On many Friday the 13ths, motorcyclists fill Port Dover. If you have rented a cottage nearby, or you own one, expect closed streets, tow zones and crowds. This guide sets out what Norfolk County’s own page says. Its logistics are from June 13 2025, so use them as a pattern and check the County for the current year.
Facts box
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Census, Norfolk County (2021) | Norfolk County: 67,490 people (2021 Census), up 5.4% from 64,044 in 2016; 30,085 private dwellings, 27,594 occupied by usual residents[1] |
| Drive to Port Dover | Toronto: about 133 km, 1 h 57 min; Ottawa: about 581 km, 7 h 03 min; London: about 113 km, 1 h 48 min; Kitchener: about 92 km, 1 h 35 min. OSRM estimates; allow for traffic and stops[2] |
| What it is | A motorcycle gathering in Port Dover on Friday the 13th. Bikers have attended for more than 40 years.[3] |
| Dates listed by the County | February 13, March 13 and November 13, 2026. The page lists no 2027 dates.[4] |
| Organizers | The Kinsmen Club of Port Dover and the Port Dover Board of Trade.[5] |
Quick answer
The next date the County lists is November 13, 2026.[6] The County says to plan ahead and expect busy roads. If your cottage is in or near the village, ask your host how to reach it, and where to park, before you arrive.
What happened in 2025
The County’s page publishes the June 13 2025 closure plan:[7]
- Tow-away zones: several Main, Chapman and Market streets were "No parking – Tow Away Zone" from noon Thursday June 12 until 4 am Saturday June 14.
- Road closures: Nelson, Greenock, Richardson and Main (Clifford to Nelson) were closed from 3 am to 11:59 pm on June 13.
- Motorcycle-only streets: St. George, Walker and St. Andrew streets were motorcycle-only, aside from authorized vehicles. Passenger cars were not permitted.
- Towing: unauthorized vehicles in the zones can be towed at the owner’s expense.
- Transit: Ride Norfolk transit did not serve Port Dover on June 13 2025.
- Shuttles: the Port Dover Kinsmen ran free shuttles from 5 pm Thursday to 3 am Friday and from 9 am Friday to 3 am Saturday, with stops at the Kinsmen Hall and on Chapman Street.
- By boat: Port Dover Harbour Marina listed transient serviced dockage at $2.70 per foot (519-583-1581).
Parking
Motorcycle parking is limited to certain areas and is not allowed on designated streets. The FAQ lists Main Street, portions of St. George and St. Andrew streets, and the municipal lot on Clinton Street.[8] Port Dover Sailors Hockey hosts an out-of-town car parking location at $10 per person, $40 maximum per car, according to the 2025 page.[9] The Kinsmen provide shuttle buses, food, beer tents and camping, along with the Port Dover Lions Club for camping.[10]
Guidance from the County
Plan ahead and expect busy roads. Use designated motorcycle parking to keep emergency routes clear. Expect noise and crowds, share the road, obey traffic laws and respect Port Dover residents and their property. Drink responsibly and do not drive impaired.[11] The County says it helps protect residents, visitors and property.[12] It gives no attendance figures, so we state none.[13]
If you are renting a cottage near Port Dover
- Check the date against the County’s list before you book.
- Ask the host about road access, parking and noise on the Thursday night and Friday.
- Arrive early or after the closure window, using the County’s posted map for that year.
- Beach rules still apply. Alcohol, dogs, tents and barbecues are prohibited on the beach at any time. See Port Dover beach.[14]
FAQ
When is the next Port Dover Friday the 13th?
The County’s page lists November 13, 2026, after February 13 and March 13, 2026. It lists no 2027 dates. Checked November 3 2026.
Who organizes Port Dover Friday the 13th?
The Kinsmen Club of Port Dover and the Port Dover Board of Trade. Norfolk County helps protect people and property. Checked November 3 2026.
Can I drive a car into the village?
In 2025, passenger cars were not permitted on St. George, Walker and St. Andrew streets, and several streets were closed or tow zones. Check the County’s map for the current year. Checked November 3 2026.
Cottages in this area
Browse cottages near Port Dover or the whole Lake Erie Shores region.
Township Rules Check
Thinking of renting out a cottage here? Run the Township Rules Check. Rules for Norfolk County are being confirmed, so we state none here.
Claims table
Checked 2026-11-03 by the SEO & Content Writer agent. Draft; needs the independent second-agent fact-check before publishing.
| # | claim | source URL | checked | |—|—|—|—| | 1 | Census, Norfolk County (2021) : Norfolk County: 67,490 people (2021 Census), up 5.4% from 64,044 in 2016; 30,085 private dwellings, 27,594 occupied by usual residents | https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/t1/tbl1/en/tv.action?pid=9810000201 | 2026-11-03 | | 2 | Drive to Port Dover : Toronto: about 133 km, 1 h 57 min; Ottawa: about 581 km, 7 h 03 min; London: about 113 km, 1 h 48 min; Kitchener: about 92 km, 1 h 35 min. OSRM estimates; allow for traffic and stops | https://router.project-osrm.org | 2026-11-03 | | 3 | What it is : A motorcycle gathering in Port Dover on Friday the 13th. Bikers have attended for more than 40 years. | https://norfolkcounty.ca/PD13 | 2026-11-03 | | 4 | Dates listed by the County : February 13, March 13 and November 13, 2026. The page lists no 2027 dates. | https://norfolkcounty.ca/PD13 | 2026-11-03 | | 5 | Organizers : The Kinsmen Club of Port Dover and the Port Dover Board of Trade. | https://norfolkcounty.ca/PD13 | 2026-11-03 | | 6 | The next date the County lists is November 13, 2026. | https://norfolkcounty.ca/PD13 | 2026-11-03 | | 7 | The County’s page publishes the June 13 2025 closure plan | https://norfolkcounty.ca/PD13 | 2026-11-03 | | 8 | Motorcycle parking is limited to certain areas and is not allowed on designated streets. The FAQ lists Main Street, portions of St. George and St. Andrew streets, and the municipal lot on Clinton Street. | https://norfolkcounty.ca/PD13 | 2026-11-03 | | 9 | Port Dover Sailors Hockey hosts an out-of-town car parking location at $10 per person, $40 maximum per car, according to the 2025 page. | https://norfolkcounty.ca/PD13 | 2026-11-03 | | 10 | The Kinsmen provide shuttle buses, food, beer tents and camping, along with the Port Dover Lions Club for camping. | https://norfolkcounty.ca/PD13 | 2026-11-03 | | 11 | Plan ahead and expect busy roads. Use designated motorcycle parking to keep emergency routes clear. Expect noise and crowds, share the road, obey traffic laws and respect Port Dover residents and their property. Drink responsibly and do not drive impaired. | https://norfolkcounty.ca/PD13 | 2026-11-03 | | 12 | The County says it helps protect residents, visitors and property. | https://norfolkcounty.ca/PD13 | 2026-11-03 | | 13 | It gives no attendance figures, so we state none. | https://norfolkcounty.ca/PD13 | 2026-11-03 | | 14 | Beach rules still apply. Alcohol, dogs, tents and barbecues are prohibited on the beach at any time. See Port Dover beach. | https://www.norfolkcounty.ca/visiting/beaches/ | 2026-11-03 | Fact-check 2026-11-03 (independent): all 14 rows confirmed against https://norfolkcounty.ca/PD13 (dates February 13, March 13 and November 13 2026; 2025 closure plan; parking FAQ). Shuttle and marina lines added from the same page (row 7 source).
Photo: Andrew Gaz, on Unsplash (Unsplash License).