KESWICK, Ont. − Bills fans around Buffalo can watch the game from just about anywhere. Most bars. Most restaurants. During a concert like at the recent Borderland Music & Arts Festival, or at a wedding.
Canadian fans have fewer options.
But in a leafy backyard near Lake Simcoe, about an hour north of Toronto, fans flock to a backyard bar where beer is poured from an enormous Bills helmet and chicken wings are served with blue cheese.
During Sunday’s Bills victory over the New York Jets, the Bills Helmet Bar hosted around 50 fans. Nearly half of them were there for the first time. They were neighbors, friends of friends or curious fans who messaged and emailed the Parnham family, owners of the Helmet Bar, for the address. (All are welcome, but you need to ask the family for the address because it’s in their backyard. Here’s the email: billshelmetbar@gmail.com).
The Parnham family from Southern Ontario has gained social media fame in the last few days because of the elaborate Bills helmet bar in the fa…
The Parnhams are a family of dedicated Bills fans − sons Blake and Nick Parnham were each swaddled in a Bills blanket upon birth − in a community that leans toward the Bills if they follow American football. The bar came to be because Rick Parnham, who goes by Helmet Bar Dad, was known by friends and colleagues as the Bills guy. When a local mall needed to get rid of a 12-foot-tall Bills helmet that had been used to cover a checkout counter, Parnham was who they called.
Canadian Bills fan Paul Burdon was the Helmet Bar’s first attendee outside the family. When Burdon, a DJ at the Red Pinto tailgate, couldn’t cross the border during the pandemic, he sought a new spot to watch the game. He found the Parnham family, and their unique backyard viewing setup, on social media. Burdon still travels to the Orchard Park stadium to tailgate for home games, but he also prefers to spend as little money as possible in the United States because of President Trump’s comments about turning Canada into the “51st state.”
“They welcome everyone to their place. They don’t have to do that,” Burdon said. “I didn’t want to sit at home and watch the game by myself.”
Sarah and Michael Dmowski traveled from Lockport to Keswick, Ont., for Sunday’s game to visit the Helmet Bar. They made a weekend of it and stayed at a nearby Airbnb.
“You can scrub your mind of everything else and be like, ‘We’re all Bills fans here,’ ” Michael Dmowski said. “No matter what you think.”
The Parnham family just about breaks even on the money they spend on food and drinks for each tailgate by suggesting monetary donations and for guests to bring a dish to pass. (Blake Parnham asked The News to bring some blue cheese from Buffalo: “You guys have it miles better than us.”) The Helmet Bar has become a niche piece of Bills culture and has been recognized by the NFL and media outlets.
“Yeah we’re part of the cool kids and the superfans now,” said Rick Parnham. “But we’re just a family who hosts people and let people have a great time in our backyard.”
Restaurant news
Cluck Cluck Moo Moo, a local smashburger and chicken sandwich chain, is planning to open two new locations by November. The new restaurants will be at 597 Oakwood Ave., East Aurora and in Orchard Park, at an address that the restaurant plans to share once it has finalized the lease.
Fattey Beer Co. opened a new location at 1260 Sweet Home Road, Amherst. It will serve beer on draft and in cans and a small food menu, which includes a corn dog and tater tots, and has a dog-friendly patio. Hours are from noon to 10:30 p.m.
The Market at Ellicottville, a new boutique grocery store at 45 E. Main St. in Springville, opens Wednesday. Hours are from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday through Friday and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
Food events
The ninth annual Meatball Street Brawl returns at Osteria 166 (166 Franklin St.) from noon to 6 p.m. Sept. 21. Local restaurants, including Frankie Primo’s and Marco’s, will compete for the title of best meatball. Each ticket ($33 to $38) includes tastings of all meatballs and beer and wine tastings. Ages younger than eight get in for free. Vendors will line along Mohawk Street, which will be closed for the event.
Sample from 40 homemade beers brewed by local home brewers at 11th annual The Dude’s Homebrew Competition from noon to 3 p.m. Sept. 21 at Resurgence Brewing Co. (55 Chicago St.). Tickets are $30 with proceeds benefiting blood cancer research. Each ticket includes beer tastings and a chance to vote for the best beer.
ICYMI
Delaware North’s final season at Highmark marks end of the line with Bills
Showing off our city: Visit Buffalo Niagara launches its first national marketing campaign
Ready to stand on its own, VBN becomes Visit Buffalo
It’s official – Trader Joe’s is getting ready to open in Clarence
Wegmans becomes latest Bills founding partner, gains naming rights for training camp
Satisfy your cravings
With our weekly newsletter packed with the latest in everything food.
* I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy.
Francesca Bond
Food & drink reporter
Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily!
Your notification has been saved.
There was a problem saving your notification.
{{description}}
Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items.
Followed notifications
Please log in to use this feature
Log In
Don’t have an account? Sign Up Today