WATCH: From fireworks to the pride parade there will be no shortage of fun this weekend. Jennifer Palma has your guide to all of the festivities.
When a Taylor Swift concert is the third biggest thing on the menu for a city, you know it’s a big weekend.
The annual tradition of Vancouver’s Pride parade coming the day after a Celebration of Light fireworks performance is set to make this weekend the busiest of the year for downtown Vancouver, with over one million people expected to visit the area.
“It’s something we’ve been doing for years and years and we’re getting quite good at it, I’d like to think,” said VPD. Constable Brian Montague.
Here’s what you need to know to get around downtown this weekend:
ROAD CLOSURES
On Saturday, the West End and the neighbourhood to the east of Kitsilano Beach will see extensive road closures for much of the evening due to the fireworks. The City of Vancouver has made an interactive map to help those who live in the area.
On Sunday, the 37 Annual Vancouver Pride Parade takes place throughout the West End, beginning at noon at Bute and Robson.
“We have one of the most beautiful parade routes in the world,” says Tim Richards, Vancouver Pride Society President.
“It’s going to be hot, bring lots of water, bring sunscreen.”
EXTRA TRANSIT
On Saturday, August 1, bus service will be extended. Some buses will be detoured, including, but not limited to, the C21, C23, 5, 6, and 22 routes. The 250, 250A and 257 buses will also add service before and after the events.
West Coast Express will offer a special train on August 1, leaving Mission City at 7 p.m., arriving at Waterfront Station at 8:15 p.m. The return train departs Waterfront Station at midnight, arriving back at Mission City approximately 1:15 a.m.
Expo, Millennium and Canada lines will run additional trains beginning mid-afternoon, at near-peak service levels lasting well past the end of the event. The last train on the Expo/Millennium Line will leave Waterfront for King George at 1:16 a.m. The last Canada Line train will leave Waterfront for Richmond-Brighouse at 1:15 a.m. SeaBus will provide extra and extended service, with trips every 15 minutes until 11:30 p.m., and then every 30 minutes until the last departure from South Terminal at 1:22 a.m.
On Sunday, August 2, extra SkyTrain service on Expo and Millennium lines will be in effect mid-morning through mid-afternoon. Fourteen extra trains will be in service.
READ MORE: Extra buses, trains to service transit users this weekend
– With files from Yuliya Talmazan
Comments