May Long Weekend Events & Activities in St. John’s
Friday, May 19 – Monday, May 22, 2023
A go-to list of family activities and events taking place during May long weekend in St. John’s: Friday, May 19 – Monday, May 22, 2023
Sunday Morning Bird Walk
Take a guided walk on the Garden’s nature trails with a Friend of the Garden volunteer and learn about Newfoundland birds. Binoculars are recommended, appropriate footwear is essential. Details
Sunday, May 21, 2023 | Meet at 8:00 AM sharp
MUN Botanical Garden, 306 Mount Scio Road, St. John’s
Meet in the parking lot across the road from the Garden entrance
No pre-registration necessary. This is a free event.
Trapped
Head to Trapped for an amazing ‘Escape Room’ experience. Enjoy a family fun night when you all work together to get out of one of the nine 5D escape rooms that Trapped has waiting for you. Details
152 Water Street, 3rd Floor, St. John’s
Go Fishing
Enjoy fishing from shore or from a boat. Details
Explore Pippy Park
Pippy Park is a great place to enjoy an outdoor adventure. Explore hiking trails, enjoy scenic views, tee off at the golf course, and spend the night under the stars. Details
15 Mt. Scio Road, St. John’s
You may like: Outdoor Activities & Adventures in St John’s and Avalon Peninsula
Enjoy Hiking or Discover Nature Attractions
Seeking some fresh air adventure this weekend — the good news is there are some natural areas for you to explore. Find a park or walkway nearby or plan new routes. Details
- Best Walks & Hikes in St John’s and Avalon Peninsula
- Best Hikes in Newfoundland and Labrador
- 25 Things to Do During Spring in Newfoundland
Science Odyssey
Science Odyssey is a national campaign that celebrates Canadian achievements in science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics, featuring fun and inspiring experiences in museums, research centres, laboratories and classrooms from coast to coast. Every year in May, hundreds of science outreach leaders deliver fun, engaging and inspiring activities to Canadians of all ages. Details
May 6 – 21, 2023
All across Canada
Free
Spend time at the MUN Botanical Garden
Explore breathtaking trails that wander through trees, waterways, wetlands, and scenic vistas. There are many spectacular displays of traditional and native plants, as well as beautiful perennial and vegetable gardens for you to see. Details
306 Mount Scio Road, St. John’s
Go Birding
Spring is a great time to go birding and there are many fabulous locations in St. John’s. Details
Enjoy Antique Shopping
There is a certain excitement that surrounds answering a compliment about your furniture with, “Thanks, it’s vintage.” Along with adding a unique flair to your home, shopping for antiques and retro items can save an item from hitting the landfill. Visit Newfoundland’s antique shops. Details
Ladies Lookout Trail
With wonderful views of the rugged coastline and stunning seascapes, the Ladies Lookout trail is one of the best trails to enjoy. This is a 1.3 km loop trail with steep and rocky sections and connects with the Burma Road Trail. Details
Friday Morning North Head Trail Runs with Toslow
Join us every Friday as we warmly welcome the weekend with a fun social run and breakfast afterwards. The route is about 7k and takes about an hour to do. Details
Friday, May 19, 2023 | 6:30 PM
Toslow, 108 Duckworth Street, St. John’s
Terra Nova National Park
The wilderness awaits you at Terra Nova National Park. This popular park is two and half hours from St. John’s but is worth the drive. There are several hiking trails here including half-hour short trails to multi-day hikes.
Trans-Canada Hwy Glovertown, Traytown
Sugarloaf Path
This is a moderate to difficult 8.8 km trail that takes around 3 to 5 hours one way. This path gives hikers a 360-degree view of Quidi Vidi and St. John’s from the top of the Bawdens Highlands. Details
Go Camping
There are many parks and campgrounds in Newfoundland and Labrador where you can spend overnight. In addition to camping, national and provincial parks offer many activities for a multi-day adventure that makes the journey worthwhile. For more details see 20+ Parks to Go Camping in Newfoundland and Labrador.
Paintball Open at Frontline Action
Paintball is one of the world’s most exciting outdoor sports! It encourages team building, brings people from all walks of life together, and is one of the safest action sports that exists today. Regular Paintball is suitable for players 10 years of age and up and is sure to deliver an unforgettable experience! Details
54 Duffett’s Road, St. John’s
$38 – $59 + HST / person
Seniors Movie Morning: Top Gun Maverick
Join us for a Seniors Morning movie at Manuels River. Concessions & Snacks available, and Hot Beverages at our Cafe! Details
Friday, May 19, 2023 | 11:30 AM
Manuels River Hibernia Interpretation Centre, 7 Conception Bay Highway, Conception Bay South
Cost is $5 per person. Pay at the door.
Spring Froglets! A Parent & Tot program
This 6 week program takes you and your toddler on a fun introduction to the outdoors while getting in that much-needed socialization time with other parents and tots! Guided by the amazing Elizabeth Glenn, you and your tots will enjoy an adventurous morning through song while exploring your senses in nature, feeding critters and ending with group story time! New activities with be added each week! The Weekend Froglets is for children ages 2-5 Years. Details
Saturdays, May 20 – June 24, 2023 | 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM
The Fluvarium, 5 Nagle’s Place, St. John’s
This program costs 80$ plus HST for the full 6 weeks, and any siblings joining must be paid for as well.
Young Scientist: Insects
Join us on an exciting adventure into the world of insects! In this program, we’ll learn all about these amazing creatures – from the tiny ant to the fluttering butterfly. We’ll discover how insects communicate, what they eat, and how they help our planet. Through hands-on experiments and close-up observations, we’ll explore the fascinating lives of these tiny animals and uncover the secrets of their incredible survival skills. Details
Saturday, May 20, 2023 | 10:30 AM – 12:00 PM
Manuels River Hibernia Interpretation Centre, 7 Conception Bay Highway, Conception Bay South
$10.01 Adults, $6.50 Senior/Student, and $5 Youth, Household $26; Included in the cost of admission.
The Newfoundland Embassy Comedy Showcase #10
A Stand-Up comedy showcase at The Newfoundland Embassy featuring Liam Small, Mike Hammond, Luke Lawrence, and Bree Parsons. Details
Sunday, May 21, 2023 | 7:00 PM
The Newfoundland Embassy Pub and Eatery, 79-81 New Gower Street, St. John’s
$25
Nature Nook
Get Hands on with our Province’s plants, animals and wild spaces at The Rooms with Nature NL!
Nature Nook is a monthly hands-on session to interact with real specimens like seal pelts, skulls, whale baleen, antlers, moose fur, and a variety of rocks and minerals. Join us to learn more about nature and ask our volunteers all your questions about Newfoundland and Labrador’s wildlife! Details
Sunday, May 21, 2023 | 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM
The Rec Room – Level 3 Atrium, 9 Bonaventure Avenue, St. John’s
$10.00/Child & Adult for non-members, and $8.00/Member Child & Adult.
St. John’s Farmer’s Market
Saturdays | 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
245 Freshwater Road, St. John’s
Free admission
Moo Moos Ice Cream
If you love homemade ice-cream, then head to Moo Moo’s Ice Cream shop for a super special treat during the May long weekend. They have been making ice-cream on location since 1989. Moo Moo’s sells premium ice cream scoops, pies, cakes, cookies, and tubs, along with soft serve cones, drinks, chips, and bars. Details
88 Kings Rd, St. John’s
A la Carte Price
Newfoundland Chocolate Company
The Newfoundland Chocolate Company is the home of Artisan Chocolate on ‘the Rock’ and their flagship Chocolaterie is located downtown in historic St John’s. If you love chocolate, then you are in for a sweet treat because their specialty chocolate and truffles are hand-made fresh daily. Details
166 Duckworth St, St. John’s
A la Carte Price
Have a Feed of Cod at Ches’s Fish and Chips
Take the family out for a feed of the best Fish n Chip’s in Newfoundland on the May long weekend. Ches’s Fish and Chips has been serving fish n’ chips the ‘Newfoundland way’ since 1951 and is one of the most popular restaurant options for both locals and travelers. The cod fish is fresh off the boat daily and they handcut their own fries, it doesn’t get any better than that. Details
9 Freshwater Drive, St. John’s
A La Carte Prices
Visit the Quidi Vidi Village Artisan Studios
The Quidi Vidi Village Plantation is the place to go on the long weekend if you love local art. This unique gallery displays and sells local artist’s creations. It provides a vibrant focal point for visitors to the community through interaction with emerging craftspeople, and historical interpretation of this former fishing plantation. You can always see something interesting and new at the gallery. Details
10 Maple View Place, St. John’s
A la Carte Price
Jack Axe’s
Visit Jack Axe’s to try one of the fastest growing activities in Canada. It seems that everyone who tries their hand at throwing axes is instantly hooked. Jack Axe’s provides a unique, fun, and ‘Axe’-citing environment for you and your group to do a new activity while enjoying a few beers. Details
152 Water St, St. John’s
The Rooms
The Rooms is a cultural facility in St. John’s that houses the Art Gallery of Newfoundland and Labrador, the Provincial Museum of Newfoundland and Labrador, and the Provincial Archives of Newfoundland and Labrador. The Rooms also offers a breathtaking, panoramic view of downtown St. John’s and its iconic architecture, The Narrows, St. John’s Harbour, and Signal Hill. Details
9 Bonaventure Avenue, St. John’s
$10.01 Adults, $6.50 Senior/Student, and $5 Youth, Household $26
Feed the ducks in Bowring Park
Bowring Park is truly one of the highlights in St. John’s and is a ‘must see’ place to visit. The majestic trees, the different trails that make you feel like you’re a million miles away from the city and the beautiful ponds where you can feed the ducks. You could spend the entire long weekend there walking for miles along the various paths and never see the same thing twice because the park is a lot bigger than it seems. Details
306 Waterford Bridge Rd, St. John’s
Hike Signal Hill’s North Head Trail
On the long weekend, spend a few hours with family and friends hiking Signal Hill’s North Head Trail. It is a very challenging hike but it is a very popular one with locals and visitors alike. The trail connects Cabot Tower and takes you around the cliffs. It has breathtaking views of the ocean and sometimes you can even spot icebergs passing by.
230 Signal Hill Rd, St. John’s
St. John’s Award Winning Boat Tour
Take a trip down ‘Iceberg Alley’ when you go on this tour. You will be awestruck by their shapes, colour, beauty and sheer size, even though they are ninety-percent hidden below the ocean’s surface. Details
135 Harbour Drive, St. John’s
Adult: $80 +HST, Student (18-24): $65 + HST, Youth (9-17): $50 + HST, Child (2-8 yrs): $45 +HST, Infant (0 – 1 yrs): Free
Hike The East Coast Trail
Spend some quality time on the long weekend with your loved ones hiking part of the East Coast Trail. It is 300 kilometres of developed trail that is made up of 26 wilderness paths that intersect more than 30 communities. The trail starts in St. John’s and will take you along cliffs, headlands, sea stacks, and deep fjords. From short 3-4 km hikes to 30km adventures, there’s never a dull moment on the East Coast Trail.
Highway #10, St. John’s
Shop at Posie Row & Co.
If you like browsing and shopping on the May long weekend, then you should head down to Posie Row & Co. Posie Row & Co is a collective of independent businesses under one roof in a supportive, co-operative, environment that is located in a restored heritage property in the heart of St. John’s. You can find everything from housewares and clothes, to handcrafted greeting cards and soap, and so much more at Posie Row & Co. Details
210-214 Duckworth Street, St. John’s
Varies depending on items purchased
Far East Photography Tours
Get amazing photos of St. John’s on the long weekend when you go on a Far East Photography Tour. Unlike other tours, when you are on this tour you actually have time to take great photos. Maurice Fitzgerald will be your guide, and he has been a professional photographer for 20 years. He will help you take the best photos of places the average tourist would never find and will teach you his very own tips and tricks. Details
72 Regent St, St. John’s
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