… and we’ve got it coming right up - classic pastries so good it’s been stealing loyalties.

Good morning, neighbour!

Before we dive in - a big thank you for reading, sharing, and helping us shape The Grapevine. We’ve freshened up the layout so it’s easier to skim, and you’ll see some features rotating week by week instead of all at once. Every click, reply, and forward helps keep it worth opening every Thursday.

If you’ve got thoughts on what you’d love more (or less) of, just hit reply - we read every single one.

Here’s what’s cooking around Niagara this week:

Festival season’s not done… and neither is Niagara.

Here’s a question you never want to answer at 7:45 a.m.:

“What happens if my car dies in the Tim Hortons drive-thru?”

For one Ontario Rd. driver this week, the answer was: two strangers stepping out of line, pushing her to safety, and making sure she still rolled up to the window.

Yes, it stalled right in front of the menu board - so it was a full audience moment. No hecklers, just applause. And if you’re wondering… she probably ordered the coffee and a pastry. Because sometimes you need both to recover from being the morning entertainment.

Just another reminder: even in a morning rush, Niagara’s kindness runs stronger than caffeine.

Forget sleek kayaks - the city’s first-ever Cardboard Boat Races on Aug. 30 are strictly BYO Amazon boxes… or any other corrugated monument to capitalism you’ve got lying around. Teams of two will duct-tape their dreams together and paddle across Sugarloaf Marina lagoon in timed heats.

Rules? Simple: cardboard only (yes, they check), duct tape encouraged, no motors, no plastic liners, and if you sink? Sink with style.

Prizes are on the line for fastest finish and best team spirit - which means you can win even if you’re bailing water with a Tim’s cup.

Registration closes Aug. 23, so start sweet-talking your recycling bin.

🛟 Full rules + register here →

The 47th Canal Days Festival was the comeback kid of summer. Tall ships, fireboats, and an expanded kids’ zone set the tone, while security and volunteers made last year’s hiccups a distant memory.

Mayor Bill Steele called volunteers “the real engine” of the weekend - but to keep it real, the $93,000 Port Cares 50/50 jackpot also stole the show. Half goes to local food programs; the other half went to St. Catharines’ Norm Savoie, who’s now fully funded for Irish Fest pints until 2030.

📅 Canal Days 2026 is already marked on the calendar - and no, you don’t have to build a cardboard boat to join.

👉 Full story with PortCares →

🇮🇪 Niagara Irish Festival – Day 1
Candlelight singalong with PADDYMAN, artisan stalls, and proper Irish fare in the park.
📍 Firemen’s Park, Niagara Falls | 🕔 5–10:30 PM
👉 See full lineup →

🎶 Cole Swindell LIVE
Country chart-topper bringing big-stage energy to the Falls.
📍 OLG Stage, Niagara Falls | 🕗 8 PM
👉 Snag your seat →

🎇 Niagara Falls Summer Fireworks
A classic summer nightcap over Queen Victoria Park.
📍 Queen Victoria Park | ~10 PM
👉 Find your viewing spot →

🚴 Bike the Benchlands
Scenic 20–100 km rides with winery and brewery stops along the way.
📍 Fleming Centre, Beamsville | 🕣 8:30–10 AM
👉 Ride details →

🇮🇪 Niagara Irish Festival – Day 2
Leprechaun helicopter landing, U2 tribute, and a full day of music and dancing.
📍 Firemen’s Park, Niagara Falls | 🕚 11 AM–10:30 PM
👉 See full lineup →

🍑 Winona Peach Festival – Day 1
Parades, pie, and cobbler-scented streets all day long.
📍 Winona Park, Winona | All day
👉 Festival schedule →

🍳 Sunday Brunch at Queenston Heights
Classic brunch with vineyard views - linger as long as you like.
📍 NOTL | 🕚 11 AM–2 PM
👉 Reserve a table →

🍑 Winona Peach Festival – Day 2
Last call for pie and handmade crafts.
📍 Winona Park, Winona | All day
👉 Plan your visit →

☀️ Bonus: Peach-fatigued? Swap pie for pinot and vineyard-hop your way into golden hour.

🍇 Share The Grapevine → Unlock our personal Winery Shortlist, use the link below.

We kept hearing whispers about croissants so good they’d make you cheat on your “regular” bakery. The trail led us to Ontario Street - and straight into de la terre.

This bright, spacious café is known for hand-crafted sourdough, spelt-based pastries, and specialty coffee - all made with ingredients from Canadian and local farms.

Croissant lovers swear by the almond, cinnamon bun, and chocolate versions (get there early - in case they vanish fast). Feeling savoury? Go for the “Sweetie” croissant sandwich with pork belly, or the focaccia piled high with seasonal veggies. Bread people: a farmers loaf or baguette will make you forget the grocery store exists.

Pair it all with an iced latte, grab a seat inside or out, and linger - the atmosphere is as satisfying as the pastries.

👉 delaterre.ca

Late August = Coronation season. Sweet, floral beauties that make grocery-store grapes taste bland in comparison.

Find them at farm stands like Quiet Acres (MacSween Farms) in NOTL. Eat by the handful, chill for frozen treats, or pair with cheese for the ultimate snack.

🌾 macsweenfarms.com

Every August, Niagara’s backroads get their own signature perfume - not from bakeries or ice cream stands, but from row after row of ripening grapes warming in the sun.

It’s the kind of scent that sneaks in through your open windows, makes you slow down, and convinces you to take the long way home. Roll past a vineyard at golden hour and you’ll swear someone bottled summer just for you.

Pro tip: pack a snack, queue up your favourite playlist, and let the drive be the destination. It’s peak Niagara - and it’s free.

If you’ve made it this far, you’ve survived leprechaun landings, cardboard boat dreams, and the temptation to eat a pound of Coronation grapes in one sitting.

📤 Forward this to someone who still thinks “wine tour” means boxed merlot.

💌 Got thoughts? Hit reply - we read every word.

Until next Thursday,

🍇 The Grapevine Team

If you’d tell a friend about a great croissant, you can tell them about us too.

Share this with a Niagara pal who loves local finds, good news, or the occasional peach-fuelled road trip.

Every share helps us stay neighbourly, nosy, and Niagara-made.