👋 NOTL is at Its Peachiest!

This Week in NOTL…

Here’s what’s ripening, blooming, and buzzing around town:

• 🍑 Peach Season Is On – Now’s the time to eat like a local.

• 🎨 Art in the Garden – The Parkway Artists’ Guild is hosting a weekend show & sale at the Botanical Gardens.

• 🧠 How Local Are You? – We’re testing you with 10 surprising facts about Niagara-on-the-Lake. How many did you know?

Let’s dive in!

🍑 The Peaches Have Landed

Consider this your official notice: peach season is in full swing, and Niagara-on-the-Lake is about to smell like cobbler and look like a roadside fruit stand every 300 metres. Glorious, isn’t it?

Whether you’re a pie person, a jam junkie, or someone who just likes to bite into one over the sink like a feral raccoon — this is your moment.

🧺 What to Watch For:

• Drive-By Deliciousness: Niagara Stone Road, Queenston, St. Davids — you name it. A folding table, a cardboard sign, and a basket of gold for $6. Bring cash, bring a tote, and don’t make eye contact with the person behind you in line if you take the last flat.

• Peach-ified Menus: Local bakeries and cafés are already rolling out the goods. Think peach scones, peach galettes, peach iced tea, and probably something deep-fried and wonderful we haven’t discovered yet.

• Winery Surprises: A few local wineries are dropping seasonal pairings and peach cocktails, so if you’ve ever wanted to swirl a glass and say “I detect notes of orchard,” now’s the time.

And of course — we all know what’s coming later in August. The Peach Festival is just around the corner, but we’ll save the deep dive for closer to the big day. For now, make the most of the season: hit the stands, stock up, and enjoy these fuzzy little treasures while they’re at their best.

Know a legendary peach stand? Someone selling pies out of their garage? Let us know — or better yet, send snacks.

And if you really want to make the most of it? Go peach picking. Parkway Orchards is open for the season, and there’s nothing quite like wandering the rows and picking your basket of golden goodness. It’s sweet, simple, and peak NOTL.

You can check out the link below for hours, updates, and what’s ripe this week.

🎨 Art in the Garden – July 19 & 20

Looking for a peaceful weekend plan? The Parkway Artists’ Guild is hosting its Art in the Garden Show & Sale this Saturday and Sunday at the Niagara Botanical Gardens (inside the Old Lecture Hall, 2565 Niagara Parkway).

Come browse original works by local artists, chat with the creators, and even explore membership perks if you’ve got a creative streak of your own. There’s also a Children’s Corner for young artists to capture their own park experience.

It’s the perfect mix of art and nature — and a great excuse to spend time surrounded by beauty.

🧠 How Well You Know NOTL?

Let’s put your local knowledge to the test.

Niagara-on-the-Lake is full of charm, history, and just enough weirdness to make a quiz like this possible. So tell us — how many of these facts did you actually know?

🏛 1. NOTL Was the First Capital of Upper Canada

That’s right — before Toronto had the spotlight, Newark (yep, that was our original name) was the capital of the whole province.

🍷 2. Canada’s First Commercial Winery

Vin Villa, established in 1866, played a pivotal role in helping to kickstart Canada’s wine scene. And you thought your wine tour was just for fun.

🔔 3. The Oldest Catholic Church in Ontario

St. Vincent de Paul, built in 1835, remains standing, serving, and is older than the country itself.

🏴‍☠️ 4. Pirates Once Raided Queen Street

During the War of 1812, American privateers looted homes and businesses in Old Town. Lock up your butter tarts.

🎭 5. The Shaw Festival Draws Over 250,000 People a Year

That’s about ten times the town’s population. Yes, it explains the parking situation.

🪨 6. There Are Tunnels Under Brock’s Monument

Military-designed, sealed off, and steeped in legend. Local folklore says they’re still down there… waiting.

👑 7. Queen Elizabeth II Visited NOTL in 1973

She didn’t stay for a winery tour (missed opportunity), but the town gave her the full royal welcome.

🍦 8. Cows Ice Cream Used to Be a PEI Exclusive

NOTL is still one of only five places outside of PEI where you can get COWS — and as someone who used to call the Island home, it’s a non-negotiable stop anytime ice cream enters the conversation.

🔥 9. The Town Was Burned to the Ground

In 1813, retreating American forces torched the entire town. What you see today was rebuilt from the ashes.

🍇 10. Over 100 Vineyards Within 25 Minutes

Try hitting them all without touching the QEW. (Spoiler: you can.)

So… How did you score? Did you know NOTL’s history as well as you thought? If you have more interesting or little-known facts about our beloved town, send them our way! We love learning more about our beautiful corner of Niagara!

If you’re hungry for more trivia (and not just peaches), we’ll break the rules and say it — Wikipedia actually has some great ones. Yes, the same site your teachers told you never to trust.

📜 A Final Note from the NOTL News Desk… 🎺

As we wrap up this week’s dispatch and give our typing fingers a well-earned rest, here’s one last nudge for our local movers and shakers:

Got a story to share? A big event coming up? Something new and exciting on the horizon? We’d love to hear from you! 🫵

Reach out and we’ll figure out the best way to get your business or event in front of the right eyes — whether it’s a spotlight in the newsletter, a post on our socials, or something a little more custom.

📬 Send us a note at [email protected] — we’ll take it from there.

👋 Until next time, dear Notler… stay curious, stay kind, and stay delightfully local.