TD Uptown Live

TD Uptown Live Presented by Douglas College is a free Indie music festival in New Westminster in July. It’s Metro Vancouver’s ultimate street party!

In 2023 the event happened on Saturday, July 15th. It’s an amazing event with a multicultural mosaic theme! The date for the festival’s return in 2024 is to be confirmed.

For the most up-to-date details about the street party, visit Uptown Live’s official website at uptownlive.ca. For a video of what the event looked like in 2022, click Uptown Live Video.

In this article you’ll find the following information about Uptown Live:

New Westminster’s Uptown Live

The TD Uptown Live Street Party is an annual, free, family-friendly event. It features live music on multiple stages, around 30 food trucks, over 50 artisan vendors and interactive activities.

Uptown Live is one of Metro Vancouver’s premier events and people come from all over the Lower Mainland to enjoy the entertainment, activities and fun environment.

When and Where

The street party happens on a weekend in the summer. In 2023 it took place on Saturday, July 15th, from 12:00 pm until 8:00 pm.

Uptown Live covers more than six full city blocks in the Uptown business district of New Westminster around Sixth Avenue and Sixth Street. There is no shortage of things to do and areas to explore while circulating through the event site.

The venue is in the streets near the Royal City Centre. The mall’s address is 610 – 6th Street.

For the most up-to-date details about the event, check out the Uptown Live website.

New Westminster During Uptown Live

What to Expect at Uptown Live

At Uptown Live expect to hear lots of great live music, enjoy tasty food truck treats, and see thousands of people having a fantastic time. It’s a fabulous event!

The festival is held in the heart of New Westminster and it extends over six full blocks. As many as 30,000 people attend each year.

At Uptown Live there are multiple stages for live music. Performing at the event each year are various up-and-coming BC-based bands. Throughout the area there are artisan vendors, sponsor booths, kids’ activities and interactive exhibits. In previous years there was also a beverage garden for adults. However, as of the 2023, the event is alcohol-free.

Crowds of People in Uptown New West

TD Uptown Live Highlights

Some of the highlights of the event in 2023 included the artisan market, Kids’ Zone, and the live entertainment venues which included the Main Stage, PC Urban Stage and the Novus Lounge.

See below for details about each of these festival features that happened in 2023.

Edgar Development Main Stage

Presented by Edgar Development, the Main Stage was located at the corner of Sixth Avenue and Princess Street. It featured a multicultural lineup of performers in 2023, covering a variety of genres.

The Main Stage schedule of performances in 2023 is listed below. (Note: Exact times and other details were subject to change.)

12:00 pm – Opening Ceremonies
12:30 pm – West Coast Slackers
1:30 pm – Day of the Dog
2:30 pm – Alpha Centauri
3:30 pm – MNGWA
4:30 pm – Garett T. Willie
5:30 pm – Ayla Tesler-Mabe
6:30 pm – Camaro 67

Ayla Tesler-Mabe in New Westminster — Ayla Tesler-Mabe at TD Uptown Live

PC Urban Stage

Presented by PC Urban and programmed by the Sarah McLachlan School of Music, this stage featured up-and-coming artists and musicians. It was located at Sixth Street and Fifth Avenue.

The schedule of performances for the PC Urban Stage in 2023 is listed below. (Note: Exact times and other details were subject to change.)

1:00 pm – Maxx Findlay
2:00 pm – Seven Tavis
3:00 pm – Som Band
4:00 pm – Savannah Read
5:00 pm – Muvete

Uptown Live Street Party in New West

Novus Lounge

The Novus Lounge was where you would find more students on their musical journeys. Like the PC Urban Stage, this performance area featured a lineup programmed by the Sarah McLachlan School of Music.

Live entertainment took place at the Novus Lounge between 12:00 pm and 6:00 pm. Below was the schedule for 2023.

1:00 pm – Nirvana & Patrick
2:00 pm – Luvinya
3:00 pm – Nirvana & Patrick
4:00 pm – Luvinya
5:00 pm – Savannah Read

For the most up-to-date details about the event, check out the Uptown Live website.

Uptown Live Vendor Stalls on 6th Street — Market Vendors on 6th Street

Uptown Live Artisan Market

In addition to all the music and other entertainment, at the event there are over four dozen vendor booths featuring a wide variety of locally-made artisan products.

For an idea of what to expect for the event’s return in 2024, some of the things you would have seen at the market in previous years included art from Sisay Art Crafts, Karet Design, That Queer Card Co., and Beloved by Emily. There was also jewellery by One Thing Memory Lockets and Bead Mindful Gems. At Uptown Live you’d also find skincare products, clothing and organic soaps from Mom’s Care Natural Soap and Pash and Harmony, and crafts from vendors like Cariboo Acres Crochet, Perching Clay Art and Kerry’s Handmade Creations. There were also specialty food vendors like Oh Sweet Day!, BAK’D Cookies, Early Bird Dessert and Mukasi Coffee, plus so much more!

Uptown Live

For a really good idea of what to expect at Uptown Live, check out the video below. It shows what the street party looked like in 2022. As you’ll see, there are so many people in the streets having such a great time! There are bands performing, DJs playing, food trucks in the street, market vendors, and so much more! It’s a terrific event!

Tips & Advice

Below are some suggestions and information to help you make the most of your experience at the Uptown Live event.

TIP #1: There is free all-day parking during the event at both the Royal City Centre (at 610 Sixth Street with the parkade entrance on Seventh Street) and Westminster Centre (at 555 Sixth Street with access southbound on Fifth Street). There is also metered street parking throughout the area.

TIP #2: Street closures usually begin at around 7:00 am on Sixth Street, Sixth Avenue, Belmont Street and Princess Street. Take public transit if you can. If you drive, go early, plan to walk a ways to the venue, and carpool with your friends.

TIP #3: The event takes place rain or shine. Regardless of the weather, if you go you’ll have a fabulous time! If it looks like rain though, dress appropriately.

TIP #4: If you like live music and urban street festivals, go to Uptown Live! It’s a terrific event, and it’s free!

Raincity Band on Uptown Live Main Stage