Week of August 6-12, 2025

Good afternoon St. John’s, This is St. John’s Living - the local newsletter that's the only email you’ll read today that won’t make you want to throw your phone in the ocean.

In this week’s St. John’s Living:

• T’Railway closed until fall 🚶

• Kayak at the Botanical Garden? 🚣‍♀️

Let’s get into it…

Digest

🚶 New Pedestrian Underpass Coming

A portion of the T’Railway in Mount Pearl will be closed for the next 6 weeks while a new pedestrian underpass is installed. This will allow the Team Gushue Highway to be built over the top without permanently disrupting the trail. In the meantime, you’ll need to detour from roughly Brookfield to Park Ave. 

🚣‍♀️ Kayaks for Rent on Oxen Pond

Did you know that you can rent a kayak from the MUN Botanical Garden? And for a really good price! On the weekends, you can get a single kayak for $10/hr or a tandem for $15/hr. There’s no pre-booking so just show up 15min before the hour and see what they have available and hopefully enjoy a spin around Oxen Pond.

Local Business

• End of the 345 era at The Rob Roy. Due to an increase in the minimum drink price from $1.65 to $2.65 the best deal you’ll find in town is now $3 Thursdays.

What’s Happening This Week

🛳️ Cruise Ships in Port

• August 10: Holland America Volendam from 7am-3pm with 1839 passengers

• August 12: Oceania Insignia from 8am-4pm with 702 passengers

• August 12: Ponant Le Champlain from 12pm-5pm with 184 passengers

Wednesday

​🎪 George Street Festival: Billy & The Bruisers

🛍️ ​​Celebrate culture, community, and cuisine at the Multicultural Community Market every Wednesday and Friday evening at the St. John's Farmers' Market.

🧘 Relax and rejuvenate with a little free Yoga on the Lawn at Government House during your lunch break.

🧑‍🎨 Create one-of-a-kind monoprints using real fish and squid in this hands-on adult workshop at The Rooms, inspired by local sea lore, art, and the elusive giant squid.

Thursday

🎶 Don’t miss folky pop singer-songwriter Adam Baxter at Theatre Hill Café, blending clever lyrics, catchy melodies, and the heart of Eastern Canada in an unforgettable live show.

🦋 Join Nature NL for a free outdoor Moth Night at The Botanical Garden, where you’ll explore the fascinating world of moths and other nocturnal insects with expert biologists under the glow of a mercury vapor lamp.

🎶 Catch local legend and award-winning bluesman Roger Howse live at The Battery Café for an intimate evening of music spanning 50 years of Newfoundland and international collaborations.

Friday

🤡 Downtown St. John’s Busker Festival kicks off! The festival is FREE and runs 12 pm – 9 pm daily. Plus, it’s open to all ages, and there will be face painting, balloon twisters, and living art statues for everyone to enjoy. Get the full schedule.

🖼️ Join The Rooms for a free evening of art, live music, and celebration at the opening of Kathleen Knowling: Art is What Makes Life More Interesting Than Art, a whimsical and heartfelt exhibition of her handmade sketchbooks.

🎶 Catch Mick Davis & Thin Love for a free show at Harbourside Park over your lunch break.

Saturday

📖 Drop by Theatre Hill Café for live folk music by Sandy Morris & Anita Best and a reading by Maggie Burton, part of a weekly August series celebrating local musicians and writers.

🎨 Don’t miss the annual HOLD FAST Art Crawl from 2–6pm. It’s a vibrant afternoon of performances, installations, and interactive pop-ups featuring local artists and community groups all across downtown St. John’s!

🖼️ Celebrate the opening of In Your Hands, a heartfelt exhibition at CCNL by artist Emily Pittman and her mother Theresa, that blends contemporary painting and heirloom quilting to honour three generations of craft, memory, and family tradition.

Sunday

🛍️ ​​Celebrate the colourful arts, crafts, and flavours of Newfoundland and Labrador at the free, all-ages Jellybean Jamboree Market at the SJFM.

🎨 Arta Vista @ the SJCC - check out Vishtèn at 12:15pm for a rollicking good Acadian time as part of the Canada Games.

Monday

🎨 Arta Vista on Water Street - Check out Big Steppers at 2:30pm and celebrate South Indian dance.

🎨 Arta Vista at the SJCC - an evening of fiddle traditions featuring performances by the STEP Fiddlers, Gina Burgess and Carole Bestvater, along with power trio Emilia Bartellas, Doug Dorward & Andrew Dale.

Tuesday

🩰 Slow Rain by Mosaic Dance Company debuts at LSPU Hall. It’s a meditative dance performance that channels the five elements of Chinese philosophy to explore life’s natural rhythms, inviting audiences to slow down and move in harmony with the world around them.

🎭 Join Perchance Theatre for a magical evening of performance with Shakespeare in the Garden. Come and explore the wonder of the Memorial University Botanical Garden with performances by some of Shakespeare's most colorful characters!

🎨 Arta Vista @ Banished Brewing - bring your instrument or just yourself and take part in the Canada Summer Games trad session.

Municipal News

City Council Meeting

There is no city council meeting this week.

Thanks!

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