Hundreds of people stopped by Dairee Delite’s annual Superhero Day event on Monday, September 7, 2026.
Held in support of Kids Can Fly, a local not-for-profit that supports early learning and parenting, the event helps to raise essential funds for the organization’s programs and services, including Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, Roots of Empathy and peer support for both mothers and fathers.
The event featured a selection of superhero-themed dessert specials inspired by Batman and Spider-Man, as well as Finding Nemo and Dolly Parton. For each purchase made from the special menu, 100 per cent of the proceeds go back to the local organization.
“Today is Superhero Day, of course, and so we’re looking for everyday heroes to help us continue our mission of early literacy,” said Shannon Simpson-Peeling, interim Executive Director of Kids Can Fly. “All the money raised today will go back to Kids Can Fly to help support our programming like Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, which is alive and well in Brantford-Brant. We’ve got more than 2,000 children registered now, and we’d like to keep that going and register even more.”
During the event, a host of costumed superheroes and storybook characters roamed the site, interacting with children alongside real-life heroes including police, paramedics and firefighters.
While some youngsters took part in various games and activities or waited to have their faces painted, others lined up to test their fire safety knowledge with the Brantford Fire Department’s fire safety educators, explore a fire truck and ambulance, or check out the Brantford Police Service’s Emergency Response Team’s Gurkha vehicle.
“The beauty of this event is that it allows us to truly bring the community together. We’ve got our real-life superheroes, our fictional superheroes and a variety of vendors pitching in, all while the community shows up for one another,” said Simpson-Peeling with a smile. “Everyone is able to get together and enjoy the last day of summer with ice cream on Labour Day, as well as our barbecue and coffee for all. It’s just such a great event, and I mean, who doesn’t want to be part of an ice cream social on Superhero Day and support Kids Can Fly?”
Guests were also sure to say hello to characters like the Hulk, Princess Ariel, Elmo and Tinkerbell, test their dance and karate skills at the Triple Arts Academy booth, visit the Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library reading tent, or leave a butterfly message in memory of Dolly and all she’s done for early literacy.
Overall, Simpson-Peeling said she was thrilled to see so many families taking part in the event and enjoying their day.
“Does it get any better than this? We’ve had the best weather and a great turnout with hundreds of people. There’s nothing quite like the community spirit we’re seeing here today,” she said. “Thank you to the community for showing up for us day in and day out, thank you to Dairee Delite for hosting us, and thank you to all of our community partners for making it possible.”
Kimberly De Jong’s reporting is funded by the Canadian government through its Local Journalism Initiative.The funding allows her to report rural and agricultural stories from Blandford-Blenheim and Brant County. Reach her at kimberly.dejong@brantbeacon.ca.
