Thousands of visitors will make downtown Vancouver extra busy this weekend
It’s Canada Day weekend, meaning folks will be flocking to Downtown Vancouver, and it’s going to be extra busy because thousands of cruise ship visitors will be in town.
According to the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority, about 47,000 cruise ship passengers are expected to stream through the Canada Place cruise ship terminal over the four-day weekend period between Friday, June 27 and Monday, June 30, leading into Canada Day on Tuesday, July 1.
Friday will see the arrival of the Radiance of the Seas, Seabourn Quest, and Norwegian Sun.
Cruise ships docked at the Canada Place cruise ship terminal in downtown Vancouver. (Shutterstock)
The Sapphire Princess and Koningsdam will be coming to town on June 28.
Celebrity Solstice, Serenade of the Seas, and Nieuw Amsterdam will arrive on June 29, and Norwegian Jade, Villa Vie Odyssey, and Disney Wonder on June 30. Then on July 1, the Grand Princess and Villa Vie Odyssey will dock.
The Port Authority is warning the public that there will be high pedestrian and vehicle traffic volumes in the area, as well as longer wait times for taxis, ride-hailing, and public transit.
It’s not just cruise ships and tourists that will result in the downtown core being extra busy this weekend.
Gastown is going car-free on Sundays for the next several weeks with a new summer series, thanks in part to the success of the Water Street Pedestrian Pilot.
Gastown on a busy Sunday. (Low Tide Properties)
Inspired by global pedestrian-first movements like Paris Respire, the new car-free series will transform the cobblestone streets of Gastown into a gathering spot with exciting activations like live DJ sets, an open-air art crawl, and plenty of expanded patios.
This Sunday, Gastown in Bloom will be taking place, transforming Water Street into a botanical promenade with pop-up flower stalls, floral installations, and more. If you’re planning on visiting the area, plan ahead, as road closures will be in place.
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The Vancouver International Jazz Festival is also underway with concerts and performances around the city until July 1.
Keep in mind that the weather this weekend is expected to heat up, so that will likely motivate locals and visitors alike to spend some time at Vancouver’s beaches or post up at a park and soak in the sunshine.
If you’re headed out to enjoy what the weekend has to offer around downtown Vancouver or anywhere around the Lower Mainland, be sure to pack your patience and check DriveBC for any traffic updates.
With files from Kenneth Chan
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