Thousands expected in Port Dover for Friday the 13th

Thousands of bikers are in Port Dover, Ont. today for Friday the 13th.

Motorcycle enthusiasts converge on the lakeside Ont. community whenever the 13th day of the month falls on a Friday. The tradition dates back to 1981 and the event regularly draws tens of thousands of visitors from across Ontario and parts of the United States.

This is the second Friday the 13th of 2023. While cold snowy conditions kept the usual masses of people away in January, sunny skies had officials expecting a large crowd today.

"Let me tell you, Mother Nature is co-operating, looks like we’re going to have a lot of people descending on Port Dover,” OPP Const. Ed Sanchuk said in a video posted to social media.

Barricades are in place to manage traffic. The main street is also closed to allow vendors to set up and emergency vehicles to get through if needed.

Many of the vendors who have been attending the event for years say it doesn't have the exact same feel as when it started because the road closures mean motorcyles are parked further away. But they're still happy to be able to celebrate the day, which they say is now in its 73rd iteration.

Norfolk County Mayor Amy Martin says it's a fluid event and council decides how it will block roads and direct traffic each time it's back on the calendar.

She adds it's a huge boost for local stores.

"Some businesses and some service clubs have gone on the record stating that it’s enough of an economic boom for them that it supports their business throughout the rest of the year. So it depends on the event, depends on the season, depends on the turnout, but it can really go a long way, especially for those service clubs who put that money back into the community,” Martin said.

More to come.