Hi,
I have just checked out the Festival website. They only have a few acts announced so far, but as a fan of traditional Nfld / celtic music I defintely say GO TO THE FESTIVAL.Wow -what a lineup.
Now regarding puffins etc. You will certainly see some puffins and other seabirds at Witless Bay, even in early August, although likely not in large numbers. Humpbacks are extremely variable, year to year, I suggest going out up near St. Anthony and also at Witless Bay.

In 2009 Humpback Whales were very late arriving inshore and there were still good numbers around Witless Bay in August. Other years they are gone by then near St. John's but not necessarily gone in the north west of the island.

A neat thing to do in St. John's might be, on the morning of Saturday the 7th of August take a drive down the shore to one of the smaller bird /whale tour operators out of the Bauline East area.They do tours that are only 1 hour long, but they are much closer to the nesting islands [one of them anyway] than are the tours out of Bay Bulls. You could do this and still be easily back to Bannerman Park and the Folk Festival by early afternoon. Then you would still have the option of going out again later with O'Brien's or one of the other larger boats. And Cape St. Mary's is a must. The gannets will be there!
By the way - 'gannet' and 'music' in my screen name both refer to Newfoundland.
cherrs-Jerry

thanks Jerry .... I really appreciate the "customized suggestions". Sounds like a plan...:)
cheers
Blanche

Camping in Gros Morne...

Lomond has 3 walk-in sites a bit hidden from the rest and they have a better view. The other sites are just OK. The forst pic is the view from a normal site (didn't know the walk-in sites existed). I had gray jays invite themselves for dinner and a moose on the next site woke me up in the morning. Lomond is a bit isolated and down a steep 2km gravel road so it seemed less crowded to me.

http://www.borealphoto.com/photos/39...2_i4moG-XL.jpg
http://www.borealphoto.com/photos/36...2_7cCfQ-XL.jpg

Trout river was good too. This is a view from the campground:

http://www.borealphoto.com/photos/72...9_cUXjB-X2.jpg

I saw some campground around Woody point but they looked more like RV parkings.

Depending on your shape and equipment, you can camp on the Green Garden trail. There are 4 sites 4.5km off the road on Green Garden trail. About half of it is a relatively steep descent to the coast so you have to climb up the next day. The sites are fantastic, so is the coastal trail.

http://www.borealphoto.com/photos/36...6_6py3d-XL.jpg
http://www.borealphoto.com/photos/37...2_867qn-XL.jpg
http://www.borealphoto.com/photos/36...2_mGbmN-XL.jpg
http://www.borealphoto.com/photos/36...0_h34PY-XL.jpg

North of Bonne Bay, I stayed at a KOA campground. The sites, especially those without services were really nice. Compact with lots of trees. There's a little trail around a little lake. A moose was eating a few feet from my tent at night.

http://www.borealphoto.com/photos/36...2_mJ5cB-XL.jpg

Shallow Bay has larger sites with lots of trees. A beautiful beach is a short walk away. I think a night there is a must. You can always stop on your back from Anse-aux-Meadows.

http://www.borealphoto.com/photos/37...6_j7v5L-XL.jpg

You'll love Newfoundland. :)

beautiful pictures! The scenery is breathtaking....thanks for the tips... We also tent but have a bigger set up than yours ie 6 man tent and probably a bit more equipment but this will help avoid the RV type areas.
cheers
Blanche