St. John’s comes alive with performances, entertainment, and an electric nightlife during the highly anticipated 38th Annual George Street Festival. 

The iconic event takes place from July 27 to Aug. 2, and features an outdoor main stage that will host special musical guests like +LIVE+, Alan Doyle, Loud Luxury, Third Eye Blind, and more.

“The George Street Festival is truly the highlight of our summer season in downtown St. John’s,” says Don-E Coady, Marketing and Communications lead for the George Street Association. 

“It’s a celebration for all, as many people are traveling in for their summer vacations and our tourism operators are in full swing. It’s a testament to the coming together of what makes downtown so special: music, celebration and community.”

The historic downtown of St. John’s, N.L., has grown into a world-wide attraction. Every year, waves of tourists flock to the city to immerse themselves in the culture and nightlife that concentrates on George Street – dubbed the “biggest little street in North America.”

SEVEN NIGHTS OF FESTIVITIES

George Street is home to more pubs, venues and performances per square foot than anywhere in the country. On any given night, visitors are treated to a plethora of bars, restaurants and vibes, ranging from traditional to contemporary. 

“The Annual George Street Festival transforms the pedestrian walking street into a bustling festival ground,” says Coady. “Ticket gates seal both ends, and the BUD LIGHT main stage roars to life with speakers, lights and screens. For seven days this hub of nightlife becomes host to some of the most exciting musical acts in the country.”

And this year, the 38th Annual George Street Fest is no exception with an entire week of entertainment.

The Kitchen Party on Saturday (Night 2 – July 29) has become a staple of the festival, featuring the best in traditional Newfoundland, folk and Celtic music. This year features the return of Celtic-rock powerhouse, Derina Harvey Band, alongside The Navigators and Celtic Connection.

Fans are treated to a double-dose of Newfoundland traditional music on Night 6 (Aug. 1) featuring local legends Shanneyganock alongside Signal Hill and The Irish Descendants. 

“Newfoundlanders are a patriotic people, especially when it comes to our culture, and no element of our culture is celebrated more than our musical traditions,” says Coady. “The Kitchen Party Night is a great snapshot of the spirit of traditional Newfoundland spirit. It’s a classic!”

This year’s lineup also sees the return of another Newfoundland favorite, Alan Doyle, the famed frontman of, perhaps Newfoundland and Labrador’s most celebrated musical group of all time, Great Big Sea. Doyle has created a formidable following in his own right, performing numbers from the famed group alongside his own chart-topping tracks. Doyle will be performing on Friday (Night 2 – July 28) after Joel Plaskett and his band, The Emergency.

“Plaskett is a true icon in Canadian music. With a discography filled with anthemic songs and era-defining albums: Ashtray Rock, Three and Truthfully Truthfully to name just a few,” says Coady. “He’ll be joining us with his full band. They’ll be bringing a heartfelt and high-energy performance that we cannot wait to see!”

In addition to being a star-studded event, George Street Festival is also known for creating a venue where household names can perform alongside up-and-coming talent. Like the Cape Breton folk group, Villages, which is a group of young performers putting a contemporary touch on the Island’s traditional sound. It also features local country songstress Mallory Johnson, fresh off her recent win for Country Recording of the Year, at this year’s East Coast Music Awards. 

Country music fans have even more to be excited about with the return of The Washboard Union on July 31.

“They’re one of the biggest names in Canadian Country music right now with numerous JUNO awards and three CCMA group of the year awards,” says Coady. “They’ve shared the stage with everyone from Zac Brown to Luke Combs, to Tim McGraw. They are unreal.”

This year the festival kicks-off with rock legends, +LIVE+, and fan favorites, The Trews. 

“We’re so lucky to have +LIVE+ back with us again: they always put on a killer performance and have an iconic catalog of songs from their multiple platinum albums,” says Coady. “Not to mention The Trews, who are George Street Festival heroes and still dominate local rock radio for good reason. They write brilliant and catchy songs and have an electric live show – plain and simple.”

For the final night of the festival, Third Eye Blind and Matt Mays bring things to a dramatic climax.

“Third Eye Blind is the perfect end for an incredible lineup of acts. They’ve got a discography filled with so many incredible songs that are just as iconic today as they were in their release,” says Coady. “And Matt Mays, another Juno Winning alt-rock hero of the Atlantic Canadian musical community. It’s going to be epic.” 

COMMUNITY AT THE HEART OF THE FESTIVAL

George Street festival is more than the headliner performances.

The #After11 campaign marks the start of nightlife on the street after the last notes are played at 11pm. The many venues that make up the festival’s backdrop come alive with a plethora of other musicians catering to the packed street. 

“We really try to run the gamut of genres and demographics with our programming because George Street is really about the community,” says Coady. “The street itself is made up of such a wide array of venues and caters to the diverse tastes and values of the whole city. We want everyone to feel like there’s something special here for them.”

Festival-goers are permitted to enjoy their beverages on the street and in the establishments along George Street for a hassle-free experience.

“Our events are getting bigger and better every year, which means this summer is going to be the best George Street Festival yet!” says Coady.

The George Street Association would like to thank all their sponsors such as Bud Light, Mike’s Hard Lemonade, Lamb’s Rum, OZFM, NTV, Red Bull, and Delta Hotels for their continued support.

For more information on events, tickets, lineups and more, please visit: www.georgestreetlive.ca