Regatta Day - Jour de la Régate

Regatta Day, known in French as Jour de la Régate, is a civic holiday observed exclusively in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador on the first Wednesday of August. The day centres on the Royal St. John's Regatta, a fixed-seat rowing race held on Quidi Vidi Lake that has been a cherished tradition since 1818.

The Royal St. John's Regatta is recognized as the oldest organized sporting event in North America that has been held on the same course continuously. Regatta Day is unique in that it is not a province-wide holiday — it applies only to the city of St. John's and its metropolitan area. The day is also famous for being the largest garden party in North America, combining competitive rowing with a massive outdoor festival of food, games, and entertainment.

The first recorded regatta on Quidi Vidi Lake took place in 1818, though informal rowing competitions on the lake may date back even earlier. The event grew from small community races into a major annual tradition that became central to St. John's civic life.

The regatta was granted the Royal designation in 1993 by Queen Elizabeth II, becoming the Royal St. John's Regatta. This honour reflected the event's extraordinary longevity and cultural significance.

Throughout the 19th and 20th centuries, the Regatta evolved from a purely rowing event into a full-day festival. The area surrounding Quidi Vidi Lake became the site of an enormous garden party, with food vendors, carnival games, amusement rides, and live entertainment attracting tens of thousands of visitors.

The Regatta Committee, one of the oldest sporting organizations in North America, has overseen the event since 1826. The committee is responsible for organizing the races and making the crucial decision each year about whether weather conditions are suitable for rowing. If conditions are poor on the first Wednesday, the Regatta can be postponed — sometimes to Thursday or even later in the week.

Regatta Day became an official civic holiday for St. John's in the early 20th century, and it remains one of the most beloved traditions in all of Newfoundland and Labrador.

Rowing Races: The heart of Regatta Day is the fixed-seat rowing races on Quidi Vidi Lake. Crews of six rowers plus a coxswain compete in various categories, including men's, women's, mixed, and corporate races. The course runs the length of the lake, approximately 1.6 kilometres.

Garden Party: The area around Quidi Vidi Lake transforms into the largest garden party in North America. Thousands of people enjoy carnival games, amusement rides, live music, and an enormous variety of food vendors.

Traditional Foods: Regatta Day has its own food traditions, including French fries with dressing (stuffing and gravy), freshly cooked sausages on a bun, and traditional Newfoundland chips. Candy floss, toffee apples, and other carnival treats are also popular.

Weather Watch: A unique tradition is the morning weather call. The Regatta Committee gathers at dawn to assess conditions on Quidi Vidi Lake, and the decision on whether the Regatta will proceed is announced on local radio and media. Residents listen anxiously each year for the announcement.

Day Off Work: When the Regatta is confirmed, businesses, schools, and government offices in St. John's close for the day. The entire city essentially shuts down to celebrate.