Windsor FIREFEST is September 8-10, 2023!

Windsor FIREFEST Weekend Schedule

Windsor’s FIREFEST is back showcasing firefighting skills at the Riverfront Festival Plaza demonstrated in 4 rugged activities:

T2B RESCUE RELAYS
Friday, September 8 – 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

• Community and local businesses embark on the ultimate challenge participating in an exclusive event.
• Featuring an adrenaline-pumping good time for teams that want to show their support for local firefighters while also benefitting area residents.
• Proceeds benefit Transition to Betterness. Their mission is providing comfort, care and dignity to the lives of individuals and families facing challenging times.
• Join the ultimate challenge! This is a one of kind obstacle course that local fire stations, the media and the community will compete on. Only room for 20 teams. Participants must be 18+. Click here to sign up today!

TUG ACROSS THE RIVER
Saturday, September 9 – 5:00 p.m.
Location: Dieppe Park in Windsor and in front of Hart Plaza in Detroit

• Windsor vs. Detroit
• 25 firefighters in each country pull a 1,500 meter rope attached to buoys from middle of the Detroit River to their respective side. First to touch wins!
• Detroit won in 2022 and hold a 14 to 13 edge in this competition.

RUN WITH RESPONDERS
Saturday, September 9 – 9:00 a.m.

• Distances include a 5K Run or Walk, Kids 1K and Kid’s Dash.
• Start and finish at Windsor’s Riverfront Festival Plaza
• Run or walk on a closed road course including Riverside Drive.
• Featuring Police, Fire and EMS vehicles along the route in honour of local first responders.
• Proceeds benefit Canadian Mental Health Association-Windsor-Essex County (CMHA-WECB) and Law Enforcement Torch Relay for Special Olympics Ontario
• Resident runners are invited to register for the five-kilometre (5K) route along Riverside Drive. Click here to register today!

FIREFIT WESTERN ONTARIO REGIONAL
Saturday, September 9 and Sunday, September 10 – 10 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

• Competition based on firefighting tasks commonly performed in emergency situations.
• The course is very demanding, made up of tasks performed while on the job like running up and down 5 stories, drawing and aiming a fully loaded fire hose, carrying victims, and more – all while wearing full firefighting equipment
• Cheer on Team Windsor

OTHER ACTIVITIES:

• KID ZONE & FANS in the Stands
  Features miniature version of the Firefighter course (includes ladder climb, run with hose and more). Face Painting, Balloon Sculptures, Chalk Graffiti, Bubbles and Mascots – lots of Mascots. Feel what it’s like to suit up as a Firefighter. Take a selfie at the Firefighter Gear Station (variety of equipment sizes to choose from).

• HEALTH HUB & EDUCATION STATION
  Post a positive message for firefighters and other first responders on “Thank You” Walls. Medical Service Clinic Mobile Unit will be open for tours and general information on health services.

• VENDORS VILLAGE
  Variety of food & beverage options

• BEER GARDEN
  Open to the public.

Proceeds will benefit four organizations:

• Windsor Firefighters Benefit Fund
• Transition to Betterness (T2B)
• Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics
• CMHA-WECB

FIREFEST Program Booklet

Media Coverage

• FIREFEST 2023 is Coming to Windsor
• Windsor Fire and Rescue Turn Up the Heat to Host FIREFEST 2023
• Chance to Run with Responders During FIREFEST 2023 and FireFit Team Windsor Unveiled
• T2B Rescue Relay and Tug Across the River announcement
• TOUGHEST TWO MINUTES, Windsor Life Magazine Article (PDF)

Partners

Thank you to our partners: