Regatta Day in St. John's: what to eat and how to enjoy the day

There are few holidays like Regatta Day. Each summer, the people of St. John's wake up on the morning of the Royal St. John's Regatta and check the news to find out whether they have the day off. If the wind and water on Quidi Vidi Lake are right, the races go ahead and the city takes a holiday. If not, it is an ordinary working day, and everybody tries again tomorrow.

What is the Royal St. John's Regatta?

The Regatta is a rowing competition held on Quidi Vidi Lake in the east end of St. John's. Crews race traditional fixed-seat shells along the lake, and it is widely believed to be the oldest continuing sporting event in North America. For most people, though, Regatta Day is about the atmosphere on the shore: crowds that can reach tens of thousands, games of chance, food stalls, music and a day outdoors with family and friends.

When is Regatta Day?

Traditionally the first Wednesday of August. It is a civic holiday in St. John's, but whether it happens depends on the weather. If conditions are unsuitable, the event is postponed to the next suitable day, and the holiday moves with it. The decision is often made early that morning.

What food can you find at the Regatta?

Around the lake, food stalls and trucks serve the classics of a summer fair:

• Fish and chips and other fried seafood
• Chips, dressing and gravy
• Burgers, hot dogs and sausages
• Candy floss, fudge and ice cream
• Lemonade and cold drinks

Lines can be long at peak times, so eat a little earlier or later than the crowd.

Where can you eat near Quidi Vidi Lake?

Quidi Vidi Village, at the far end of the lake, has a brewery and a few well-known places to eat, but on Regatta Day it is very busy. If you want a sit-down meal, book ahead or eat downtown after the races. Many people simply bring a picnic and settle in by the lake.

Should you bring a picnic to the Regatta?

It is a great idea. Pack sandwiches, fish cakes, berry squares and drinks, a blanket and layers of clothing. A picnic lets you claim a spot and avoid the food lines. Bring a bag for your rubbish.

What should you wear to the Regatta?

Layers. August in St. John's can be warm and sunny or cool and foggy, sometimes in the same afternoon. Bring a rain jacket, sunscreen and comfortable shoes, since you may walk a fair way around the lake.

What if the Regatta is postponed?

Then it is a normal day, and the races and holiday move to the next suitable day. If you are visiting, keep a flexible plan for that week. A postponed Regatta is a good day to explore downtown, walk Signal Hill or take a day trip to the coast.

How do you get to the Regatta?

Walking is often easiest from downtown or nearby neighbourhoods. Roads around the lake are busy and parking is limited, so allow plenty of time if you drive, or use a taxi or the bus.

Is the Regatta good for children?

Very. The games of chance, the food stalls, the boats on the water and the sheer size of the crowd make it a highlight of summer for many local children. Agree on a meeting point in case anybody gets separated, since the crowds are large, and keep snacks and water handy for the waits. Strollers can be hard going on the grass when it is wet, so a carrier may be easier for small children.

Why does the Regatta matter so much to St. John's?

It is a tradition that reaches back generations, and it brings the whole city together in one place on one day. People meet old friends on the shore, children win prizes at the games and families have their own spots they return to every year. For visitors, it is a chance to see the city at its most relaxed and festive.

Why is the Regatta so old?

The Royal St. John's Regatta is believed to be the oldest continuing sporting event in North America, with records of rowing races on Quidi Vidi Lake going back to the early nineteenth century. Crews still race fixed-seat rowing shells over the same course, cheered on by thousands of people along the shore.

That history is part of why the day feels like a festival rather than just a race. It is also why the city treats it as a civic holiday that depends on the weather: Regatta Day is held on the first Wednesday in August if conditions allow, and the decision is often made early that morning. Families plan picnics, food stalls set up around the lake, and the whole city slows down for a day.

How do you remember the best food of the day?

Regatta Day is a great day for trying local favourites from the stalls and the restaurants nearby. Mosey lets you rate the places you ate at and the dishes you ordered, with photos, and keep a list of places in Quidi Vidi and downtown to visit on a quieter day.

More guides to read next:

• Brunch in St. John's: toutons, fish cakes and weekend lines
• What is a screech-in? Newfoundland's famous welcome explained
• Seafood in St. John's: cod, mussels, crab, lobster and where to eat them

More in the Canadian food guides and the ranked lists of places.