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No matter the time of year, there’s always something exciting going on in and around St. John’s. From music to art, boat-racing, parades to parties to plays, we’ve got it all, all the time.
SummerJune 24 (or the closest Monday)
St. John’s
T: 709.576.8106
Celebrate the City’s birthday through outdoor concerts, historical characters and exciting art and cultural events.
June 30 – July 1
George Street, St. John’s
T: 709.722.7634
E: sokeefe@georgestreetlive.ca
www.georgestreetlive.ca
Join the festivities and be amongst the first citizens in Canada to celebrate our national birthday. In addition to its traditionally strong entertainment line-up, plans include activities such as outdoor barbecues, busker performances, children’s programming and fireworks.
July 1
St. John’s
T: 709.576.8106
E: tourism@stjohns.ca
www.stjohns.ca
Each July 1st, when the sun rises over Signal Hill, the people of St. John’s become the first in Canada to celebrate this country’s birthday. Outdoor entertainment caps off the day of birthday celebrations. Fireworks at Quidi Vidi Lake. Happy Birthday Canada!
July – mid-August
Signal Hill, St. John’s
T: 709.772.7982 (summer)
T: 709.364.9240 (off-season)
E: jameslynch@esdnl.ca
www.signalhilltattoo.org
During the Signal Hill Tattoo the sound of musket and cannon fire boom across St. John’s like ghostly echoes from bygone days. This exciting battle re-enactment is held Wed., Thurs., Sat. & Sun. weather permitting.
July – August, 2011
Torbay
E: csmall@torbay.ca
www.torbay.ca
The highly celebrated 1762: Taking of Torbay is back! Inspired by the French invasion and subsequent English re-taking of Newfoundland, in the last battle of the Seven Years War. This play features four Torbay residents who faced the invaders and marched into the fray, to save their loved ones and their country. There will also be a musical cabaret performance focusing on the traditional music of Torbay.
July & August
Hawthorne Cottage National Historic Site, Brigus
T: 709.528.4004
www.historicsites.ca
A series of four vignettes performed by the Baccalieu Players that covers major events in the career of Capt. Bob Bartlett, the famous Brigus son and ice pilot and life in Brigus at Hawthorne Cottage during the first half of the 20th century. Call for days and times.
The New Founde Lande Trinity Pageant
June-September
Trinity, NL
T: 888.464.3377
www.risingtidetheatre.com
For 17 years the Trinity Pageant has been hailed by all who see it as a moving and joyous tribute to our beloved New Founde Lande. Showtime is 2pm outside the Interpretation Centre in Trinity. Check dates and times as they are subject to change.
July
Town of Conception Bay South
T: 709.834.6534
E: recreation@conceptionbaysouth.ca
www.conceptionbaysouth.ca
Events for all ages at the famous Kelligrews Soiree, including seniors activities, family fun days and the popular Family Folk Festival on Sunday.
July (bi-annual)
The Phenomenon of Singing International Symposium
St. John’s
T: 709.738.6013
F: 709.738.6014
E: information@festival500.com
July
Torbay, NL
jlawlor@torbay.ca
www.torbay.ca/hillside
The Hillside Festival has something for everyone! Come out and enjoy our 10 day celebration of everything that makes Torbay unique. It starts with the family-focused Grand Opening spectacle and finishes with our Adult Dance and outdoor Hillside Festival. Experience the music, food and people of beautiful Torbay.
July – August 7
St. John’s
T: 709.576.8106
E: tourism@stjohns.ca
www.stjohnstime.ca
11 days of fun with four major festivals and a whole raft of other activities, incorporating the George Street Festival, Newfoundland and Labrador Folk Festival, The Busker’s Festival, Royal St. John’s Regatta, plus much more.
July 28, 2012
St. John’s
www.lanternfest.ca
Activities in the Park kick off mid-afternoon on Festival Day with a line-up of music, dance, demonstrations, community booths, a glass jar lantern workshop and other entertainment. At dusk, the crowd swells. Following a mass lantern-lighting in the lower Park the lantern process winds its way up the hill to the installation and everyone settles down to enjoy the fire show.
July (traditionally the last weekend of July)
George Street, St. John’s
T: 709.722.7634
E: sokeefe@georgestreetlive.ca
www.georgestreetlive.ca
George Street, in downtown St. John’s, is the focal point of the City’s nightlife. The pubs and taverns lining this historic cobblestone street offer everything from traditional Newfoundland music to the latest rock music. The festival features five nights of live outdoor entertainment featuring some of Newfoundland’s top acts.
August (first Wednesday in August weather permitting)
Quidi Vidi Lake, St. John’s
T: 709.576.8921
E: stjohnsregatta@nf.aibn.com
www.stjohnsregatta.org
What probably began as a few fishermen competing to see who could row his dory the fastest has grown into the annual Royal St. John’s Regatta, North America’s oldest continuing sporting event. The Regatta began officially in 1825 and has run the first Wednesday in August ever since.
Regatta Day is probably the only Municipal Holiday in Canada that is dependent on the weather. If it is raining or too windy, the holiday is simply put off until the next suitable day.
August (traditionally the first weekend in August)
Bannerman Park, St. John’s
T: 709.576.0508
F: 709.576.2323
E: office@nlfolk.com
www.nlfolk.com
The good times in St. John’s keep roaring in August with the annual Provincial Folk Festival held in Bannerman Park featuring musicians, dancers and storytellers from around the province. It is a perfect opportunity to get a taste of the traditional Newfoundland lifestyle with music, dancing, storytelling and traditional good times.
August (traditionally the first weekend in August)
Downtown, St. John’s
T: 709.726.8244
E: info@downtownstjohns.com
www.downtownstjohns.com
Every year clowns, magicians and musical talent come out into the streets to perform. The festival hosts a number of great acts all around the downtown area.
August
T: 709.737.2372
E: tuckamorefestival@nfld.com
www.tuckamorefestival.ca
The Tuckamore Festival offers both an outstanding chamber music series of internationally acclaimed artists and an inspiring program for emerging artists. The festival’s goal is to create an intimate and challenging environment of intense music making, collaboration and mentoring for young and established artists in an extraordinarily beautiful corner of Canada. The festival presents numerous concerts and master classes in a number of superb venues in historic St. John’s.
August (late August)
St. John’s
T: 709.739.6592
F: 709.739.5413
E: doorsopen@heritagefoundation.ca
www.doorsopendays.com
Doors Open in St. John’s began in 2003 as a way for citizens and visitors to celebrate local architecture and heritage buildings. Buildings that are normally closed to the public or charge admission fees welcome visitors for free to experience some of our hidden historical and architectural gems.
FallSeptember (traditianlly mid month)
T: 877.332.2413
E: info@targanewfoundland.com
www.targanewfoundland.com
Targa Newfoundland is the first and only event of its kind to be held in North America. It is an annual event and forms a 2200 km long, high quality automotive adventure. It is held over a seven-day period in September of each year on the paved roads of the eastern and central parts of the province.
October
St. John’s
T: 709.754.3141
F: 709.579.2386
E: info@womensfilmfestival.com
www.womensfilmfestival.com
Held in October at various venues throughout St. John’s, this week-long screening series of 50-70 works by women directors, producers and writers also features a workshop/seminar series (for filmmakers, the general public and youth), galas, receptions and other networking events. This dynamic event attracts over 4,000 film industry players and enthusiasts from around the province, Canada and the world.
October
George St., St. John’s
T: 709.722.7634
E: sokeefe@georgestreetlive.ca
www.georgestreetlive.ca
If you thought you had to go to New Orleans to experience a real Mardi Gras, then you have not been to the annual St. John’s Halloween Mardi Gras. This is an event of all-out fun with spectacular costumes, good music, good fun and good times on George Street.
WinterDowntown, St. John’s
T: 709.579.4139
F: 709.579.1636
E: sjddc@nf.aibn.com
www.downtownstjohns.com
With over 100 entries and a crowd estimated at 40,000 people, the parade is the largest in the province. It features zany clowns, marching bands, colourful cheerleaders and fantastic floats. A food drive is included in the festivities benefiting the community food sharing association.
December
T: 709.697.8722
E: info@mummersfestival.ca
www.mummersfestival.ca
A month-long series of events that lead up to (and build momentum for) the Mummers Parade. Events include workshops, touring program, lectures, parade, etc.
December 31
T: 709.576.8106
www.stjohns.ca
When the clock strikes midnight on December 31st, the people of St. John’s are the first in North America to celebrate the New Year. The New Year’s Eve Celebrations include a spectacular fireworks display at Quidi Vidi Lake.
