The snowy and cold conditions seem to have kept the usual crowds out of Port Dover for Friday the 13th.
Bikers usually flock to the coastal city of Ontario when the 13th day of the month falls on a Friday. The tradition dates back to 1991 and the event regularly attracts tens of thousands of visitors.
But on Friday morning, CTV News spotted just three motorcycles downtown.
There were still dozens of people on the streets and shops selling their usual Friday the 13th T-shirts, but many visitors said they opted for four-wheeled transport to get around town.
Penny and Jeff Cox of Wyoming were among them. The couple said they usually come by motorcycle, but decided to take their car this year because of the cold.
“One of us always tries to come here,” Jeff Cox said. “But this year I got this day off, so we both decided to come down.”
Penny and Jeff Cox traveled from Wyoming. (Dan Lockner/CTV Kitchener_
Al Lancaric and his brother drove up from Toronto.
“In the summer, yeah, it was great,” Lancaric said. “You couldn’t get past here, there were so many people, but not today.”
Regardless of the weather, many visitors said they still want to come to town to make sure they get a T-shirt and meet some of the people they look forward to seeing each year.
Frozen Friday: A motorcycle stands covered in snow in Port Dover on January 13, 2023. (Dan Lauckner/CTV Kitchener)
“It’s awesome,” said local rider Mo Elmore. “It just shows a lot of support for him, especially our local businesses that you see around. Just to see everyone, especially after the whole COVID story. It was great to see faces and interact with everyone. And it’s good to see everyone continue to be involved.”
Event mainstays such as Paul “Thong Man” Nurmi also made sure to show up.
“To show everyone that there may be white here, but in your heart I am forever young,” said Nurmi, who has been coming to the event for three decades.
Port Dover Friday the 13th main character Paul ‘The Tongman’ Nurmi punches a passerby on January 13, 2023. (Dan Lauckner/CTV Kitchener)
Although this time he left the bike at home while adding a few more layers of clothing.
“It’s a shame about the timing, if it was a few days ago I would have picked up my bike,” Nurmi said.
Retailers were also happy with the turnout.
“Business is decent for January,” said Jai Dehaan, co-owner of Titanium Customs.
A man walks past a store selling Friday the 13th T-shirts in downtown Port Dover on Friday, Jan. 13, 2023. (Dan Lauckner/CTV Kitchener)
Before Friday, police warned that snow and cold could lead to poor road conditions. On Friday afternoon, police said there were no reports of traffic accidents throughout the day.
Due to the lower than expected turnout, no roads were closed.
There are two Friday the 13ths in 2023. The next one will happen on Friday, October 13.
Paul “Thong Man” Nurmi talks to a police officer in Port Dover on January 13, 2023. (Dan Lauckner/CTV Kitchener)
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