Car Free Day on Denman

Also known as Denman Street Car Free Day, Vancouver’s West End Car Free Day is a massive street party with vendors and live entertainment in the summer.

The event happens between Robson Street and Davie Street near English Bay Beach. In the past, pre-COVID, it was on the Saturday before Father’s Day in June each year. In 2022, however, the festivities took place on September 25th. It was going to happen on August 20th, but then got postponed. Dates for the event in 2023 are to be confirmed.

West End Car Free Street Party

The West End Car Free Day event is a massive and vibrant FREE street party which in 2020 was going to take place on Saturday, June 20, from noon until 7 pm. Unfortunately, the in-person event was cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The 2021 event took place during a new festival called Car Free Month. It happened as a community market on September 12th from 11 am until 5 pm.

In 2022 the West End Car Free Day event was going to return on Saturday, August 20th. However, due to ongoing delays caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the event was postponed to Sunday, September 25th from 12:00 to 7:00 pm.

Car Free Entertainment Lineup

At the Car Free Day event on Denman Street there are usually food and product vendors, but also live entertainment.

In 2022 concerts and other entertainment took place on four different stages. Below is the entertainment lineup from 2022 on three of the four stages. (Note: times and performer details were subject to change.)

Rosemary Brown Lane Stage (in 2022)

12:00 pm – Jimi James
1:00 pm – Vicky
2:00 pm – Clifton Pierre
3:00 pm – The Nipplepack
4:00 pm – Vittorio
5:00 pm – Harold Henkel
6:00 pm – John Michael Lind

Barclay Street Stage (in 2022)

12:00 pm – Norine B & Alice F
1:00 pm – Jason Qiu
2:00 pm – Vancouver Street Opera
3:00 pm – Puppycat
4:00 pm – The Cons
5:00 pm – Calire’s Daughter
6:00 pm – Brejera

Pendrell Street Stage (in 2022)

1:00 pm – Elsie
2:30 pm – Angie Faith
4:00 pm – Jam Martinez
4:15 pm – Jessaii
5:30 pm – Gisto

Denman Car Free Day Music Entertainment — Car Free Day Live Music

Car Free Days in Vancouver

The West End’s Denman Street Car Free Day celebrations are one of four Car Free Day street party events. These festivals all take place in Vancouver on the Father’s Day weekend in June as well as in July (or at least they used to).

The Main Street Car Free Day festivities usually take place on the day after the Denman Street event, in the afternoon of the Father’s Day Sunday. On both the Saturday and Sunday of the same weekend, Car Free Day celebrations also take the form of individual block parties throughout the Kitsilano neighbourhood of Vancouver most years.

The Commercial Drive Car Free Day event used to take place on the same Father’s Day Sunday in June as the Main Street event. Since a couple of years ago, however, it has taken place in early July instead.

For more information about these and other Car Free Day celebrations in Port Moody, New Westminster and North Vancouver, see our article about Vancouver Car Free Day Events.

Car Free Festivities on Denman Street — Car Free Day on Denman Street

CAR FREE DAY SURREY

There are a number of car free day events in the Lower Mainland. The event in the West End isn’t the only one. There are also events on Main Street and Commercial Drive in Vancouver as well as similar ones in Maple Ridge and Port Moody. New for 2022, there was also one in Surrey!

Surrey Car Free Day took place on Saturday, June 11th, on 137th Street in Newton. It featured live entertainment, food trucks, market vendors and lots of family-friendly fun!

Denman Street Car Free Day

The West End Car Free Day event, also known as Denman Street Car Free Day, is similar to the Main Street and Commercial Drive events. It’s massive, entertaining and packed with pedestrians having fun. There is usually live music at various stages along the street. Food vendors, community organizational information booths and things for sale are also present.

The West End’s street party takes place close to English Bay at the south end of the Denman Street strip. The location makes it especially convenient for folks wanting to combine the street party festivities with a trip to one of the world’s finest urban beaches.

The corner of Davie Street and Denman is also close to the seawall which connects the district in one direction with Stanley Park and in the other direction with False Creek and the False Creek Seawall. The connection makes it a fabulous place to either walk or cycle to.

Tips & Advice

Below are some suggestions and bits of information to help you make the most out of your experience at the Denman Street Car Free Day event.

TIP #1: Combine your visit to the Denman Street Car Free Day celebrations with a stroll or bike ride along the Seawall. You can either head in the direction of Stanley Park or towards False Creek. Or, after wandering through the festival, enjoy a picnic and the sunshine on the sandy beach at English Bay at the south end of the festival or at Stanley Park or Coal Harbour not far from the north end.

TIP #2: Robson Street where the festival starts at the north end is one of Vancouver’s best shopping streets. There are also great restaurants along the road, as there are along Denman Street too. If wanting to eat somewhere specific at a certain restaurant and time, make your reservations well in advance.

TIP #3: Wear good walking shoes! It’s a pedestrian street party, the venue is 12 blocks long and you’ll be doing a lot of walking. Pack your flip-flops for the beach and dress shoes for dinner afterwards, but leave the high heels for later or your feet will hate you!

TIP #4: If you’re not sure which of Vancouver’s various Car Free Day events you want to check out, consider the following when making your decision:

Check the weather forecast. In years when they take place on the same weekend, if you like the look of Saturday’s weather more, then go to the Denman Street event. If the forecast looks better for the Sunday, then go to the one on Main Street.
Go to whichever is more convenient based on where you live and what you want to do both before and after.
If you’ve been to a Car Free Day event one year and liked it, then check out a different one in the future. All three of the main City of Vancouver Car Free Day street parties are amazing. However, they’re special in their own little ways.
If you’ve got young children and aren’t sure if they’ll like the festivities, or if the weather looks like it’s going to be scorching hot, don’t forget that English Bay beach is right by the corner of Denman and Davie in case you need a break. Just don’t forget to also pack your swimsuits!