Bay Roberts wrapped up its 75th anniversary celebrations on August 3 as the annual Klondyke Days festival came to a close with a full day of community events and a fireworks show over the historic Klondyke Causeway. The two-week festival, running from July 22 to August 3, marked the town’s diamond milestone since its incorporation in 1951.
The final day started with a community breakfast at St. John the Evangelist Church, followed by a local market at the Community Gardens where regional vendors sold handmade goods. The evening ended with fireworks lighting up the sky from the Klondyke Causeway at 10:00 p.m. The Town office was closed as residents observed the Civic Holiday.
Klondyke Days began in 1996, the idea of Ron Delaney, then the town’s Director of Tourism and Development. He wanted to bring people together and celebrate civic events. The festival is named after the Klondyke, a causeway built by local residents in 1897 during hard economic times after the Labrador fishery collapsed. The government paid workers to build it, and families saw the wages as a gold mine, tying the name to the Klondike Gold Rush happening at the same time. The causeway connected Bay Roberts and Coley’s Point, two separate communities that are now part of the town.
The 2026 festival had extra meaning as Bay Roberts celebrated 75 years as an incorporated town. It was formed on February 24, 1951, when five smaller communities came together: Bay Roberts East, Bay Roberts, Coley’s Point, Shearstown/Butlerville, and Country Road. Former mayor Walter Yetman has said the festival brings thousands of visitors to town, supports local businesses, and puts Bay Roberts on the map. In past years, concerts have drawn over 20,000 people.
Throughout the two weeks, residents and visitors enjoyed concerts, parades, and family activities. The festival has grown from simple beginnings into a major event that highlights the town’s history and community spirit, all centred around the causeway that still stands as a symbol of what people can achieve together.
