Celebrate with St. John's
The City of St. John's hosts a wide variety of events throughout the year. Event details are added as they are developed.
Spring/Summer Events
Canada Day Celebrations
Seniors Party in the Park
Music @ Concert Series
St. John's Days Celebrations
Youth Week
Fall Events
National Child Week Activities
Pumpkin Walk
Winter Events
Festival of Music and Lights
North America's First New Year
ChillFest
Canada Day Celebrations
Annually the City of St. John's celebrates Canada Day on July 1.
From Sunrise to sunset, on Canada Day there's something for everyone!
With Support from the Government od Canada, the City of St. John's and event partners will highlight many of the reasons we are proud to call Canada Home.
Be among the first in the country to start the Canada Day Celebrations. The day starts with a Sunrise Event at 6 a.m. at Signal Hill National Historic Site, followed by a full afternoon of family fun and and entertainment at King George V Park from 2 to 6 p.m.
The eventing will be sure to entertain with a concert at the Quidi Vidi Bandstand at 8 p.m. followed by fireworks at 10 p.m. Should weather condditions not be ideal, the fireworks will be rescheduled for July 2 at 10 p.m.
Seniors Party in the Park
The City of St. John's Seniors Program hosts Party in the Park. This is an annual event, held in mid July, and an opportunity for older adults to gather in Bowring Park for an afternoon of free entertainment, light refreshments and socialization. Visit the Recreation pages for further information on Seniors Programs.
June 22-24, 2018
St. John's Days occurrs annually near the Discovery Day holiday and celebrates the incorporation of one of North America’s oldest cities through outdoor concerts, historical characters and other events throughout downtown.
All St. John's Days events are free, and welcome all ages.
Friday, June 22
Noon
St. John’s Days Official Launch
Cabot Tower, Signal Hill Signal Hill.
Watch as we fire the noon day gun to officially launch St. John’s Days.
12:30 to 1:30 p.m.
St. John’s Days: Music at Harbourside Park
Harbourside Park, Water Street East
Bring your lunch, your co-worker, or your family and friends to Harbourside for the first outdoor concert of the season. The City of St. John's brings you a special birthday edition of Music at Harbourside and our first outdoor concert of the season. Featuring Tangle Cove and a Youth Performer coordinated through the Newfoundland and Labrador Folk Arts Society. Come out and enjoy some of the finest musical talent the City has to offer! Incase of inclement weather, the concert will take place indoors at the Atlantic Place atrium.
7 p.m.
St. John’s Days: Campfire at Signal Hill
Signal Hill Interpretation Centre
Roast s’mores and have a sing-a-long. Please remember to bring a camp chair and dress warmly. This free event will take place outside and is weather dependent.
8 p.m.
St. John’s Days: Chamber Music Concert
St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, 76 Queens Road
The Tuckamore Festival launches their 18th season with a performance by the award-winning Duo Concertante. This delightful annual event is free of charge and will feature music by Bach, Beethoven and Schubert, with a special prelude performance by a talented young performer. Presented by the Tuckamore Festival and the City of St. John's.
Free concert
Saturday, June 23
10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
St. John’s Days: Free rides on the new Metrobus Link
The new Metrobus Link now connects downtown, Sigal Hill National Historic Site and Quidi Vidi Village. In partnership with the City of St. John's, rides on the Metrobus Link are free of charge 10:00am - 5:00pm Saturday, June 23 & 10:00am - 5:00pm Sunday, June 24 (Link route only). More details at metrobus.com/Link
10:30 a.m. to Noon
St. John’s Mural Running Tour
Meet at the City of St. John’s Welcome Centre, 348 Water Street
Join us for a running tour of the beautiful murals located in downtown St. John’s. The route is approximately 5km, it will take about an hour and a half and be at a moderate to slow pace. We will include a brief explanation and provide a few moments for a quick photo at each mural stop along the route. For those who would like an extra challenge, we'll add a little to the end of the route so you boast reaching all murals in a single run.
2 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Sharing the Voices Presents Instant Choir: St. John’s Waltz
City Hall, Great Hall
Instant Choir is a no-stress, no strings-attached singing experience for anyone. You show up, sing and have the best time ever! Working with an experienced song leader and an accompanist participants learn one well-known song. We learn the song, sing some harmonies, have a little fun and then perform the song LIVE online! Everyone’s welcome.
Doors open 1:30. Singing begins at 2:00 p.m.
3:30 p.m.
Public Art Crawl
348 Water Street
Join us for a public art crawl! We’ll stroll the streets of St. John’s, taking in the sights and sounds of downtown while stopping along the way to get an up-close look of some of the City’s murals and sculptures. We invite you to document your excursion too! Take photos and share with the hashtag #SJDPublicArtCrawl
Sunday, June 24
10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
St. John’s Days: Free Metrobus Link rides
The new Metrobus Link now connects downtown, Sigal Hill National Historic Site and Quidi Vidi Village. In partnership with the City of St. John's, rides on the Metrobus Link are free of charge 10:00am - 5:00pm Saturday, June 23 & 10:00am - 5:00pm Sunday, June 24 (Link route only). More details at metrobus.com/Link
9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
Photo Walk: An Urban Street (Photo)Shoot with Ritche Perez
Ritche Perez has been a photographer for ten years and a graphic designer for twenty five. He is influenced by many street photographers and loves documenting and capturing the current culture. His interests include landscapes, structures and public space, and, most importantly, people and how they interact and survive. Ritche loves to document the evolution of the eras. "There is preservation through photography."
His photo-walk with you will be an urban experience. You'll see everything from the unique structures of St. John’s to the familiar faces. "We will treat everything as a theatrical stage and capture it through our glass." For all ages, this informal group walk is for the phone
shooter to the dslr photog wanting to take a stroll with a few people with common interests. website: inbetweendays.ca
1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
St. John’s Days: Family Fun in Bannerman Park
Come celebrate our birthday with an afternoon of fun in beautiful Bannerman Park. Featuring Wonderbolt Circus, an interactive drum circle, outdoor yoga, face painting, free lemonade and a bicycle rodeo parade on the Loop.
Registration for the Coleman’s Bicycle Rodeo is free and will take place onsite from 1:00-2:45pm. Children are encouraged to decorate their bicycles. All participants in the bike rodeo can have their names entered to win 1 of 2 bicycles.
8 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
St. John's International Women’s Film Festival: Films on the Go
City Hall, Foran/Greene room
Films On the Go (FOTG) is a program of short films from the Women's international film Festival that are on tour to venues across the province and beyond! Join us at City Hall for a screening in honour of St. John’s Days and free popcorn.
Partner Events
Saturday, June 23
9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Discovery Day Regatta: Quidi Vidi Lake
Come out and watch the first competitive race of the 2018 season for Royal St. John's Regatta Crews.
Wind/rain day: Sunday, June 24
10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Coastal Railway Museum: Free Admission
495 Water Street West
Free Admission at Coastal Railway Museum
Sunday, June 24
9:30-5:00pm
Where’s Johnny?! Seek & Find. Scavenger hunt in GEO Park
Johnson Geo Centre, Geo Park
Explore the twists and turns of GEO Park to try to locate John Cabot, The Matthew & more! Get your map at the front desk of the GEO CENTRE, 175 Signal Hill Road
10:00am-3:00pm
8th Annual Whale Festival
Cape Spear Lighthouse National Historic Site and Petty Harbour Mini-Aquarium
To celebrate the arrival of thousands of whales every year, Cape Spear Lighthouse National Historic Site, the Petty Harbour Mini-Aquarium and partners host the 8th annual Whale Festival with special events, marine mammal displays, touch tanks, kid's activities and – of course - whale watching!
Saturday, June 23 & Sunday, June 24
9:30 a.m. to 5p.m.
Newman Wine Vaults Provincial Historic Site: Free Admission
436 Water Street
Free admission and activities in honour of St. John’s Days
With tales of profit, pirates and port, the walls of the Newman Wine Vaults really are infused with the spirits of old St. John’s! Discover the fascinating history of the Newman’s celebrated port.
Crafts and hands on activities for the whole family. For more info http://www.seethesites.ca/the-sites/the-commissariat.aspx or call 729-6730.
9:30 a.m. to 5p.m.
Commissariat Provincial Historic Site: free admission
11King’s Bridge Road
Free admission and activities in honour of St. John’s Days.
Celebrate Discovery Days in St. John's by exploring life in the 1830s. Crafts and hands on activities for the whole family. For more info http://www.seethesites.ca/the-sites/the-commissariat.aspx or call 729-6730.
Youth Week
The City of St. John's Recreation Division celebrates Youth Week May 1 to 7 annually by offering a variety of events and activities for local youth, 12 - 18 years of age.
Past events and activities have included:
- Youth Art Exhibit
- Free swims
- Carnivals
- Youth of the Year award presentation
Please visit the Recreation pages for further information on Youth Week.
The City's first Pumpkin Walk was a great success, and we plan to do it again in 2018. After Halloween bring your carved pumpkin to Bannerman Park and help us to light up The Loop with a huge Jack O'Lantern display. A light source will be provided for pumpkins and costumes are welcomed.
Earth friendly event. Pumpkins will be collected and composed. Let's cut waste - bring a reusuable mug for your free hot chocolate
National Child Week Activities
The Government of Canada designated November 20 as National Child Day to commemorate the adoption and convention of the rights of the child.
The key objective is to increase awareness and understanding of the rights of the child that contribute to healthy child development, particularly in the early years of life and to take effective action to help children reach their full potential.
Festival of Music and Lights
First Saturday in December
Ring in the holiday season with our annual celebration of bright lights, festive music and free hot chocolate! Enjoy performances by choirs and musicians as we officially switch on the beautiful light display. Don't forget to bundle up and bring a non-perishable food item to donate to the food bank.
This event includes a wheelchair accessible viewing area. A limited number of noise reducing headphones are available to sign out at the Bowring Park Lodge. A photo ID including name and address is required.
North America's First New Year
The City of St. John's annually rings in the New Year with an evening skating party at The Loop, and a dance party and fireworks near Quidi Vidi Lake leading up to midnight.
St.John's Winter Festival promises action packed FREE winter events and activities. February 2019.