Car Free Days coming soon to Vancouver, and Metro Vancouver

Step into the streets: Car-free block parties return this summer across Metro Vancouver

Parts of Main Street and Commercial Drive will be pedestrian zones for a day in September.

Each block party will see vendors fill the streets, while live music and other performances take place.Photo courtesy of TransLink

Vancouver's Car Free Days are coming up in the first half of September, while other cities in Metro Vancouver will hold their own car-free street parties in August and September.

The Vancouver Car Free Society has two days booked this year. The first, on Saturday, Sept. 6, will take place on Commercial Drive between Grandview and East 1st Avenue.

The second Vancouver Car Free Day will be Sunday, Sept. 14, on Main Street, when the blocks between 10th and 30th avenues will be closed to vehicle traffic.

Late last year, the society launched a fundraiser to ensure the 2025 events.

"The Car Free Vancouver Society Team would like to express appreciation and gratitude to our community who contributed and helped the festival this year," reads the event's site. "Every donation, share and time spent to support this festival has made a huge impact and for this, we thank you."

Each block party will see vendors fill the streets, while live music and other performances take place.

At the same time, more Car Free Days are happening across Metro Vancouver, supported by TransLink and local BIAs. Already this summer, events have happened in Surrey and New Westminster.

"Car Free Days invite residents to experience their vibrant neighbourhoods without cars — encouraging walking, cycling, and transit as greener, more sustainable ways to get around," stated TransLink in a media release.

Car Free Days coming soon include:

From noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 17, in Port Moody on St. Johns Street between Queens and Moody Streets
From noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 31 in Burnaby on Edmunds Street between Kingsway and Mary Avenue
From noon to 8 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 6 in Port Coquitlam on McAllister Avenue
From noon to 6 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 6 in Maple Ridge around Memorial Peace Park (in partnership with the Our Neck of the Woods festival)
From noon to 8 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 20 in North Vancouver on 1st Street.

“Burnaby’s first-ever Car Free Day is part of a growing movement encouraging people to leave their cars behind and explore our communities in new ways,” said TransLink CEO Kevin Quinn.

Those wanting to attend are encouraged to not use a car to get to the events.