Polo by the vineyards

There are few occasions that invite you to dress up, wear a fascinator, and enjoy the sport of kings, but in Niagara-on-the-Lake, you certainly can. I’ve been eager to attend for several years, but work and the event’s every-other-year schedule made it difficult. This year I finally made it to the Niagara Polo match on September 12, 2026, and it did not disappoint.

Polo is a thrilling, long-established team sport often associated as a British tradition and social occasion. This year’s match featured players from the Toronto Polo Club and took place on the historic commons in Niagara-on-the-Lake, the same grounds where the King’s Dragoon Guards played from 1838 to 1842, and the Royal Canadian Dragoons in the 1930s.

The day offered more than just exciting play. There were two four-chukker games, a bubbly-fueled divot stomp, and half-time entertainment by the Canadian Cowgirls and the Heavyweights Brass Band. Live music, food vendors, a wine and beer bar, local artisans, a silent auction, vintage and performance cars, and pony rides rounded out the festivities.

We enjoyed our own picnic made with treats from local farmers’ markets and settled on the lawn to watch the match. It was a lovely way to spend an afternoon, good company, great food, and a taste of tradition. If you get the chance to attend the next match, bring a blanket or lawn chair, a hat, and an appetite for both sport and local flavours.