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Thousands expected for Car Free YYJ on Sunday

What: Car Free YYJ Where: Douglas Street When: Sunday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Cars gave way to pedestrians Sunday on Douglas Street
Cars gave way to pedestrians Sunday on Douglas Street

What: Car Free YYJ

Where: Douglas Street

When: Sunday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Admission: Free

 

When the Car Free YYJ street festival expanded from six blocks of Douglas Street in its inaugural year to nine blocks last year, the result was one of the biggest crowds in downtown history.

More than 30,000 revellers turned out for an afternoon of food, music and more. With some tinkering, the Father’s Day event could grow from year to year, but the 2017 instalment will hold firm in many ways on Sunday.

“We’ve had incredible attendance during the first two years, and, given the demand for vendor spaces this year — we’re sold out and tipping the 400 mark — we’ll do that again this year,” said Nick Blasko of Atomique Productions, which is producing the event. “But it doesn’t get better simply by being bigger.”

Car Free YYJ, presented by the Downtown Victoria Business Association in partnership with the City of Victoria and B.C. Transit, has quickly become one of the biggest and best-run events of the summer.

Sunday's event features many previous hallmarks, from main stages with beer gardens at four corners — featuring music from Grossbuster, the Leg-Up Program, Sam Weber, Fox Glove and the Electric Timber Company, among others — to a grassy pop-up park covering a city block.

The impact on area businesses is considerable, as the event — which is free and family friendly — stretches along Douglas Street from Chatham Street to Courtney Street.

The nine-block section of Douglas Street will be open only to foot traffic, which encourages a slower, stop-and-look pace. Vendors selling everything from books to wine will line the street, while various services — from fitness classes to hair salons — will be scattered throughout.

Parking will be available at nearby city parkades, with an on-site bike lock-up available for those who ride to the event. Yates Street, Fort Street and Johnson Street will remain open to vehicles.

“The spin-off effect of 30,000 people downtown is that all business should see increased traffic,” Blasko said. “It’s driving people to the downtown core, and exposing them to a lot of organizations and business they might not come into contact with on a daily basis.”

In tandem with Spirit of 150, an 11-day music, food, and culture event that begins next week, Car Free YYJ is putting local people and products on an unprecedented platform.

“It’s an awesome year for local everything. Geographically, we’re unique, because we have real boundaries and we’re on an island,” Blasko said. “It’s rare that we get to just completely celebrate the region and what’s here, let along shut down a major thoroughfare to do it on. When I look at the mix of types of businesses and types of exhibitors and vendors, I can’t think of another situation that’s as diverse.”

mdevlin@timescolonist.com