The Downtown Victoria Business Association is launching Victoria’s first Car Free Day on Douglas Street on June 21, 2015 with registrations for vendors and exhibitors now open.
“We are excited to bring Car Free Day to Victoria. Closing six blocks of Victoria’s main street for a celebration of our community is a strong statement and we hope, a catalyst for longer-term enhancement for Douglas Street,” says Fran Hobbis, Board Chair for the Downtown Victoria Business Association.
Car Free Day will be spread out over six blocks of Douglas Street from Herald to Fort Streets from 12 – 6 pm. Three stages will support the street festival setting with music, entertainment, and talent throughout the event. The street will be lined with retail and business vendors, artisans and makers, food vendors and food trucks and more. The Victoria Public Market will anchor Car Free Day on the street between Herald St. and Fisgard St. at the north end and The Bay Centre will anchor the event between View St. and Fort St. at the south end.
“There is no other event where the public can stroll on Douglas Street. Car Free Day offers the chance for people to reclaim our busiest street,” says Ken Kelly, General Manager of the Downtown Victoria Business Association. “We intend this day to be Victoria’s care free, car free day.”
Modeled after Vancouver’s Car Free Day, an event which each year attracts tens of thousands of people, Victoria’s event is a chance to further celebrate Victoria as Canada’s most walkable city with the highest numbers of commuting cyclists in Canada.
Deadline for registration is May 11. Visit http://carfreeyyj.ca to register.
