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- December 11th 2025
December 11th 2025
Bradley Mottashed
December 11, 2025
☀️Hello Norfolk! ☀️
The holidays are officially in full swing across Norfolk. There’s Santa on doorsteps, markets popping up everywhere, movies on the big screen, and even a local athlete representing us at a national championship. Be sure not to miss the Norfolk Gift Guide. Oh—and this week’s “True Norfolk Lore” might just be the best story you’ll hear all season. (Spoiler: it involves whisky washing up on shore and our townspeople doing what they do best… improvising.)
Here’s everything happening across the County this week.
-Brad
COMMUNITY BRIEFING
Local athlete headed to World Football Championship Tournament
Everett Inksetter Martin of Port Dover is competing at the 12U National Youth Football Championship in Atlanta this week after a season that took him to St. Louis, Detroit, and Ohio with Flight Club. ➡️ More
A Norfolk Couple Making a Global Impact
Carol and Grant Lamb of Villa Nova run Power At Work, a youth centre in rural Guatemala offering skills training, sports, meals, and a safe place for local kids. ➡️More
White Christmas hits the big screen in Simcoe this week, thanks to the Routes to Roots Film Festival. Organizers say the festival will expand in 2026 to spotlight more local filmmakers and Norfolk-based stories.
➡️ More
Summer 2026 student jobs now open at Norfolk County
Norfolk County is inviting high-school and post-secondary students to apply for a variety of summer jobs — everything from recreation and public works to admin and aquatics — with competitive pay and training. If you know a student, tell them to apply now!
➡️ More
Pre-cut trees
Holiday Shop full of décor, gifts & more!
Make Memories and New Traditions!
Click here to learn more!
GIFT GUIDE
Last week, the Norfolk Insider had the opportunity to team up with the Simcoe and District Chamber of Commerce to bring you a two-part gift guide series, showing the best gifts from local vendors this year! We’re excited to present both parts to you here!
TRUE NORFOLK LORE
This week, David Gilbert brings us an amazing true tale of a rum-running ship that ran aground, casting its illegal wares into the sea.
When the City of Dresden went down in a gale off Port Rowan, the story could’ve ended as a simple maritime tragedy. Instead, Norfolk’s townspeople turned it into legend. As whisky washed ashore by the crate, locals raced to hide it — under floorboards, in haystacks, even behind freshly built false walls — all while the telegraph lines mysteriously “failed.” It was the kind of rebellious, good-humoured mischief only Norfolk could pull off.
HAPPENINGS
Thursday December 11th, 2025
🎅🏼 Waterford's Travelling Santa | Will Santa show up on your doorstep next? | More
🚜 Simcoe Farmers Market | 8:00am | Grandstands @ the Fairgrounds | Come for the produce, stay because you ran into five people you know | More
🎨 Norfolk Studio Tour Exhibit | 12:00pm | Lynnwood Arts Centre | Free | Art so good you’ll want to pretend you “knew them before they were famous" | More
🪑 Sit and Fit | 12:00pm | Waterford Legion | Fitness but make it comfy | More
🎄 Holiday Night Market at the Museum | 4:00pm | Waterford Heritage & Agricultural Museum | Shop local under the glow of history | More
🍻 Beer Tasting Workshop | 6:00pm | Charlotteville Brewing Company | Tasting beer is way more fun than “research,” but technically…it’s both | More
🎄 Holiday Glow Table Arrangement Workshop | 6:30pm | Ryerse Garden Gallery | Your holiday table? About to become iconic | More
Friday December 12th, 2025
♠️ Catch The Ace Rotary Club of Simcoe | 4:30pm | Simcoe Legion | Feelin' lucky, Norfolk? | More
🎨 Norfolk Studio Tour Exhibit | 12:00pm | Lynnwood Arts Centre | Free | Art so good you’ll want to pretend you “knew them before they were famous" | More
🐴 Horse Drawn Trolley Rides | 6:00pm | Simcoe Christmas Panorama | Because sometimes the best ride is the slow, scenic, horse-powered one | More
🎶 Jon Berec | 6:00pm | Schofield's | Live music | More
🤶🏼 Hot Chocolate with Mrs. Claus | 6:00pm | Simcoe Christmas Panorama | Hot chocolate never tasted so good | More
🙌🏼 Reiki Share | 6:30pm | Port Dover Lions | $20 | Come feel the vibes for yourself | More
🎶 Major/Roswell '51' | 7:00pm | Wishbone Brewing Company | Live music | More
🎭 DRAMA KIDZ – COUSIN CHRISTMAS CHAOS! | 7:00pm | Port Dover Community Centre | Tiny actors, big drama | More
🎶 Brad Hails | 7:30pm | 211 Main | Live music | More
Saturday December 13th, 2025
🎄 A Charlie Brown Christmas LIVE | Lighthouse Festival Theatre | $41.50 | Linus dropped the mic, Charlie Brown brought the feels | More
🛍️ Silver Lake Market | 8:00am | Silver Lake Park | Get all your market needs! | More
🧁 Christmas Bake Sale | 9:00am | Port Dover Legion | Sugar is a food group, right? | More
🎄 Blue Harvest Christmas Tree Farm | 9:00am | Blue Harvest Farm | Come make memories | More
🎨 Norfolk Studio Tour Exhibit | 10:00am | Lynnwood Arts Centre | Free | Art so good you’ll want to pretend you “knew them before they were famous" | More
🎅🏼 Langton Lions Club Annual Santa Claus Parade | 11:00am | Langton Community Centre | It's not Christmas until Santa waves to you | More
🫖 High Tea | 12:00pm | Clonmel Castle | $75 Adults and $45 Children | Spill the tea...elegantly | More
🎶 Felicia McMinn | 2:00pm | Erie Masonic Lodge Port Dover | Live music | More
🎶 Christmas Concert | 2:00pm | St. James United Church Simcoe | Talent not required, but joy is | More
🎄 Christmas At Woodhouse – Featuring Tia McGraff and Tommy Parham | 2:00pm | Woodhouse United Church | Come for the cheer, stay for the friends | More
❄️ White Christmas | 4:15pm | Strand Theatre | $10 | See the 1954 classic on the big screen | More
🎅🏼 Come Meet Santa | 6:00pm | Simcoe Christmas Panorama | As Buddy The Elf would say, "SANTA!" | More
🐴 Horse Drawn Trolley Rides | 6:00pm | Simcoe Christmas Panorama | Because sometimes the best ride is the slow, scenic, horse-powered one | More
🎅🏼 Waterford Lions Santa Claus Parade | 6:00pm | Down St. James Street | It's not Christmas until Santa waves to you | More
🎤 A Christmas Carol Sing-A-Long | 7:00pm | Historic Christ Church | Talent not required, but joy is | More
🎶 Mary Simon | 7:30pm | 211 Main | Live music | More
Sunday December 14th, 2025
🎯 Youth Darts | 10:00am | Waterford Legion | Bring your bullseye energy | More
🥞 Sunday Brunch | 9:00am | Waterford Legion | Come for the food, stay for the company | More
🎄 Blue Harvest Christmas Tree Farm | 10:00am | Blue Harvest Farm | Come make memories | More
🫖 High Tea | 12:00pm | Clonmel Castle | $75 Adults and $45 Children | Spill the tea...elegantly | More
🧸 Teddy Bears for Hope | 2:00pm | Port Dover Arena | Everyone is welcome | More
🎶 Choir and Carols | 3:00pm | Trinity Anglican Church Simcoe | Everyone welcome | More
Monday December 15th, 2025
🧘🏼 Slow Flow Yoga | 7:00pm | Vittoria Community Centre | Breathe in calm, exhale chaos | More
🪑 Sit and Fit | 12:00pm | Waterford Legion | Ever thought a chair would be your gym buddy? | More
🎱 Monday Night Bingo in support of Abel Enterprises | 5:00pm | Simcoe Legion | BINGO! | More
Tuesday December 16th, 2025
🎶 Felicia McMinn | 7:00pm | Capitol/Lounge 33 | Live Music | More
🕯️ A Candlelight Evening to Remember | 7:00pm | The Devine Mercy Catholic Church | Everyone is welcome | More
Wednesday December 17th, 2025
🎶 Felicia McMinn | 8:00pm | 211 Main | Live Music | More
🎯 Delhi Belgian Club Archery | 7:00pm | Delhi District Hungarian Hall | Unleash your inner Robin Hood | More
DINNER CLUB
Dinner Club is taking off way faster than I expected.
This is our first-ever Dinner Club event, and we’ve already filled several tables — with still a month to go. At this pace, we may need to cap the number of seats to keep it intimate.
If you’re thinking about joining us, I’d book sooner rather than later.
Once we hit the limit, the doors close.
Learn about Dinner Club and Reserve your seat here → https://www.norfolkinsider.ca/dinner-club/
🍽️ I Asked Kale a Question This Week…
I messaged my buddy Kale — the nutrition coach who once told me I was “fueling myself like a toddler with a debit card” — and asked him the simplest question:
“What’s one thing people in Norfolk can do during the holiday season to feel better by tomorrow?”
He said: “Eat 30g of protein before noon. With all the Christmas eats, treats, get-togethers, and the hustle and bustle, getting enough protein early helps steady your appetite, mood, and energy so you can actually enjoy the celebrations and your time with family and friends.”
I tried it. It works.
Then I asked Kale (who never discounts his services) to offer Insiders a deal - so he's offering $300 off the 12 week coaching program. Email him here for more info or to schedule a casual, no obligation phone consultation: [email protected]
(Deal expires Dec 31st - Coaching kicks off in January).
PUZZLES!
If you’ve been with us for a while, you’ll know The Norfolk Insider teamed up with Katie Sinkowski Design to create a stunning Norfolk jigsaw puzzle. It’s 1,000 pieces of pure local beauty—and after waiting since October, it’s finally here. Folks… it’s puzzle time.
Ryerse Garden Gallery in Simcoe has graciously stepped up as the pickup location for everyone who pre-ordered. They’re also the exclusive retail home for the very limited number of puzzles still available. So go pick up your puzzle, and don’t forget to check out Ryerse Garden Gallery’s amazing selection of Christmas gifts, decor and more!
If you didn’t get one yet, this is your moment to secure a piece of Norfolk magic. Don’t wait—once they’re gone, they’re gone.
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CONTRIBUTED
Gail Heald-Taylor submitted a lovely piece on a woman having an unexpected outcome at the Silver Lake Market - HERE
Brian Humphrey tells us that as the days get shorter, we should focus on what lights us up inside - HERE
WEATHER
Thursday High -3°C 🌡️ Low -6°C 🌨️
Friday High -3°C 🌡️ Low -6°C 🌤️
🌡️ View current weather HERE
🚗 Check out local gas prices HERE
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