👋NOTL, It's About Time!

• This Week in NOTL…

  • 🎭 Foster Festival – Big laughs just beyond town.

  • 🎨 Niagara Plein Air Artists – Art in the open air.

  • 🥁 Fife & Drum Muster – Music, muskets, and marching.

  • ☕💐 Couturier Home – Coffee, flowers, and charm.

Let’s check out what’s happening…

🎭 A Short Trip for Big Laughs – The Foster Festival

Every now and again, it does us NOTL folk a world of good to stretch our legs and venture beyond the comforts of our own little patch. And if you’re after a destination worth the jaunt, might I suggest the Foster Festival over in St. Catharines?

Founded a decade ago by Emily Oriold, the festival is a tip of the hat to the sharp wit and warm storytelling of Norm Foster — Canada’s most prolific playwright, with nearly eighty works to his name and no sign of slowing down. It may not be right on our doorstep, but plenty of locals have been loyal patrons, and some have even trod the boards themselves.

These days, the festival also champions fresh Canadian writing, such as their current production Mechanically Inclined, penned by Beamsville-born Stratford Festival actor Steve Ross. With its promise of “humour with heart,” it’s the sort of theatre that leaves you lighter on your feet than when you walked in.

So, if you’ve been looking for an excuse to nip out of town for an afternoon or evening, consider this your invitation — have a peek at what’s on at the Foster Festival, and prepare for a proper good laugh.

🎨 Niagara’s Natural Splendor on Display

If you’re looking for a little art-inspired day trip, the Niagara Falls Public Library is hosting the Niagara Plein Air Artists Art Show & Sale from August 6–30, 2025.

This showcase celebrates the beauty of Niagara through the eyes of local plein air painters — artists who take their easels outdoors to capture the region’s landscapes in the moment. Expect everything from sweeping vineyards to quiet forest paths, each piece painted with the kind of immediacy and light that only working on location can bring.

📍 Niagara Falls Public Library – Conference Room 1

484 Victoria Ave, Niagara Falls

🕘 Hours: Mon–Fri, 9 AM–8 PM | Sat–Sun, 11 AM–3 PM

A chance to see — and even take home — a piece of Niagara’s natural beauty.

🥁 History with a Beat – Fife & Drum Muster and Soldiers’ Field Day

Have you ever heard the bright trill of a fife cut through the summer air, answered by the steady boom of a drum and the sharp crack of a musket? If not, you’re in for a treat — and if you have, you know exactly why folks keep coming back year after year.

On August 16–17, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day, Fort George National Historic Site will come alive for the 26th Annual Fife & Drum Muster and Soldiers’ Field Day. For one weekend only, the fort transforms into a living, breathing slice of the early 1800s, complete with fife and drum corps from across the continent, uniformed infantry units, and enough military music to set your toes tapping.

You’ll see precision drills carried out with clockwork timing, hear the thunder of live firing demonstrations, and meet costumed interpreters ready to share the stories (and secrets) of the War of 1812. It’s the kind of event that draws history buffs, music lovers, and families alike — a rare mix of education and entertainment that leaves you feeling like you’ve stepped straight into another time.

Best of all? It’s included with your regular site admission. So grab your sunhat, bring your curiosity, and come spend a day where history doesn’t just sit quietly in the past — it marches right up to meet you.

☕💐 Couturier Home Floral Café & Gifts – Where Luxury Meets Lifestyle

Have you ever found a place that feels like it was designed to slow you down in the loveliest way? Right in the heart of Niagara-on-the-Lake, Couturier Home Floral Café & Gifts is just that — a curated destination where beauty and comfort mingle with effortless charm.

Step inside and you’ll find a warm, inviting café serving delectable treats, surrounded by exquisite floral arrangements, hand-picked gifts, and elegant consignment décor. Owner Mary Couturier’s vision blends refined style with genuine hospitality, offering not just coffee and blooms, but also expert staging services for those looking to bring that same touch of sophistication home.

It’s the kind of place that invites you to linger — whether you’re sipping a latte, browsing a display of curated treasures, or simply soaking in the atmosphere. A visit here isn’t just about what you take with you, but how you feel when you leave: refreshed, inspired, and a little more in love with the everyday.

📍 183 Victoria Street, Niagara-on-the-Lake

Go show them some support as they get ready for their Grand Opening… stay tuned!

📬 Got something coming up?

Whether it’s an event, a new venture, or just a feel-good story, we’d love to help share it.

Send us a note at [email protected] — or tag us over on Instagram @notlnews so we don’t miss a thing.

Until next time, Notlers… stay warm, stay thoughtful, and keep your eyes peeled — your moment might be next.