A monument to rowers in the Royal St. John's Regatta on the shores of Quidi Vidi Lake in St. John's, NL

The Royal St. John's Regatta is the oldest organized sporting event in North America. It has been a part of Newfoundland history for 185 years. The first record of an organized event is in 1818, but rowing matches were common among ships crews in St. John's Harbour since at least the 1700's.

These days, the Regatta draws crowds of up to 50,000 people annually to the shores of Quidi Vidi Lake. It is widely known as "The Largest Garden Party in the World" because it has been about socializing as much as amateur sport. Concession stands, wheels of fortune, games of chance, and food & drink are just as much part of the Regatta's history as the races. Indeed, many people hardly notice the races, as they are too involved in the merrymaking on the shores of the lake.