Things to Do in St. John's in March
March weather, activities, events & insider tips
March Weather in St. John's
Is March Right for You?
Advantages
- Shoulder season pricing means accommodations run 20-30% cheaper than summer peak, with plenty of availability even if you book just 2-3 weeks out - you're not competing with cruise ship crowds or school holiday families
- Signal Hill and the East Coast Trail are actually accessible in March - the winter ice has mostly cleared but you're ahead of the muddy spring thaw that hits in April, making hiking conditions surprisingly good for this time of year
- The city transitions from winter festivals to spring events, so you might catch both the tail end of Mardi Gras celebrations and early St. Patrick's Day preparations - St. John's goes particularly hard on Irish heritage given the population history
- Iceberg season is just beginning - late March occasionally brings the first sightings off the coast, and you'll have viewing spots practically to yourself compared to the June-July crowds who come specifically for berg-watching
Considerations
- Weather is genuinely unpredictable in March - that 2°C to 16°C (36°F to 61°F) range isn't theoretical, you could see both extremes in the same week, and locals joke that you can experience all four seasons in a single day during this transition period
- The 'warm and humid' descriptor is misleading - at 70% humidity with temps near freezing, it's the kind of damp cold that cuts through layers, very different from dry prairie cold, and the wind off the Atlantic makes it feel considerably colder than the thermometer suggests
- Many seasonal attractions and boat tours don't start operations until late April or May - whale watching tours, puffin colony visits to Witless Bay, and several coastal experiences simply aren't running yet, limiting your activity options
Best Activities in March
Downtown Heritage Walking Routes
March is actually ideal for exploring the Jellybean Row houses and historic downtown on foot - you avoid the summer tour bus crowds, and the variable weather means you get dramatic lighting for photos when the sun breaks through. The steep hills are clear of ice but not yet slick with spring rain. Most days hover around 8-10°C (46-50°F) by midday, which is perfect walking temperature with a good jacket. The city's Irish and English colonial architecture tells the story better without 50 other people in your frame.
Signal Hill and Battery Trails Hiking
March hits a sweet spot where the trails are passable but not crowded. The North Head Trail and Ladies Lookout Trail offer incredible views of the Narrows and city below, and on clear days you might spot early icebergs. The wind is relentless up here - sustained 40-50 km/h (25-31 mph) gusts are normal - but that's part of the experience. Snow patches linger in shaded areas, but the main paths are generally clear by mid-March. Go midday between 11am-2pm when temps peak and visibility is best.
The Rooms Museum and Gallery Visits
When March weather turns nasty - and it will - The Rooms is your best indoor backup. This provincial museum sits on a hill overlooking the harbour and covers everything from Indigenous history to the 1949 confederation with Canada. The permanent collection of regional art is surprisingly strong, and the building itself is architecturally interesting, designed to echo fishing premises. March typically sees rotating exhibits, and you'll have the galleries largely to yourself on weekday mornings.
George Street Pub Crawl Experience
George Street claims to have the most bars and pubs per square foot in North America, and March is when you experience it like a local rather than a tourist attraction. The street comes alive Thursday-Saturday nights, and you're drinking alongside Memorial University students and townies, not cruise ship crowds. The music scene here is legitimate - traditional Irish sessions, local rock bands, and the occasional kitchen party atmosphere. Temperatures mean you'll actually want to be inside a warm pub rather than patio-hopping.
Cape Spear Lighthouse Visits
As the most easterly point in North America, Cape Spear is dramatic in March - wild, windswept, and almost guaranteed to be deserted. The historic lighthouse dates to 1836, and the WWII fortifications are fascinating if you're into military history. This is where you come to understand why Newfoundland's weather is so unpredictable - you're literally where North American land meets the Atlantic. On rare clear days, the views are stunning. On typical March days, you'll get blasted by wind and possibly horizontal rain, but that's authentic.
Local Brewery and Distillery Tastings
St. John's has developed a solid craft beverage scene, and March is perfect for indoor tasting experiences. Quidi Vidi Brewing, Bannerman Brewing, and Newfoundland Distillery Company offer tours and tastings that give you insight into local ingredients and culture - the iceberg water marketing is real, they actually harvest icebergs for brewing. These are small operations where you might meet the brewmaster, very different from corporate beer tours elsewhere. Pair this with learning about screech rum traditions.
March Events & Festivals
St. Patrick's Day Celebrations
St. John's has one of the largest Irish populations per capita outside Ireland, and St. Patrick's Day on March 17th is taken seriously here. George Street goes particularly hard with multi-day celebrations, traditional music sessions in every pub, and the parade downtown draws significant crowds despite the weather. Unlike manufactured tourist celebrations elsewhere, this feels genuinely cultural - fourth and fifth generation Irish-Newfoundlanders celebrating heritage. Expect green beer, kitchen parties, and traditional music sessions that run late into the night.
Late Winter Festival Events
Early March sometimes catches the tail end of winter festival programming - snowshoe events, winter markets, and indoor cultural performances that bridge the gap between winter and spring seasons. The exact lineup varies year to year, but Memorial University often hosts concerts and theatre productions that locals actually attend. Check the LSPU Hall for alternative arts programming - this is a proper community venue, not tourist-focused entertainment.