☀️ Hello Norfolk ☀️
A message to you:
This week is all about ⚔️ History and Heroes in Norfolk! ⚔️
💨💥 Cannon smoke rolls over Backus this week as the War of 1812 re-enactment returns — a full weekend of battles ⚔️, camps 🏕️, and living history 📜 you won’t want to miss.
And while muskets fire in Port Rowan 🎇, Simcoe is celebrating its own victories 🏆: three local teams ⚾🥍, three provincial championships. That’s the kind of hometown pride that makes Norfolk shine ✨.
📰 The Insider is growing right alongside these stories — and to keep up, we’re looking for a few more hands 🙌 to help us cover it all. But first things first: let’s dive into a weekend where the past comes alive 🔥 and the present gives us plenty to cheer about 🎉.
Lets get to it,
— Brad
PARTICIPATE
✍️ Want to be part of The Norfolk Insider?
The Norfolk Insider has grown fast — and it’s clear that one person can’t cover it all alone. To keep expanding and bringing our readers the best of Norfolk’s events, history, hidden gems, and local stories, we need a team.
We’re looking for:
- 📰 Writers (news, features, opinion, lifestyle)
- 📸 Photographers and videographers
- 🎨 Creative contributors (design, graphics, ideas)
- 🕸️ Web designers, coders, front and back end experts
- 🖥️ Data entry and researchers
- 👂 Community voices who just want to share what’s happening in their corner of Norfolk
If you’ve ever thought, “I’d love to see this in the Insider” — here’s your chance to make it happen. Whether you want to write a single article, contribute regularly, or just pitch story ideas, we’d love to hear from you.
📩 Reach out to [email protected] to get involved.
Together, we can build something bigger than any one of us. 💪
WAR OF 1812
⚔️ Step Back in Time – War of 1812 Re-enactment!
History comes alive in Port Rowan as the War of 1812 Re-enactment returns to Backus Heritage Conservation Area on September 6 & 7, 2025.
👨👩👧👦 Families, history buffs, and curious explorers can enjoy:
- 🎇 Battle re-enactments with cannons & muskets
- 🏕️ Military & civilian camps (children’s militia!)
- 🧵 Weaving & spinning demos (products available for purchase!)
- 🍲 Historic cooking & period demonstrations
- 🏛️ Tours of the famous 1798 Backhouse Grist Mill
When & Where
- Saturday & Sunday, Sept. 6 (10 a.m.–4:30 p.m.) & Sept. 7 (10 a.m.–3:30 p.m.)
- Backus Heritage Conservation Area, Port Rowan
Admission: $16 per car (up to 7 people) – pay at the gate.
🔥 Don’t miss one of Norfolk’s most exciting heritage events—where cannon smoke fills the air and history marches right past you!
MORE INFO ON WAR OF 1812 CLICK HERE
SUPPORT
LOCAL SPORTS
🏆 Triple the Glory for Simcoe Teams! 🏆
It was a banner week for Norfolk sports, as three local squads brought home provincial titles!
⚾ The U11 Simcoe Giants and U10 Simcoe Giants baseball teams both clinched provincial championships, showing the strength of Simcoe’s ball program.
🥍 Not to be outdone, the Simcoe Timberwolves U9 lacrosse team also stormed through their bracket to capture the provincial crown.
Three teams. Three championships. One proud community. Congratulations to these young athletes, their coaches, and their families for making Simcoe shine!
Check out the video as the U11 team rides The Bickle through town!
WATCH BELOW 👇️
YouTube: Congrats Simcoe Giants UA11 Provincial Champions!
LOCAL AUTHOR
📚 Local Author Returns Home with Stories to Share 🏡
Port Dover native Morgan O’Dwyer has recently returned home after living in Paris, ON — and has been busy making an impact in the world of children’s literature. Since July, she’s published nearly ten books focused on 💖 empathy, 🌈 imagination, and 🤝 inclusion.
Now, O’Dwyer is turning her attention to Norfolk’s past, developing a new series inspired by 📖 local history — a passion rooted in her academic work at the ���� University of Guelph. As both an author and artist, her mission is to celebrate ✨ creativity, 👫 community, and the stories that shape us.
Check out some of her titles on Amazon here:
HAPPENINGS
TO SUBMIT YOUR EVENT TO THE NORFOLK INSIDER — USE THIS FORM
TO SUBMIT YOUR EVENT TO THE NORFOLK INSIDER — USE THIS FORM
Thursday September 4th
- 👴 Grandparent’s Day | Roulston’s Wellness – Donly Drive | 10am – 1pm | Enjoy a special treat | Win fun prizes | Senior Support Services will be there | More
- 🏈 NFL Kickoff Party – Cowboys vs. Eagles | Boston Pizza | 9pm | Watch the game and get a chance to win a Lamb jersey | More
Friday September 5th
- 👕 Clothing Giveaway | St. James United Church Simcoe | 6pm – 8pm | More
- 🎤 Friday Night Crappy Karaoke | Frisky Beaver | 6pm – 9pm | More
- 🪘 Sacred Sound Drum Circle | Waterford | 7pm – 9pm | Meditation, smudging, drumming | More
- ⛲️ Festival Of Fountains Show | Whistling Gardens | 22 acres of paradise | Musical fountain show at nightfall | More
- 🧑🌾 Port Rowan Farmer’s Market | Port Rowan Harbour Lions Park Pavilion | 3pm – 6pm
Saturday September 6th
- 👕 Clothing Giveaway | St. James United Church Simcoe | 8:30am – 11am | More
- 🎽 Rib Fest Jersey Day | Waterford Legion | 2:30pm – 11pm | Live music, cold drinks, hot food | Fundraiser w/ Waterford Minor Hockey | More
- 🐟️ Fish and Chips | Simcoe Army Navy Air Force Club | 3pm – 6pm | Eat in or take out available | More
- 🎤 Karaoke | Delhi Legion | 7pm – 11pm | Food and drink available for purchase | More
- 🍷 Taste of the Vineyard Pop-Up Market | Bonnieheath Lavender Farm | 11am – 3pm | Wander fields, sip wine, talk to vendors | Free admission | More
- 🪶 Smudge Fan Workshop | Waterford | 11am – 4pm | More
- 🪖 War of 1812 Re-enactment | Backus Heritage Conservation Area | 10am – 4:30pm | Battle re-enactments, historic presentations, cannon and musket firing | More
- ⛲️ Festival Of Fountains Show | Whistling Gardens | 22 acres of paradise | Musical fountain show at nightfall | More
- Long Point Lioness Lions Club – Stuff the Bus | Wiggans Clover Farm | 9am – 1pm | Fundraiser for Mission Food Bank | Buy bags at Wiggans or Pharmasave | More
Sunday September 7th
- 💓 Zumbathon for Hope 2.0 | Final Touch Fitness | 1pm – 3:30pm | An afternoon of dancing and raising money | More
- 👯 Free Week | Norfolk Spark Centre | 9:15am – 9:15pm | Fitness, art, activities and classes for ALL | More
- 🛶 Sunset Glow Paddles | Waterford Ponds | 7pm | Glow, paddle, enjoy | More
- 🪖 War of 1812 Re-enactment | Backus Heritage Conservation Area | 10am – 3:30pm | Battle re-enactments, historic presentations, cannon and musket firing | More
Monday September 8th
- 🎱 Bingo | Simcoe Legion | Doors 5pm – Early bird 6:30pm – Main game 7pm | $1000 jackpot | $3000 in prizes | 50/50 draw | More
- 🛶 Free Summer Social Paddles | Newfie Nautical Tours | 6pm – 7pm | Paddle and make friends | Register
Tuesday September 9th
Wednesday September 10th
- ❤️🔥 Igniting Hope Word Suicide Prevention Day | Wellington Park Simcoe | 5:30pm | Walk from Wellington Park to 76 Victoria St Simcoe | Free BBQ at 6pm | Presented by South Coast Wellness Addiction and Mental Health | More
UPCOMING
- 🧼 Non Toxic Cleaners Class | Generations Marketplace | September 11th | 6pm | Discover practical recipes and take home samples | Register
LIVE MUSIC
TO SUBMIT YOUR EVENT TO THE NORFOLK INSIDER — USE THIS FORM
Friday September 5th
- 🎶 Sandbar on the Beach | Luke Allen
- 🎶 22 Main | Sarah Church | 7:30pm
Saturday September 6th
- 🎶 Frisky Beaver | Led X Zeppelin | 7pm | Tickets
- 🎶 Hoovers Marina | Rewind | 7pm
- 🎶 211 Main | Shari and Jonny | 7:30pm
Sunday September 7th
- 🎶 Frisky Beaver | Shane Pinchen | 1pm
- 🎶 Dover Legion | Atkinson Brothers | 2pm
Tuesday September 9th
- 🎶 Lounge 33 | Felicia McMinn | 7pm
Wednesday September 10th
- 🎶 211 Main | Felicia McMinn | 8pm
WEATHER
Thursday High 18°C 🌡️ Low 11°C 🌧️
Friday High 21°C 🌡️ Low 10°C 🌤️
🌡️ View current weather
HERE
🚗 Check out local gas prices
HERE
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