Off To The Races

The 198th Regatta

Each year, on the first Wednesday of August, the City of St. John's holds the Royal St. John's Regatta. The Regatta is the only civic holiday in Canada that is dependent on the weather. On the night before, residents of the historic city have the option to stay at home and have a quiet night or "roll the dice" and party! The choice has become know as "Regatta Roulette".

As residents party into the night, refreshment in hand, there is always the lingering question, When I turn on the radio at 6:00 a.m., will the Royal Regatta officials say "It is a go" or will it be a day of work?

The regatta is held on Quidi Vidi Lake and has run continuously every year. In 2018, they will be celebrating the 200th Regatta.

This year, the officials declared that the races would take place even though the morning weather was cloudy. As it turned out, it was a beautiful day, sunny and dry.

We went to Quidi Vidi Lake. Al was joining his fellow singers of the Anchormen Chorus. For years, the chorus mans a booth. Year after year they use this opportunity as their annual fundraiser for the chorus. They sell tickets, spin the wheel and someone wins a large generic stuffed animal. Then they repeat that until all the stuffed animals are gone. People must have been saving up to attend the day's event. I overheard one man say that they had finally won a stuffed animal after spending $100 on tickets. The tickets were 50 cents each. Wow!

   

The Anchormen Barbershop Chorus Booth                      Al selling tickets

Tens of thousands of people were at the lake side mainly focusing on the concessions: games and food. There were several individuals who stood on the fringes and entertained the passers-by. It was interesting to watch these artists perform their craft whether it was playing an instrument, singing, or carving.

  

 Young musicians                                       Beating of the drums

They look so thrilled!                                                                

  

 Strumming the guitar                                 A stone carver

  

 A wood carver                                           More strumming

  

Join in the fun with a tambourine                                      Enjoy the music         

  

 Work those strings!

  

While Al was busy with the Anchormen, I walked the grounds, sat on the hillside and watched the races. It was interesting to watch the excited faces of the people who were trying to win various prizes and the look of disappointment when they did not. Food was abundant, mainly fries. Oh, by the way, a big thing here is fries with dressing and gravy. The dressing is like the stuffing that you would put in your turkey but not like how we make it. The dressing here is more like crumbs with savory in it. Basically, it is fries, bread crumbs and gravy. What a combination! That is really something you have to have a taste for. Not me!

All in all it was a nice day to watch the races, people and the surrounding excitement. I remember back to my youth when I would attend the Canadian National Exhibition (CNE) in Toronto each year and there is just no comparison, although the exciting atmosphere was the same.

  

 The crowds

  

Shakespeare: They will do                                    A & P on the hillside         

anything to sell tickets.                                                                                  

Here the prize is 34 dozen                                                                                  

different beers.                                                                                

         

                            

 The Races

  

 

 

The police and Red Cross volunteers.