VANCOUVER is gearing up for a spectacular array of outdoor events, festivals and cultural celebrations.
The car-free Water Street Pedestrian Zone kicks off on Sunday, June 15 in Gastown. From June to September, every Sunday between 10 am and 6 pm, Water Street will become an open-air playground between Richards and Columbia streets.
From live music to art exhibits, markets and more, Gastown will be the place for a casual Sunday wander with friends, lunch in Maple Tree Square, or to entertain little ones. Come enjoy free, family-friendly events and activities in the Pedestrian Zone, programmed in partnership with the Gastown Business Improvement Society (GBIS).
Each Sunday will feature different types of programming to test how the Pedestrian Zone works with varying levels of activity—from large city-wide events to smaller community-focused days. Alongside community-led events, the GBIS will host the Gastown Sunday Set, a rotating series of free events every Sunday.
All summer in Gastown, the City is testing street and public space changes that will help shape future upgrades and programming in the area, including more seating, expanded patios, placemaking features, cycling enhancements, traffic calming and improved neighbourhood access via two-way Cordova Street. Visitors will also enjoy special summer offerings from local businesses, including shared market stalls, merchandise displays with point of sale, and live music adjacent to patios.
“We’re thrilled to continue our partnership with the Gastown Business Improvement Society to support local businesses and explore new opportunities for them as we head into another summer of outdoor fun in Gastown,” says Lisa Parker, Director of Public Space and Street Use. “We’ve worked together to create a vibrant, welcoming, pedestrian-first experience every Sunday on Water Street. It’s exciting to see what’s already come out of this collaboration, and we’re looking forward to what’s next.”
“Gastown has always been a heartbeat of art, music, cuisine and creativity, and now, we’re channelling that vibrant spirit into the Pedestrian Zone every Sunday with the Gastown Sunday Set event series,” says Elise Yurkowski, Director of Operations for GBIS. “Inspired by global initiatives like Paris Breathes, these weekly activations invite everyone to slow down, discover, and reconnect with the culture, people and the businesses that make Gastown unlike anywhere else.”
On Sundays, complimentary bike valet will be available for those looking to keep things green and cycle into town. Visitors can also provide their proof of purchase from a Gastown business to redeem three hours of free parking at the EasyPark lot at 151 West Cordova Street, which has more than 2,000 stalls, courtesy of the GBIS. The GBIS is also offering additional benefits for visitors looking to use sustainable travel modes such as transit and e-mobility to get to Gastown. Visit gastown.org for more information.
More outdoor summer fun
Adding to the buzz is the return of the city’s much-loved annual events including the Honda Celebration of Light, Pride, Symphony at Sunset and Evo Summer Cinema across Vancouver’s parks and public spaces.
Upcoming events in Vancouver*
*As of time of issuance.
June
- Water Street Pedestrian Zone and the Gastown Sunday Set, (Sundays, June 15 – August 31)
- T100 Triathlon, June 13 – 15
- National Indigenous Peoples Day Block Party, June 21
- Vancouver Half Marathon & 5K, June 22
- Concord Pacific Dragon Boat Festival, June 20 – 22
- Vancouver International Jazz Festival, June 20 – July 1
- Greek Day on Broadway, June 22
July
- Canada Together, July 1
- Stanley Park Open, July 4 – 20
- Symphony at Sunset, July 5
- Khatsalano Street Party, July 5
- EVO Summer Cinema, July 8 – August 26
- Global Relay Gastown GrandPrix, July 9
- Carnaval del Sol, July 11 – 13
- Vancouver Open Beach Volleyball, July 11 – 13
- Vancouver Chinatown Festival, July 12 – 13
- Vancouver Folk Music Festival, July 18 – 20
- Honda Celebration of Light, July 19, 23 & 26
- Thai Festival, July 26 – 27
August
- Powell Street Festival, August 2 – 3
- Vancouver Pride Parade, August 3
- KitsFest, August 7 – 10
- Pleasant Day Festival, August 9
- Festival of India – Vancouver Ratha Yatra, August 23 – 24
- Granville Block Party, TBC
- Vancouver TAIWANFest, August 30 – September 1
September
- Car Free Day on Commercial Drive, September 6
- Bike the Night, September 13
- Fire Dragon Festival, September 19 – 20
- Car Free Day on Main Street, September 14
- Under Armour Eastside 10k, September 21
Plan ahead to attend
To help these events operate as smoothly as possible, attendees are encouraged to:
- Walk, bike, roll, Mobi, Lime, or take transit to and from events whenever possible.
- Discover Vancouver’s bike paths with the 2025 Spring Cycling Map
- Put waste in its place in the nearest garbage, recycling or organics bin.
- Learn about the rules around alcohol consumption in parks and beaches.
- Be considerate of the neighbourhood and keep noise to a minimum when leaving.
For those cycling or using micromobility devices like electric scooters to the event, please review the event’s website for information on where you can ride and park, including:
- How to bike to transit, bring your bike on transit and park your bike at TransLink transit stations.
- Use the free bike parking at Granville Island.
- Take advantage of free Bike Valets across the city, including in Gastown, Vancouver City Centre and local events, operated by BEST.
Resources
If you are travelling in and around the event areas, plan ahead and expect delays.
- Follow all detours and abide by no parking signs in the area.
- Learn more about road closures across the city.
- Open your map app, follow #VanTraffic or use traffic cameras to check traffic conditions along your route.
- Visit translink.ca/alerts for changes or disruptions to your bus service.
