The Royal St. John’s Regatta will be a little earlier in 2025 as the Canada Summer Games takes over Quidi Vidi Lake.
The committee says the Regatta will now be the last Wednesday in July, instead of the first Wednesday in August.
It’s not the first time the event has had to be moved. Changes were made to accommodate the Canada Summer Games in 1977. A royal visit from Queen Elizabeth forced the change in 1978.
St. John’s Mayor Danny Breen says there are a number of reasons for the change this time around, one being staffing. He says the resources needed to put off the Regatta will be needed to facilitate the Canada Summer Games. Breen says they discussed the change with the Regatta committee ahead of the bid to host the Games.
Breen says the capital city’s holiday will still fall on Regatta Day. He says the only change is that the holiday will be the last Wednesday of July.