KESWICK, Ontario β Get across the border and head just under an hour north past Toronto and you'll get to possibly the most polite gameday tailgate.
"This is our third year with the Bills Helmet Bar," said Bills superfan and Helmet Bar coordinator Blake Parnham. "As you can see right here, we've been hosting tailgates."
The Parnham's backyard is an ode to a team and culture just under 150 miles away.
"We're really lucky. My parents had been Bills fans for forever. So a lot of this stuff is kind of vintage β80s, β90s," said Parnham while going over the Buffalo regalia adorning the backyard bar.
With no clear cut geographical allegiances, Canadians often fall under the TV fandom rules β but thank God for Mrs. Parnham.
"Our family is kind of the rare case of the wife getting the husband into the team. So she, my mom, became a Bills fan," he added. "She got my dad into the team. And when I was born, in between the third and fourth Super Bowl, they wrapped me in a Bills blanket. So I didn't really have a choice in the matter."
Week in and week out, it's an open invitation that has helped Bills Mafia and fans internationally come together in a post-ish COVID world.
"It feels really good to be able to meet that meet new people and share this giant big red helmet with everybody,β said Blake. βBecause to us, it's just our backyard. You see it every day when you look out the window. But to you guys and to other people, it's worth driving a few hours and hanging out on a Sunday for."
Like the best of fan bases. It's a bond as thick as blood.
"It's been great," said Blake. "I mean, this is what it's all about. Hanging out with a family."
In which it very much is for Blake, whose father and brother are always in on the festivities β including a cookout where the food is based on the Bills' opponent.
The company a mix of new faces and regulars, but where did this fiberglass behemoth of excellence come from?
"I ended up getting it from a student's mom or she brokered it, where it was in a shopping mall, was on the roof and flew off," recounted Blake's father, Rick. "She happened to be there that day and it ended up in our yard."
Bills fans have seen their fair share of low points. So the last couple of seasons have been a jolt of energy, and it's no different here in Keswick, Ontario.
"Three or four years ago when the Raptors won the NBA championship, we decided we needed that outdoor bar and stood it up and here it is."
"It's very much been an important part of our lives and to be able to share that with a bunch of people," said Blake.
"The connections we've made. This is about celebrating football and having a good time,β Rick added. βAnd just the excitement to have people know who we are is pretty cool.β