"For me, nothing explains Car Free Day better than that awkward, disorientating moment at the very beginning of the day, when the barricades go up and the stream of cars and trucks is gone from the streets, wrote Car Free Vancouver Society Board member Joey Moore in a guest editorial for Vancouver is Awesome.
Car Free Day is a volunteer-based event, aimed at rejuvenating Vancouvers community culture and pride.
The goal is to reconnect people in their communities, during our fun-for-free festival. We really just hope to re-engage people in local arts, local businesses and local non-profits, said board chair Maddy Kipling. We believe fewer cars means more community.
The festival, which temporarily closes portions of popular neighbourhoods to vehicular traffic, takes place in the West End, Kitsilano, Commercial Drive and Main Street.
The West End festival is Sunday June 16 on Denman Street between Davie and Robson. It features the penny drive (donate your pennies), PuddleCity Arts near Central Bistro, a kid zone, square dancing, Theater Under the Stars, acoustic music, a Tango Meats BBQ and the new pet parade from 2 to 4pm at Barclay and Denmen. The festival runs from noon to 6pm while this portion of the street will be closed from 10am to 8pm.
Here are other Car Free Days in the city.
June 15 and 16:
Kitsilano: Block parties specifically for local residents, from noon to 6pm.
Sunday June 16:
Commercial Drive: Special features include popular Roller Disco, community stages, drummers, and healing garden. Festival takes place from Venables Street to North Grandview Highway, from noon till 7pm. (This portion of the street is closed from 10am to 9pm.)
Main Street: Special features include the Rifflandia Festival Stage and the Neptoon Records stage, kids yoga, button making, art zones, chalk drawing. Between Broadway and 30th.
