Gander

Around Gander

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Town and around · Newfoundland and Labrador · 13k people

Gander

Locals say Central Newfoundland · “The Crossroads of the World”, “The Hub”

Where the runway meets the rock

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Welcome to Central Newfoundland, where the Atlantic meets the barrens. Whether you're here for the aviation history or the outport charm, you'll find a friendly wave and a cup of tea. Get ready for some of the most rugged coastline and the warmest people you'll ever meet.

Clubs for Gander

No clubs for Gander yet.

The room

One room for everyone around Gander. It never closes; when it's busy it splits into tables. Once you're in, you stay until you leave.

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All

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Coming up

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Marketplace

Things for sale, free and wanted, and rooms for rent, from people around Gander. Sign in to sell something.

Things to do

  • Gander International Airport Historic aviation hub and 9/11 landing site
  • Terra Nova National Park Coastal park with hiking and camping
  • Bonavista Lighthouse Historic lighthouse on Cape Bonavista
  • Cape Bonavista Scenic headland with dramatic cliffs
  • Beothuk Interpretation Centre Learn about the Beothuk people in Boyd's Cove
  • Town of Bonavista Outport with colourful houses and fishing heritage
  • Outdoors Hike the Skerwink Trail
  • Outdoors Camp and hike in Terra Nova National Park
  • With kids Visit the Beothuk Interpretation Centre
  • With kids Explore the Bonavista Lighthouse
  • Evenings Catch live music at a local pub
  • Evenings Join a kitchen party
  • Locals love Outport fishing villages
  • Locals love Fishing stages and wharves

Through the year

  • Festival of Flight July aviation heritage celebration in Gander
  • Skerwink Trail Run September trail race on the Bonavista Peninsula
  • Bonavista Biennale summer contemporary art exhibition in Bonavista
  • Festival of Words September literary festival in Clarenville
  • Fish, Fun and Folk Festival August food and music festival in Grand Bank

Maritime climate with cool summers and mild, snowy winters. Best time to be out is July to September. Best: July to September

Talk like a local

“b'y”
friend or fellow
“some”
very
“screech”
dark rum
“outport”
small coastal community

Getaways

  • Grand Falls-Windsor waterfalls and town amenities
  • St. John's capital city with Signal Hill and downtown
  • Corner Brook skiing and Gros Morne access
  • Terra Nova National Park coastal park with camping and boating

Local flavour

Rooting for Toronto Maple Leafs (NHL), Montreal Canadiens (NHL)

Eat and drink

  • Fish and brewis Salt cod with hard tack and scrunchions
  • Toutons Fried bread dough, often with molasses
  • Jiggs dinner Boiled dinner with salt beef, cabbage, and root vegetables
  • Screech (rum) Dark rum, a Newfoundland staple
  • Partridgeberry jam Jam made from local lingonberries

Where people go

  • Outport fishing villages Tiny communities with stages and wharves
  • Lighthouses Beacons on rocky coasts
  • Fishing stages and wharves Wooden structures for processing fish
  • Bogs and barrens Open, windswept landscapes with peat and low shrubs
  • Coastal hiking trails Paths along cliffs and inlets

Heritage and traditions

Central Newfoundland is proud of its aviation heritage as the 'Crossroads of the World,' its resilient outport communities, and the deep-rooted Newfoundland culture of storytelling, music, and warm hospitality.

This time of year in Gander

  • Moose hunting September-October A fall tradition for many families, with a strong local culture of hunting and processing meat.

Say it like a local: “Whadda ya at?” — How are you? / What's up?

Festivals

  • Festival of Flight Summer (July) Celebrates Gander's aviation heritage with air shows, exhibits, and community events.
  • Gander Winter Carnival February A week of winter sports, ice sculptures, and family activities.
  • Clarenville Winter Carnival February Community celebration with skating, snowmobile races, and a parade.
  • Skerwink Trail Run September A scenic trail race along the cliffs of the Bonavista Peninsula.
  • Bonavista Biennale Summer (every two years) A contemporary art exhibition set in historic outport buildings and landscapes.
  • Fish, Fun and Folk Festival Summer (August) Celebrates Newfoundland food, music, and community in a coastal town.

Landmarks with a story

  • North Atlantic Aviation Museum Tells the story of Gander's role in transatlantic flight, including WWII and the 9/11 diversions.
  • Grand Bank Heritage Museum Housed in a restored merchant's home, showcasing the town's fishing and shipbuilding past.
  • Burin Heritage Museum Displays artifacts from the Burin Peninsula's maritime history, including the 1929 tsunami.
  • Gander International Airport Terminal A mid-century modern architectural icon, with its 1950s lounge and 'Crossroads of the World' atmosphere.
  • Old Court House in Burin A 19th-century courthouse that now serves as a community museum and heritage centre.
  • Marystown Heritage Buildings Well-preserved merchant houses and fishing stages along the waterfront.

Food traditions

  • Newfoundland fish cakes Made from salt cod, mashed potatoes, and onions, fried until golden—a staple at breakfast or as a snack.
  • Pea soup with doughboys A hearty soup with split peas and fluffy dumplings (doughboys), often served on cold winter days.
  • Screech-in ceremony A fun initiation for newcomers to drink Screech rum and kiss a cod—a Newfoundland tradition.
  • Bakeapple (cloudberry) jam Sweet-tart jam made from the amber berries found on coastal barrens, served with bread or desserts.
  • Cod au gratin Baked salt cod in a creamy cheese sauce, a comfort food in outport kitchens.

Music and arts

  • Newfoundland folk music Accordion, fiddle, and guitar-driven songs about the sea and outport life.
  • Kitchen parties Informal gatherings where friends and family play music, sing, and dance in the kitchen.
  • Storytelling tradition Oral tales of ghosts, shipwrecks, and local legends are passed down through generations.
  • Boat building as craft Wooden skiffs and punts are still built by hand, a skill passed down in coastal communities.

A little history

  • Early 1800s Beothuk extinction
  • 1940s Gander as a WWII military base and transatlantic refueling point
  • 2001 Operation Yellow Ribbon (9/11) – Gander hosted diverted flights and stranded passengers
  • 1960s Construction of the Trans-Canada Highway through Central Newfoundland
  • 1950s-60s Resettlement of outports in the 1950s-60s, moving families to larger centers

Rivalries

  • Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Montreal Canadiens Classic NHL rivalry
  • Gander vs. Grand Falls-Windsor Local hockey rivalry
  • Game day Hockey
  • Game day Skerwink Trail Run
  • Outdoors Walk the Gander River
  • Outdoors Watch the sunset at Cape Bonavista
  • With kids Visit the North Atlantic Aviation Museum
  • With kids Swim in Gander Lake

Central Newfoundland speaks a distinctive English dialect with Irish and West Country English roots, featuring a singsong intonation, dropped 'h's, and unique vocabulary. Locals often use 'b'y' (boy) as a friendly address, and phrases like 'whadda ya at?' for 'how are you?'.

Only here

  • The Gander International Airport's 'Crossroads of the World' nickname, and its role in 9/11 when it welcomed thousands of stranded passengers.
  • The Beothuk Interpretation Centre, dedicated to the indigenous Beothuk people who lived in this area and are now extinct.
  • The unique Newfoundland dialect, with phrases like 'long may your big jib draw' heard nowhere else.
  • The tradition of 'screech-in'—a ceremony for newcomers involving rum and a cod kiss.
New here? A few tips
  • Embrace the friendly pace—Newfoundlanders are famously welcoming, but 'Newfoundland time' means things happen when they happen.
  • Learn a few phrases: say 'b'y' to friends, and ask 'Whadda ya at?' instead of 'How are you?'
  • Prepare for long winters with heavy snow—invest in a good snowbrush and warm boots.
  • Drive carefully for moose, especially at dawn and dusk; they are a common sight on highways.
  • Try the local food: fish cakes, toutons, and a proper Jiggs dinner. Don't miss a screech-in!

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Nearby

Every area
Central NewfoundlandNewfoundland and LabradorWhere the sea meets the rock and the people are warmGrand Falls-WindsorNewfoundland and LabradorWhere the river runs deep and the welcome is warmer.Clarenville–BonavistaNewfoundland and LabradorWhere the ocean meets the rock, and tradition holds fast.Avalon PeninsulaNewfoundland and LabradorWhere the Atlantic meets ancient rockBurin PeninsulaNewfoundland and LabradorWhere the sea shapes the soulHumber ValleyNewfoundland and LabradorWhere the river runs wild and the woods are deepSt. John'sNewfoundland and LabradorThe colourful capital of the RockCorner BrookNewfoundland and LabradorWhere the Humber runs to the sea.

Gander. Areas from the US Census Bureau and Statistics Canada; places from GeoNames. Local flavour was written with a model and may have mistakes. Team names identify teams; no endorsement.

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