St Johns Entertainment

St Johns offers a great selection of entertainment options, ranging from lively festivals to dining out, while night owls can enjoy the bustling nightlife that consists of live music and a handful of nightclubs. The citys theaters provide more cultural entertainment, but if you prefer to get spend-happy, head for the extensive malls, where an endless array of goods may have you purchasing another suitcase in which to get everything back home.

Eating out

St Johns is not short of entertainment options. The city hosts the most bars per capita in North America and there are over 300 restaurants to choose from, running the full range of options, from affordable fast food to interesting ethnic restaurants and fine dining. The sophisticated dining scene is traditionally centered on Water Street, where you can find Auntie Craes Specialty Foods, while exciting newcomers have opened elsewhere. Auntie Craes produces partridgeberry muffins, a Newfoundland treat.

Newfoundlands cuisine makes full use of fatty pork, molasses, salt fish and meat, boiled vegetables and soups. Many of the local pies, jams, jellies and puddings are made from wild berries.

Fish is a staple, particularly cod, which is made into stews or fish cakes. Salmon, trout and halibut are also available. Often, cod is served with scrunchions, crunchy fried bits of fatty pork. Cod sound pie is made from the tough flesh near the cods backbone. A big, traditional meal is often referred to as a scoff. A lot of Newfoundlanders habitually drink tea and Carnation milk.

Theatre and music

With the citys steep streets, devotion to the arts and stirring views of the harbour and surrounding hills, St Johns calls to mind a smaller but earthier San Francisco.

Among the best known theatres and entertainment venues are the Mile One stadium, also home to junior ice hockey team St Johns Fog Devils, the St Johns Arts and Culture centre in Pippy Park and the Bowring Amphitheatre in Bowring Park. The latter is an open-air theatre featuring something for everyone from late spring to early autumn. The theatre hosts childrens concerts, Shakespeare, dancing, cultural events, youth theatre, band, folk and magic concerts.

Nightclubs line the cobblestones of George Street, a stretch of pedestrian-only chaos, jammed with loud bars, dance spots and clubs. Old world pubs can be found tucked away on side streets and lanes, while Irish, country, dance, rock and roll and traditional music often fills the streets.

In October, the city hosts its annual Mardi Gras celebration. The citys largest celebration however, known as the George Street Festival, runs for six nights in early August. It typically ends on the Tuesday night before Regatta Day, which is set for the first Wednesday in August. The Royal St John Regatta is the oldest continuously held annual sporting event in North America, with documented proof of boat races being held in 1816. As well as the rowing competitions, the regatta is well-known for its lakeside entertainment. It hosts hundreds of booths operated by individuals and organisations, ranging from various games of chance to food and drink outlets.

St Johns is the home of junior ice hockey team St Johns Fog Devils. St Johns once boasted a senior side in the AFL until they relocated and became the Toronto Marlies in 2005.

Shopping

There are two main modern shopping centres in St Johns. The Avalon Mall, the largest shopping centre in Newfoundland, has 140 stores within its complex on Kenmount Road.

In the West Ends Topsail Road is the Village Shopping Centre. In central St Johns, there is a wide range of shops and boutiques offering everything from unique local souvenirs to designer clothing.

Along with Quebec, Newfoundland is the only province in the country where cold beer can be legally purchased in convenience stores.