Festival Overview
ARTA VISTA presented by Celebrate NL is a vibrant celebration of Newfoundland and Labrador’s rich arts and culture, while also honouring the diverse cultures of Canada, including its Indigenous and Francophone heritage.
From August 10 to 24, the festival will feature a wide variety of free, family-friendly entertainment, experiences, community initiatives, activities, and more taking place across the Avalon.
ARTA VISTA at a Glance
ARTA VISTA will take place across multiple venues throughout St. John’s and the surrounding areas, offering a vibrant and dynamic festival experience. The St. John’s Convention Centre is one of the main sites for ARTA VISTA, providing spectators, visitors, and locals daily opportunities to explore activations, connect with vendors, enjoy cultural performances, browse merchandise, and much more!
Explore the schedule below for a day-by-day snapshot of performances and programming.
August 10, 2025
ARTA VISTA @ SJCC
Location: St. John's Convention Centre
Time: 12:00 pm – 6:00 pm
The go-to spot for ARTA VISTA excitement! ARTA VISTA @ SJCC is your daily destination for fun and engaging entertainment. Whether you’re a visitor or a local, come explore ongoing activities, live performances, interactive workshops & demonstrations, 2025 Canada Games merchandise, visual arts and live streaming of the Games. Also, mark your calendars for Friday evening concerts!
12:05 pm – 12:15 pm | St. John’s Storytelling Festival
12:20 pm – 1:30 pm | Duane Andrews and the Hot Club of Conception Bay
August 11, 2025
ARTA VISTA @ SJCC
Location: St. John's Convention Centre
Time: 12:00 pm – 8:00 pm
The go-to spot for ARTA VISTA excitement! ARTA VISTA @ SJCC is your daily destination for fun and engaging entertainment. Whether you’re a visitor or a local, come explore ongoing activities, live performances, interactive workshops & demonstrations, 2025 Canada Games merchandise, visual arts and live streaming of the Games. Also, mark your calendars for Friday evening concerts!
12:00 pm – 12:20 pm | Allison Walsh
6:05 pm – 6:40 pm | Charla Marie
6:45 pm – 7:45 pm | Gina Burgess
ARTA VISTA @ Water St.
Location: Pedestrian Mall St. John's
Time: 2:30 pm – 4:30 pm
Downtown St. John’s is a vibrant area, home to a variety of local restaurants, pubs, and businesses. During the two weeks of the Games this area will be home to daily afternoon cultural events as well as free concerts on George Street and a bustling Night Market on Thursday evenings.
3:05 pm – 3:50 pm | Chinese Youth Association of Memorial University of Newfoundland
3:30 pm – 4:00 pm | De La Paz
August 12, 2025
ARTA VISTA @ SJCC
Location: St. John's Convention Centre
Time: 12:00 pm – 6:00 pm
The go-to spot for ARTA VISTA excitement! ARTA VISTA @ SJCC is your daily destination for fun and engaging entertainment. Whether you’re a visitor or a local, come explore ongoing activities, live performances, interactive workshops & demonstrations, 2025 Canada Games merchandise, visual arts and live streaming of the Games. Also, mark your calendars for Friday evening concerts!
12:05 pm – 12:25 pm | St. John’s Storytelling Festival
12:30 pm – 1:30 pm | Dave Penny & Daunt Lee
ARTA VISTA @ Water St.
Location: Pedestrian Mall St. John's
Time: 2:30 pm – 4:30 pm
Downtown St. John’s is a vibrant area, home to a variety of local restaurants, pubs, and businesses. During the two weeks of the Games this area will be home to daily afternoon cultural events as well as free concerts on George Street and a bustling Night Market on Thursday evenings.
3:30 pm – 4:15 pm | Soundbone Folk Choir
3:40 pm – 4:10 pm | St. Pat’s Dancers
4:15 pm – 5:00 pm | The STEP Fiddlers
ARTA VISTA @ Banished Brewery
Location: Banished Brewery
Time: 5:30 pm – 8:30 pm
Every Tuesday evening during the 2025 Canada Games, Banished Brewing in Paradise will be alive with a traditional tune session as an energetic backdrop to the Games live streaming and customer appreciation events.
August 13, 2025
ARTA VISTA @ SJCC
Location: St. John's Convention Centre
Time: 12:00 pm – 6:00 pm
The go-to spot for ARTA VISTA excitement! ARTA VISTA @ SJCC is your daily destination for fun and engaging entertainment. Whether you’re a visitor or a local, come explore ongoing activities, live performances, interactive workshops & demonstrations, 2025 Canada Games merchandise, visual arts and live streaming of the Games. Also, mark your calendars for Friday evening concerts!
12:25 pm – 1:30 pm | Zal Sissokho
ARTA VISTA @ George Street
Location: Prince Edward Plaza
Time: 6:30 pm – 9:30 pm
In the heart of St. John’s entertainment district, this iconic street hosts some of the largest festivities in the entire province. The George Street Summer Concert Series takes place throughout July and August on the Prince Edward Plaza stage and during the two weeks of the Games will present family-friendly entertainment on Wednesday and Thursday evenings, free, all-ages and open to the public.
8:30 pm - 9:30 pm | Justin Fancy
ARTA VISTA @ The Rooms
Location: The Rooms
Time: 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm
Join the renowned Newfoundland fiddler Kelly Russell as he shares songs, stories and fiddle tunes from his extensive repertoire learned over his long career as a cultural keeper of the flame. Kelly first met the iconic fiddler Rufus Guinchard at the ‘77 Canada Games and the resulting contribution to Newfoundland and Labrador culture has been greatly enhanced through this synergy of culture and sport. The 2025 Games are honoured to continue the tradition. In the spirit of passing the cultural torch, Kelly will be joined for these shows by several of the Provinces’ newer tradition bearers, musicians Michael Park and Shana Brown.
ARTA VISTA @ Water St.
Location: Pedestrian Mall St. John's
Time: 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Downtown St. John’s is a vibrant area, home to a variety of local restaurants, pubs, and businesses. During the two weeks of the Games this area will be home to daily afternoon cultural events as well as free concerts on George Street and a bustling Night Market on Thursday evenings.
7:00 pm - 9:00 pm | Wonderbolt Circus
August 14, 2025
ARTA VISTA @ SJCC
Location: St. John's Convention Centre
Time: 12:00 pm – 6:00 pm
The go-to spot for ARTA VISTA excitement! ARTA VISTA @ SJCC is your daily destination for fun and engaging entertainment. Whether you’re a visitor or a local, come explore ongoing activities, live performances, interactive workshops & demonstrations, 2025 Canada Games merchandise, visual arts and live streaming of the Games. Also, mark your calendars for Friday evening concerts!
12:05 pm - 12:20 pm | St. John’s Storytelling Festival
12:25 pm - 1:30 pm | ColdPlate
ARTA VISTA @ Water St.
Location: Pedestrian Mall St. John's
Time: 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Downtown St. John’s is a vibrant area, home to a variety of local restaurants, pubs, and businesses. During the two weeks of the Games this area will be home to daily afternoon cultural events as well as free concerts on George Street and a bustling Night Market on Thursday evenings.
6:15 pm - 6:40 pm | Kittiwake Dance
6:40 pm - 7:00 pm | Spectrum Queer Choir
7:20 pm - 7:45 pm | Kittiwake Dance
7:45 pm - 8:05 pm | Spectrum Queer Choir
ARTA VISTA @ George Street
Location: Prince Edward Plaza
Time: 6:30 pm – 9:30 pm
In the heart of St. John’s entertainment district, this iconic street hosts some of the largest festivities in the entire province. The George Street Summer Concert Series takes place throughout July and August on the Prince Edward Plaza stage and during the two weeks of the Games will present family-friendly entertainment on Wednesday and Thursday evenings, free, all-ages and open to the public.
7:15 pm - 8:15 pm | With Violet
8:30 pm - 9:30 pm | Kelly McMichael
CBC Projection at Reel Downtown lot
Location: Pedestrian Mall St. John's
Time: 9:30 pm – 11:00 pm
Get ready to see the 2025 Canada Games shine! From August 14-20, CBC will light up the Downtown Pedestrian Mall with a vibrant four-minute urban light show, updated daily. Catch this dazzling celebration of athletes, fans and everyone in between, playing on a loop from dusk until 11 p.m.
August 15, 2025
ARTA VISTA @ SJCC
Location: St. John's Convention Centre
Time: 12:00 pm – 6:00 pm
The go-to spot for ARTA VISTA excitement! ARTA VISTA @ SJCC is your daily destination for fun and engaging entertainment. Whether you’re a visitor or a local, come explore ongoing activities, live performances, interactive workshops & demonstrations, 2025 Canada Games merchandise, visual arts and live streaming of the Games. Also, mark your calendars for Friday evening concerts!
ARTA VISTA @ Harbourside Park
Location: Harbourside Park
Time: 12:30 pm – 2:00 pm
Treat yourself to free lunchtime concerts on Fridays in downtown St. John’s’ Harbourside Park — part of the City of St. John’s Music @ Harbourside Park series, which runs all summer long. Gather with friends and enjoy great music in a relaxed atmosphere. All visitors and residents are welcome!
12:30 pm - 12:45 pm | Griffin Rideout
12:45 pm - 1:30 pm | Grosse Isle
ARTA VISTA @ Water St.
Location: Pedestrian Mall St. John's
Time: 12:00 pm – 12:20 pm
Downtown St. John’s is a vibrant area, home to a variety of local restaurants, pubs, and businesses. During the two weeks of the Games this area will be home to daily afternoon cultural events as well as free concerts on George Street and a bustling Night Market on Thursday evenings.
12:00 pm - 12:20 pm | Tintamarre Parade
ARTA VISTA @ Conception Bay South Games Day in the Park
Location: Conception Bay South Community Park
Time: 5:00 pm – 8:30 pm
Come celebrate the spirit of the 2025 Canada Games at the CBS Community Park! Play interactive sports-themed gaming stations and inflatable games, fun for all ages. Collect tickets as you play for a chance to win exciting prizes. Enjoy music, delicious food, and cap it all off with an evening concert by Those Beautiful Ugly Sticks. Don’t miss this fun-filled community celebration!
7:30 pm - 8:30 pm | Those Beautiful Ugly Sticks
ARTA VISTA @ SJCC
Location: St. John's Convention Centre
Time: 6:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Join us at the ARTA VISTA Center on Friday nights for performances by Festival artists of all styles and musical genres, both local and from all regions of Canada!
6:30 pm - 7:30 pm | Grosse Isle
9:30 pm - 10:30 pm | The Hello Darlins
CBC Projection at Reel Downtown lot
Location: Pedestrian Mall St. John's
Time: 9:30 pm– 11:00 pm
Get ready to see the 2025 Canada Games shine! From August 14-20, CBC will light up the Downtown Pedestrian Mall with a vibrant four-minute urban light show, updated daily. Catch this dazzling celebration of athletes, fans and everyone in between, playing on a loop from dusk until 11 p.m.
August 16, 2025
ARTA VISTA @ Mount Pearl City Days – Youth Festival and Kitchen Party
Location: Team Gushue Sports Complex
Time: 12:00 pm – 11:00 pm
Join us at Mount Pearl City Days for a day of family-friendly events and the biggest Kitchen Party of the summer. Stop by in the afternoon for music, dance, and vocal performances by talented youth artists from across the city, province, and country. Take part in family-friendly demonstrations, crafts, and interactive cultural activities for all ages. Then, cap off the day with a Kitchen Party celebrating Newfoundland and Labrador culture.
1:00 pm - 1:30 pm | Alex Taylor
1:45 pm - 2:30 pm | Heather Feather
2:50 pm - 3:40 pm | The Swinging Belles
4:00 pm - 5:00 pm | School of Rock, St. John’s
5:30 pm - 6:00 pm | Daughters of the Rock
6:15 pm - 7:00 pm | Carolina East
7:15 pm - 8:00 pm | Jim Payne & Fergus O’ Byrne
8:30 pm - 9:30 pm | Kitchinparti
10:00 pm - 11:00 pm | Rum Ragged
ARTA VISTA @ SJCC
Location: St. John's Convention Centre
Time: 12:00 pm – 6:00 pm
The go-to spot for ARTA VISTA excitement! ARTA VISTA @ SJCC is your daily destination for fun and engaging entertainment. Whether you’re a visitor or a local, come explore ongoing activities, live performances, interactive workshops & demonstrations, 2025 Canada Games merchandise, visual arts and live streaming of the Games. Also, mark your calendars for Friday evening concerts!
12:05 pm - 12:25 pm | Michael Park
12:35 pm - 1:35 pm | Grosse Isle
CBC Projection at Reel Downtown lot
Location: Pedestrian Mall St. John's
Time: 9:30pm – 11:00 pm
Get ready to see the 2025 Canada Games shine! From August 14-20, CBC will light up the Downtown Pedestrian Mall with a vibrant four-minute urban light show, updated daily. Catch this dazzling celebration of athletes, fans and everyone in between, playing on a loop from dusk until 11 p.m.
August 17, 2025
ARTA VISTA @ The Killick Coast Games – Opening Ceremony
Location: Justina Centre / Kelly Park
Time: 7:30 pm – 10:00 pm
Celebrate the 2025 Canada Games and the kickoff of The 2025 Killick Coast Games with a celebration of the athletes, special visits from Canada Games Alumni and Gusty, the 2025 Canada Games mascot, musical entertainment by Kitchinparti and a spectacular fireworks display.
The Killick Coast Games is a fun and friendly competition between the towns along the Killick Coast – Portugal Cove- St. Philip’s, Logy Bay-Middle Cove-Outer Cove, Torbay, Bauline, Flatrock and Pouch Cove. Like the 2025 Canada Games, it’s an opportunity for young people to come together to compete in different sports and create lasting memories.
8:00 pm - 8:45 pm | Kitchinparti
CBC Projection at Reel Downtown lot
Location: Pedestrian Mall St. John's
Time: 9:30 pm – 11:00 pm
Get ready to see the 2025 Canada Games shine! From August 14-20, CBC will light up the Downtown Pedestrian Mall with a vibrant four-minute urban light show, updated daily. Catch this dazzling celebration of athletes, fans and everyone in between, playing on a loop from dusk until 11 p.m.
August 18, 2025
ARTA VISTA @ SJCC
Location: St. John's Convention Centre
Time: 12:00 pm – 6:00 pm
The go-to spot for ARTA VISTA excitement! ARTA VISTA @ SJCC is your daily destination for fun and engaging entertainment. Whether you’re a visitor or a local, come explore ongoing activities, live performances, interactive workshops & demonstrations, 2025 Canada Games merchandise, visual arts and live streaming of the Games. Also, mark your calendars for Friday evening concerts!
12:05 pm - 12:30 pm | Zealya
12:35 pm - 1:35 pm | The Old Contemporaries
ARTA VISTA @ Water St.
Location: Pedestrian Mall St. John's
Time: 2:30 pm – 4:30 pm
Downtown St. John’s is a vibrant area, home to a variety of local restaurants, pubs, and businesses. During the two weeks of the Games this area will be home to daily afternoon cultural events as well as free concerts on George Street and a bustling Night Market on Thursday evenings.
3:00 pm - 3:20 pm | Chinese Youth Association of Memorial University of Newfoundland
3:20 pm - 4:05 pm | Ukrainian National Federation of Canada – Avalon Branch (UNF Avalon)
CBC Projection at Reel Downtown lot
Location: Pedestrian Mall St. John's
Time: 9:30 pm – 11:00 pm
Get ready to see the 2025 Canada Games shine! From August 14-20, CBC will light up the Downtown Pedestrian Mall with a vibrant four-minute urban light show, updated daily. Catch this dazzling celebration of athletes, fans and everyone in between, playing on a loop from dusk until 11 p.m.
August 19, 2025
ARTA VISTA @ SJCC
Location: St. John's Convention Centre
Time: 12:00 pm – 6:00 pm
The go-to spot for ARTA VISTA excitement! ARTA VISTA @ SJCC is your daily destination for fun and engaging entertainment. Whether you’re a visitor or a local, come explore ongoing activities, live performances, interactive workshops & demonstrations, 2025 Canada Games merchandise, visual arts and live streaming of the Games. Also, mark your calendars for Friday evening concerts!
12:05 pm - 12:20 pm | St. John’s Storytelling Festival
12:25 pm - 1:25 pm | Jim Payne & Fergus O’ Byrne
ARTA VISTA @ Water St.
Location: Pedestrian Mall St. John's
Time: 2:30 pm – 4:30 pm
Downtown St. John’s is a vibrant area, home to a variety of local restaurants, pubs, and businesses. During the two weeks of the Games this area will be home to daily afternoon cultural events as well as free concerts on George Street and a bustling Night Market on Thursday evenings.
2:10 pm - 2:25 pm | Jim Payne & Fergus O’ Byrne
2:30 pm - 3:00 pm | The STEP Fiddlers
3:00 pm - 3:30 pm | St. Pat’s Dancers
ARTA VISTA @ Banished Brewery
Location: Banished Brewery
Time: 5:30 pm – 8:30 pm
Every Tuesday evening during the 2025 Canada Games, Banished Brewing in Paradise will be alive with a traditional tune session as an energetic backdrop to the Games live streaming and customer appreciation events.
CBC Projection at Reel Downtown lot
Location: Pedestrian Mall St. John's
Time: 9:30 pm – 11:00 pm
Get ready to see the 2025 Canada Games shine! From August 14-20, CBC will light up the Downtown Pedestrian Mall with a vibrant four-minute urban light show, updated daily. Catch this dazzling celebration of athletes, fans and everyone in between, playing on a loop from dusk until 11 p.m.
August 20, 2025
ARTA VISTA @ SJCC
Location: St. John's Convention Centre
Time: 12:00 pm – 6:00 pm
The go-to spot for ARTA VISTA excitement! ARTA VISTA @ SJCC is your daily destination for fun and engaging entertainment. Whether you’re a visitor or a local, come explore ongoing activities, live performances, interactive workshops & demonstrations, 2025 Canada Games merchandise, visual arts and live streaming of the Games. Also, mark your calendars for Friday evening concerts!
12:25 pm - 1:15 pm | Port-Aux-Poutines
ARTA VISTA @ George Street
Location: Prince Edward Plaza
Time: 6:30 pm – 9:30 pm
In the heart of St. John’s entertainment district, this iconic street hosts some of the largest festivities in the entire province. The George Street Summer Concert Series takes place throughout July and August on the Prince Edward Plaza stage and during the two weeks of the Games will present family-friendly entertainment on Wednesday and Thursday evenings, free, all-ages and open to the public.
7:15 pm - 8:15 pm | Rosemary Lawton
8:30 pm - 9:30 pm | Rugged Shores
ARTA VISTA @ The Rooms
Location: The Rooms
Time: 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm
Join the renowned Newfoundland fiddler Kelly Russell as he shares songs, stories and fiddle tunes from his extensive repertoire learned over his long career as a cultural keeper of the flame. Kelly first met the iconic fiddler Rufus Guinchard at the ‘77 Canada Games and the resulting contribution to Newfoundland and Labrador culture has been greatly enhanced through this synergy of culture and sport. The 2025 Games are honoured to continue the tradition. In the spirit of passing the cultural torch, Kelly will be joined for these shows by several of the Provinces’ newer tradition bearers, musicians Michael Park and Shana Brown.
ARTA VISTA @ Water St.
Location: Pedestrian Mall St. John's
Time: 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Downtown St. John’s is a vibrant area, home to a variety of local restaurants, pubs, and businesses. During the two weeks of the Games this area will be home to daily afternoon cultural events as well as free concerts on George Street and a bustling Night Market on Thursday evenings.
7:00 pm - 9:00 pm | Wonderbolt Circus
CBC Projection at Reel Downtown lot
Location: Pedestrian Mall St. John's
Time: 9:30 pm – 11:00 pm
Get ready to see the 2025 Canada Games shine! From August 14-20, CBC will light up the Downtown Pedestrian Mall with a vibrant four-minute urban light show, updated daily. Catch this dazzling celebration of athletes, fans and everyone in between, playing on a loop from dusk until 11 p.m.
August 21, 2025
ARTA VISTA @ SJCC
Location: St. John's Convention Centre
Time: 12:00 pm – 6:00 pm
The go-to spot for ARTA VISTA excitement! ARTA VISTA @ SJCC is your daily destination for fun and engaging entertainment. Whether you’re a visitor or a local, come explore ongoing activities, live performances, interactive workshops & demonstrations, 2025 Canada Games merchandise, visual arts and live streaming of the Games. Also, mark your calendars for Friday evening concerts!
12:30 pm - 1:30 pm | The Band AMITY
ARTA VISTA @ Water St.
Location: Pedestrian Mall St. John's
Time: 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Downtown St. John’s is a vibrant area, home to a variety of local restaurants, pubs, and businesses. During the two weeks of the Games this area will be home to daily afternoon cultural events as well as free concerts on George Street and a bustling Night Market on Thursday evenings.
6:00 pm - 6:45 pm | Spectrum Queer Choir
6:45 pm - 7:30 pm | Kittiwake Dance
8:00 pm - 8:45 pm | Kittiwake Dance
ARTA VISTA @ George Street
Location: Prince Edward Plaza
Time: 6:30 pm – 9:30 pm
In the heart of St. John’s entertainment district, this iconic street hosts some of the largest festivities in the entire province. The George Street Summer Concert Series takes place throughout July and August on the Prince Edward Plaza stage and during the two weeks of the Games will present family-friendly entertainment on Wednesday and Thursday evenings, free, all-ages and open to the public.
6:30 pm - 7:00 pm | Paul Maher
7:15 pm - 8:15 pm | Dave Whitty
8:30 pm - 9:30 pm | Mick Davis and Thin Love
August 22, 2025
ARTA VISTA @ Harbourside Park
Location: Harbourside Park
Time: 12:30 pm – 2:00 pm
Treat yourself to free lunchtime concerts on Fridays in downtown St. John’s’ Harbourside Park — part of the City of St. John’s Music @ Harbourside Park series, which runs all summer long. Gather with friends and enjoy great music in a relaxed atmosphere. All visitors and residents are welcome!
12:30 pm - 12:45 pm | Zealya
12:45 pm - 1:30 pm | Morgan Toney
ARTA VISTA @ SJCC
Location: St. John's Convention Centre - Bowring Ball Room
Time: 6:30 pm – 10:00 pm
Join us at the ARTA VISTA Center on Friday nights for performances by Festival artists of all styles and musical genres, both local and from all regions of Canada!
5:35 pm - 6:15 pm | XIA-3
6:30 pm - 7:30 pm | Sechile Sedare
8:00 pm - 9:00 pm | SARFest, Zale Seck
9:30 pm - 10:30 pm | Beauxmont
August 23, 2025
ARTA VISTA @ Paradise SunSplash Music Festival
Location: Paradise Sunsplash!
Time: 11:00 am – 5:00 pm
Join us in Paradise for a music-filled celebration at the SunSplash Multicultural Festival, as part of the Canada Games festivities!
The music kicks off at 11:00 a.m. and continues all afternoon with an exciting lineup. You’ll hear Newfoundland and Labrador’s own Salt Beef Junkies, the powerful rhythms of Latin American group De La Paz (in collaboration with SARfest), and Juno-nominated Mi’kmaq fiddler and singer Morgan Toney. Experience the high-energy Ukrainian rock of The Kubasonics and wrap up the day with the foot-stomping Acadian fusion of Francophone group Beauxmont.
This vibrant event will also feature a festival street market with music, buskers, puppets, art, face painting, food trucks, multicultural crafts, and “try-it” mini sports and games from around the world—fun for all ages!
Come for the music, stay for the culture and be a part of the Canada Games excitement!
11:00 am - 11:30 am | The Salt Beef Junkies
12:00 pm - 12:45 pm | SARFest, De La Paz
1:15 pm - 2:15 pm | Morgan Toney
2:45 pm - 3:45 pm | The Kubasonics
4:15 pm - 5:15 pm | Beauxmont
