Car Free Day New West used to be a free Metro Vancouver summer street party with food, drinks, music and other activities in New Westminster.

The second annual edition of the event took place in late July in 2023. The event isn’t happening in its usual form in 2024. Instead, it’s taking place as a smaller Car Free Day-themed block party on July 26th that’s part of the Fridays on the Front series of weekly evening events. It won’t be quite the same as the last couple of years, but it will still be fun.

Other awesome events that happen on the same weekend in 2024 are the Celebration of Light fireworks competition, Chilliwack Ribfest, Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows Country Fest, Steveston Grand Prix of Art and Coquitlam’s Caribbean Days Festival. All of these events are free! There is also the Fort Langley Jazz & Arts Festival which is awesome and includes free concerts on both July 27th and 28th.

In New Westminster, on Saturday, July 27th, there is also Uptown Live which is a huge and fabulous event with live music, food trucks and free admission. If you are looking for something fun to do in New Westminster on the last weekend in July, we highly recommend Uptown Live! A month later, on August 24th, there is the Farewell to Summer Fireworks in New Westminster. That event is also so worth seeing!

To learn more about all of the above events, see Vancouver’s July Calendar of Events. To learn more about Car Free Day in New Westminster, however, continue reading.

This article contains the following information about Car Free Day New West:

Time and Location | What to Expect | Other Information

New Westminster’s Car Free Day

There are a number of Car Free Days that take place throughout the Lower Mainland each summer. They are free and fun community events that offer the chance to enjoy music and activities on a street with no vehicles.

Car Free Day New West is no exception to that trend! This new event took place for the first time on August 6th, 2022. There were multiple stages set up on the road with various performances as well as artisan vendors, kid-friendly activities and a beer garden. There were also plenty of food trucks.

This event served as the new version of what was formerly the Columbia StrEAT Food Festival. While food trucks were still a key piece of Car Free Day New West’s lineup, this new event was a bit broader in its scope.

Car Free Day on Columbia Street — Columbia Street on Car Free Day

Time and Location

Car Free Day New West took place on Saturday, July 29th, in 2023.

The event in 2022 began at noon and ran until 8:00 pm. The festivities took place over a four-block stretch of Columbia Street, between 4th Street and 8th Street. 2023’s event was similar in format.

In 2024, as mentioned above, the event takes place in a much smaller format on Friday, July 26th. It runs from

Car Free Day New West (when it happens) is entirely free and open to all. On both ends of the event’s boundaries there are blockades on the road that prevent cars from entering the street. Inside the festival area people can walk around on the road as much as they like!

What to Expect

There is plenty of live entertainment to enjoy on multiple stages spread across the event site. There are also other fun activities.

Car Free Day New West is for everyone, no matter your age. You can expect to see activities like face painting for the little ones, and both kids and adults dancing. For those who are 19 and older, there is a beer garden with beverages from various breweries to enjoy.