppelin | 7pm | Tickets
  • ๐ŸŽถ Delhi Soccer Club | Multiple Bands | 10am – 1am | More
  • ๐ŸŽถ Hoovers Marina | Whiskey Chasers | 7pm
  • ๐ŸŽถ Schofieldโ€™s | May to September | 6pm
  • ๐ŸŽถ 211 Main | 3 Avocados | 7:30pm

Sunday September 14th

  • ๐ŸŽถ Frisky Beaver | Spilly and Marns | 1pm
  • ๐ŸŽถ Port Dover Legion | J. Atlee Band | 2pm

Tuesday September 16th

  • ๐ŸŽถ Lounge 33 | Felicia McMinn | 7pm

Wednesday September 17th

  • ๐ŸŽถ 211 Main | Felicia McMinn | 8pm

WEATHER

Thursday High 23ยฐC ๐ŸŒก๏ธ Low 14ยฐC ๐ŸŒค๏ธ

Friday High 23ยฐC ๐ŸŒก๏ธ Low 14ยฐC ๐ŸŒค๏ธ

๐ŸŒก๏ธ View current weather HERE
๐Ÿš— Check out local gas prices HERE

Like what you see?
Donโ€™t like what you see?
Just want to say hi?
Reach out to me HERE

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One Response

  1. No longer live in Norfolk but daughter, is still on homestead with her husband, Chris Rait (The Treeline Band) and daughter. Enjoy reading about what is happening down home. Keep up the great work.

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