The 21 best festivals, street fairs, and annual events in St. John's

What a great experience. I tip my hat to the organizers. We came in from Toronto and spent two nights at the festival. We had a great time! Can’t wait to come back!

Mardi Gras on George Street has become an awesome tradition for me while visiting from Ontario to celebrate a my friend’s birthday. Always a great night out! I love the music. The costumes and street party just increase the already amazing vibe of George Street. I am always blown away by the intricate costumes some people wear. Very artistic and entertaining. Looking forward to flying in again this year.

George Street was well organized with security and hopefully we can keep getting great acts like Loud Luxury!

Terrible! George Street festival is the absolute worst venue to see a concert in St.John's. No consideration for spectators, you can stand on the unlevel street in front of the stage, or stand on the bizarre staircase across the street. VIP section is a joke, no seating, no food vendors, total waste of space, Waste of money. Wheelchair accessible section was borderline offensive! Inadequate staffing, unprofessional security. The entire street is a collection of dive bars, dirty, dingy, dark, in need of investment.

An evening on George Street will not disappoint, the live entertainment, and food are the absolute best. If your looking for a true newfoundland experience make your way downtown. There is no where else like it

Better than Coachella!!! If you haven't been to St. John's to experience a George Street Festival, you need to get there. Amazing acts, and a fan-first experience like no other. The only festival in the world I know that sells tickets to the street AFTER the bands have played because people just want to be a part of the action. A must-see for any live music fan.

We absolutely loved George street festival last year! We saw loud luxury. Security is well organized and we had a blast.

Fantastic experience seeing the show. Air flow in the venue though is absolutely brutal. It has to be the hottest place due to humidity

Awesome venue for one of my favorite bands, Bush!

Saw Lights here! Overall it was awesome. Perfect location, helpful and friendly staff.

We had such a great time last June @ Iceberg Alley. We saw Slaughter, Great White & Quiet Riot. Can't wait for the 2024 shows! 🇨🇦🎸🎤🔥🍻Cheers, Lisa

The music was great but the tent was brutal. It had to be in excess of 40C with no air conditioning or air flow. This was my first time at the tent my last. All my friends said the same thing.

Really cool venue! Definitely worth splurging in VIP

Great live entertainment and amazing hospitality!! Can't wait to go back this year.

100% reccomend to stop by. We were looking for ourdoor seat and found this place on St. George street, good vibe here, their live music is super good.. real Irish atmosphere. The food tho.. so amazing. We had to order this best chicken wings more than 4 times, the putinne is super delicious and those mussels pot, please dont miss it. We enjoy the local support beer in menu from Yellowbelly and ofcourse the Irish coffee with local rum... we also enjoy the best service, they are very nice

Only real downside was the cash only cover. Otherwise, atmosphere was great, our server was excellent, the food was tasty and really reasonably priced (especially the 1 pc fish and chips), and the entertainment (Kitchin Parti) was great fun. I wish we'd been able to catch more of their set! Would definitely come back.

We popped in for lunch and had the seafood chowder. It was delicious, and just what the doctor ordered on a drizzly chilly day. There was also live music, which added to the atmosphere, and it was great that it wasn't too loud.

It took too long to take my order. Why her colleagues just kept on walking by me. Shame on you all. However once the process started I have no further complaints.

**#3 – O’Reilly’s (Pub Crawl Stop)** Fighting Irish Red Ale and a table of lads playing trad tunes — felt like walking into the heart of Ireland. 🍺🎻🇮🇪 Razi was great

My family is from Newfoundland, but this was my first trip back since I was 14 (and too young for George Street). We were only there for a couple weeks, but managed to go to O’Reilly’s twice because we had so much fun we lost interest in even trying to experience a new bar for our last night and just wanted to go back. We got the toutons (not as good as Nan’s but close), mussels, salt beef fritters, and cod cakes, all delicious and great to share. Exactly the atmosphere you’d want, easy, casual and a party all at the same time, and in a perfect old St. John’s building where there’s 17 different heights of flooring and weird alcoves and you know they haven’t changed anything because it’s great the way it is. Best stage set up we saw with room for dancing, and we loved all the music (Kitchen Parti was a particular favourite). Jasmine was our bartender both times and she was totally awesome. Super nice and attentive and helped me pick out a beer as I wasn’t familiar with a lot of them. Here’s how I got rightfully mocked: she chose India, which I loved (probably too much), and I went home and told my family about the fantastic new beer I had found, and they all proceeded to laugh their butts off telling me yeah, they were all very familiar, as it’s so old it was my grandparents beer. Whoops, was new to me. Jasmine remembered the next week when we came back (and everyone else’s drink orders) and even offered up suggestions on where else I could get it. TL:DR; O’Reilly’s totally lives up to it’s reputation, go see Jasmine and Kitchen Parti, and if you also haven’t been to Newfoundland since you were 14 do not attempt to recommend India to your family.

We had so much fun! Great music, good food, delicious beer. Our server was soooo friendly. We also did the ScreechIn which was a fun and silly experience.

Sleek and modern without losing any welcoming and relaxing effects. Gorgeous inside decor and great atmosphere l. Super friendly and professional staff that are very attentive. The food. Ordered the ribeye and I have to say it is the best steak I've had since arriving in St. John's. Perfectly done with just the right seasoning letting the flavorful Canadian beef do a little speaking for itself. Brilliantly done. If your going to try anywhere while in St. John's area, don't miss out, try this little gem out!

Server was great! Food was mediocre for 3/5 of us. But the lighting - it was soo dark we asked for the lights to be turned up. Server said they would be (but he was so very busy with tables, he may have forgot for 3/4 of our visit). It was even difficult to read the menu fully (we used our phone flashlights). Other than that, the atmosphere was fine. Just struggled with the menu as nothing really interested me much. I ordered the poké bowl and it was fine. But staff were great!

My friend and I shared the Nachos and then I had the Chicken Madeira Rigatoni while my friend enjoyed the Sirloin Steak. Everything tasted incredible. The atmosphere was lively but not overwhelming. We had a small hiccup with our appetizer (we ordered the veggie nachos, but got the meat sprinkled one), but Fahham came right over, got it sorted instantly, and made sure we were happy with the fix. Amazing service all around.

Hands down one of the best dining experiences I’ve had in St. John’s. The Thai Chicken Salad was fresh and flavorful, and the Baby Back Ribs was rich and comforting. I really appreciated how the staff took allergies seriously — Fahham, the manager, personally double-checked with the kitchen to make sure my meal was safe. That kind of service makes such a difference. Highly recommend Moxies!

We had an incredible evening at Moxies! The atmosphere was vibrant but cozy, perfect for a night out. I ordered the Black Bean Tacos and my partner had the Steak Frites – both made perfectly and absolutely delicious. I have a food allergy, and the manager on the floor, Fahham, personally came over to make sure everything was safe for me. That kind of attention made the whole experience stress-free. Service was top-notch and we left more than satisfied!

Tonight we dined at Moxie’s. Donnie enjoyed the ribs and chicken, paired with grilled carrots, beets, and creamy mashed potatoes. I had their perfectly cooked fish and chips, accompanied by an exquisite coleslaw. The fish was prepared just right, with a light, crisp batter that let the flavor shine through. Chef Chris Kavanaugh was an absolute delight, adding a personal touch to the evening. The servers were friendly, fast, and efficient, making the whole experience smooth and enjoyable. Thanks for a lovely evening. Annie Johnson 🤍

I recently planned a bridal brunch for about 10 people, and Owen and Chris were our servers. They were absolutely amazing! Owen went out of his way to be accommodating, even taking multiple photos for us from different angles so we’d have great memories of the day. Both he and Chris were incredibly friendly, attentive, and genuinely seemed to care about making sure we had the best experience. We were never waiting for anything. Drinks were prompt, everything was spotless, and the food was delicious. They carried on with us in such a fun, easygoing way while still providing exceptional service. Truly a 10/10 experience. I would highly recommend

Came for breakfast! The cafe has a $10 early bird special for a breakfast sandwich and coffee (savings of around $2 for the combo). I think the addition of sausage or bacon to the sandwich added an extra $0.50. In the main counter area, seating looks limited, but they have extensive seating in another room down some steps, with a view of the water too. The sandwich had a homemade feel and I liked the sausage. Coffee served in a large mug. A nice way to start the morning with simple breakfast fare and friendly service.

Many people suggested this place as a must-visit when in St John's. During my visit, I found the place to be unique but quite pricey. I tried their lunch combo (potato and leek soup and a sandwich) and it was tasty but not as filling as a typical lunch would be. In any case, if you like to visit local places with historical significance, you'd like this place.

Food options are delicious, love that they have a smoked tomato substitute for the smoked salmon, and the veggie wrap is tasty, although lacking any protein (tofu or lentils). Coffee is fine, but seems to take a long time to be made. Nice view of the water for some of the tables. The little library houses some cool books. Workers of the world unite!

It is the perfect spot to unwind right after watching the sunrise at Cape Spear. We grabbed a table on the patio, which made the whole experience even better. I had a cold brew with their chimi chicken sandwich which was flavourful and satisfying, while my partner had a macchiato and toast. The atmosphere was relaxed and welcoming, exactly the kind of place you want to linger for a while with good coffee and good company.

Tucked into the colorful, crooked hillside row houses of downtown St. John’s, The Battery Café feels like stumbling into a cozy secret you immediately want to tell everyone about. We ordered the French toast piled high with blueberries (basically happiness on a plate) and flat whites that could bring even the sleepiest Newfoundlander back to life after a foggy morning. The café has this charming, almost storybook atmosphere—quaint without being pretentious, and hip without trying too hard. It’s the kind of place where you half-expect a fiddler to wander in, play a tune, and then sit down beside you for a latte. If you’re climbing the hills and need a reward (or just an excuse not to keep climbing), this little gem is absolutely worth the stop. Five stars, would gladly eat blueberry French toast here until gravity finally wins against those steep streets.

Best café vibes on the rock! This is THE place you need to go to start your day, for a little lunch, for an afternoon pick me up, or just for that little something in the evening. The staff are super friendly, they carry a number of local gift items, coffee supplies, and everything on the menu looks delicious. A number of vegan and gluten friendly options are available. There are a couple little tables inside and some picnic tables on their patio. They even have a little side window to order from if you’re on the patio. If you’re doing a morning walk/run on signal hill you need to refuel here afterwards.

It was my first time here and we mainly came for coffee. Although it’s quaint and in a prime location, service was slow and the latte was mediocre. Plenty of indoor and outdoor sitting place. A few pastry and dessert selections and a variety of savory items to order

Hands down the best fish dinner I’ve ever had. Not only was the batter just right, fries were great too. It what made it worthy of the 5 star review was the stuffing and gravy that came with it. I’d travel back to St. John’s for this alone. Most fish and chips, IMO, has better that’s too thick or too crunch or bulky. This was the way it should be. Staff were cool too. Setting was old style cost.

Nothing fancy but warm. Food was great. Service was very good. Love the atmosphere. Will try to swingby again. Highly recommended!

We’ve been in St. John’s for two days and we’ve been here twice already. Come for a late lunch and had the seafood soup, it was lovely and flavorful. Lindsay and her staff are absolute gems, you can tell they care for the pub and the customers. The vibes are perfect and what you would want in a pub called The Ship. We’ll be back before we leave to go home.

We didn't eat anything, just popped in for a pint, however, this is a very cool little pub filled with atmosphere. The service and staff were great! They have live music in the evening (we didn't have the time to stick around and enjoy it though) and a very friendly feel. This was our first time in St. John's. We'll definitely pop in here again when we return!

A fun and friendly pub with lots of fantastic live music. Some local beers on tap. It’s a little run down but it fits its atmosphere. Cozy.

Best fish and chips in St. John’s! We shared an order and they split it on two plates for us. Amazing staff!

Great local pub with wonderful food and a good selection of beer and other drinks including many Newfoundland classics. The live music is a great touch and the service is excellent. Everyone is very warm and welcoming and the pub has a very friendly and warm atmosphere. If you happen to be near I think it’s certainly worth a visit.

Bannerman playground is a fun kids playground. Park was packed when we went. Seems to be a local meeting place for friends and families with their kids.

It's a nice park close to downtown St John's with well defined trails and informative plaques related to colonial history.

Absolutely lovely place to visit by yourself or with family (kids and pets). Get in touch with nature and admire its beauty while relaxing in the serenity of the greenery all around.

Great place to relax, smell trees and flowers, and let the kids enjoy a wonderful playground. There's parking nearby too, which is great. Highly recommend a visit to this park.

A nice place for relaxing, grassy areas, not too huge park but close to downtown, I can even walk here from my hotel. Lots of people spend time here during summer...really nice place

A beautiful park full of amenities for all! A pool and splashpad, the loop (which is great for kid's scooters and rollerblading in the summer), a baseball diamond, the bandstand and beautifully upkept grasses and gardens throughout the park make Bannerman a special place in the heart of the city.

Visit the loop skating ring in the park, it was fun, busy, and full of excitement. Everyone was out skating and having a good time on the ice.

Nice hiking trail. You can jump on rocks in the water and there are a bunch of hidden trails you can explore. Very refreshing. There are picnic tables located halfway through the main trail so you can stop and have a bite of food if you've brought any. There is a main building with washrooms and souvenir shop and other features.

We have visited the Manuels River Experience building several times, lots of fun and learning to be had! Recently we took our kids to check out the popular swimming spot on the Manuel's River. (You can go basically anywhere on the river). We walked about 15 minutes-up to the bridge, thinking we might find a good spot to suit our 3 & 11 year olds. Eventhough we had a few good little places to play along the waters edge, which had very little movement. It was still lots of worry with a small child who loves the water. Make sure you have something on your feet. Water shoes highly recommend. My kids loved it, but I'm not in a hurry to take my 3 year old back.. if so maybe we will try a different place. If you are up for an adventure this may be the thing. Beautiful trail along the river , great for biking, hiking or walking.. with lots of places and tables along the way to stop for a picnic:)

We were there on a field trip with Grade 1 students. The staff were fabulous and the facility is beautiful with very informative and interesting displays. The students learned a great deal about plants inside and also outside on the trails led by Justin.

Beautiful spot! Water. Was just right! Nice trails.

This facility is the heart of CBS, built in the most scenic area of the town, maneuls river. The center is surrounded by beautiful wildwrness, an amazing walking trail that I have walked for 30 years! The new addition of wheelchair accessible trails makes this a wonderful place for anyone to visit. The center itself is very nice, perfect wedding or event venue, classy and clean. We often go for lunch or coffee at the cafe and the staff are very friendly and quick!

They have been working very hard to upgrade and maintain the trails. We love going for walks here during the warmer months, and snow shoeing here in the winter. Great views along parts of the trail of the river. Kids like to swim in the river in the Summer, on both sides.

This place is hella underrated. Less than 20 minutes to drive here from the capital city. It's only a 15 minute hike to see the waterfall and you can go swimming ! Manuels river > sunshine park any day.

It's a nice place to walk around and get a bite to eat and also look at the various different shops and things for sale. There is plenty of free parking behind the CRA building and it's just a quick 2 minute walk to the front entrance of the farmers market.

This market comes alive several days a week... Food sellers present traditional dishes from different countries around the world. Local farmers show up with loads of fresh vegetables. Seasonal items and special gifts are for sale before Christmas - etc. Musicians provide live music in the evenings. This place has something for everyone.

Lots of variety here with some very skilled local artisans present. You can find every sort of jewelry , trinkets , lotions , novels and the novelist , soaps , pet scarves and my favourite was the section where the lady makes the tote bags of various sizes , shapes and colours. I believe they were waterproof too. Going to see about getting one made to hold all my stuff. Allow lots of time to browse.It goes quickly.

Awesome place with loads of local artisans and food stands near a food court. Bonus is that it's indoors mostly.

Great produce outside. Great hot food and crafts inside. Some real quality stuff and we found the prices quite reasonable. This farmers market had some substance to it versus the one we visited in gander.

Cute. Smaller then I was expecting, but not necessarily a bad thing. Everything is local, where some other markets I've been to have numerous drop shipped items or something of the like. Didn't get to try the food, but it all looked absolutely delicious. Could have bought a lot.

It's a best place to get some unique material made by the local people. They often organise various events as well which I appreciate. There is plenty of food options to taste.

At one time a beautiful church with lovely woodwork throughout. Seem to have lost their way now.

Gower Street United Church is a Beautiful old church in the heart of the St. John’s downtown core. It is often noted that their is limited parking in the area however in reality there is a public parking garage at 330 Duckworth St. This parking is a 4 min walk or a 1 min drive.

Lovely old church. Our First United Church Mens Club was invited to a dinner meeting with the Club at Gower. Great few hours of fellowship and entertainment and a great meal. Thank you, Gower Street United Church Mens Club.

Attended as a child 50 years ago. Congregation elderly. Music durgy. Typically United Church worship. Disappointed by low attendance but not surprised.

Very spiritual, inclusive and welcoming. Both Reverend Pamela and Reverend Rebecca are such sweethearts! 100% Recommend.

Lecture Hall is just the right spot for small gatherings such as group dances etc.

Great architecture of 1800s with good use of natural wood and large stained glass

A classic ‘neighborhood bar’ just outside of the downtown hub in St. John’s. We went here to get ‘screeched in’ by local Billy Fleck, which itself was a great experience. Beer was cheap, conversation with the locals was fun. Cash only when we went, don’t know if it’s like this all the time. Worth a stop!

Great rustic pub. Lots of space and super nice people. Really down to earth and classic vibes. Great spot to meet friends and get a few pints and see some live music. Can’t wait to go back!

Phenomenal place. Great bar staff and owners. Hands down my favorite pub in town

great great bar, we listening to beautiful music and had delicious drinks, people were so kind and a great place to spend time

Great spot to see live music. Chill, fun atmosphere. Can sometimes feel like a weird (but great) coming together of worlds, particularly when there are philosophy lectures in one room and rowdy regulars in the main bar. Love it here. Pro tip: Press your card in and hold it down when you use the ATM, otherwise it won't work.

It has a rough reputation but an awesome music scene!

Spent 3 nights in St. John's; spent 3 nights at Peter Easton's. Looking forward to getting back there in October.

Great show. Should have been sectioned off better for entrance. Beer garden /bar was awesome. Moved quickly. First set for Pitbull had sound /mix issues but that wasn't the Park's fault. Seems they fixed it after that.

Very good concert. It got a little crowded when Pit Bull came on stage.

Nice park area, great for concerts

I was at the park for the music festival and had an amazing time. Accommodations were decent for a concert of this size and everything went fairly well.

Concert experience for Anne Wilson and company was awesome, little slow getting the bar set up in the VIP SECTION, after that pretty good!! I shall return!

Lovely place . There is play area for kids with swings. Two soccer play area.. there is no rest room available

Adorable little park. Great for kids. There is a busy road just across the field though.

Fun to do once. Beyond touristy. Difficult to actually appreciate the boat races because of all the other stuff going on.

Friendly staff. Very accommodating. Fun place. Almost always windy but can't do anything about that.

The Regatta is always an excellent time. The organization is top notch.

200th anniversary regatta