Categories: Things To Do

Gastown’s iconic weekly summer series is back with another round of car-free fun

Photo via Gastown Business Improvement Society (GBIS)

Vancouver’s most historic neighbourhood is getting a fun car-free summer series starting this July. After its successful inaugural year last year, Gastown Sunday Set is back and better than ever, transforming the cobblestone streets of Gastown into a lively, car-free hub.

The iconic pedestrian zone experience is inspired by global movements like Paris Breathes, and as such, it will make Gastown truly come alive all summer long.

Organized by the Gastown Business Improvement Society (GBIS), the popular series creates numerous third spaces for locals and visitors alike to connect, whether it’s at a drag show, a dance battle, or a live mural painting. Given Vancouver’s status as a FIFA World Cup host city, these spaces will be all the more crucial to building community this upcoming season.

Unlike a standard street closure, each Sunday session will be designed to offer something new and different. So no two visits will be the same!

“Gastown Sunday Set exceeded our expectations in its first year, and we’re thrilled to bring it back with even more energy and programming,” says Elise Yurkowski, executive director for the GBIS. “These weekly activations are about more than events, they’re about building community, celebrating what makes Gastown unlike anywhere else, and inviting everyone to slow down and experience these streets in a whole new way.”

Neighbourhood coffee parties, art crawls, and more

From July 5 to Sept. 6, Gastown will turn into a high-energy, car-free neighbourhood every Sunday, with tons of fun activations and live performances to explore each week.

This includes coffee parties, a vibrant outdoor flower market, and so much more.

Here are all the rotating events you can check out at Gastown Sunday Set this summer:

Streetside Sessions: Coffee Party

Taking place on July 5, Aug. 9, and Sept. 6, 2026, this fun series will be hosted in collaboration with Public Disco, inviting visitors to experience Gastown through its famed coffee scene. Here, you’ll be able to enjoy locally roasted coffee and curated sets from Vancouver-based DJs.

So if sipping your way through Gastown’s coffee shops sounds like your cup of tea (pun intended), this is the event for you.

Gastown in Bloom: Flower Market

Gastown in Bloom is back with a vibrant outdoor flower market that spills into Gastown’s historic streets. Created in partnership with local florists and plant shops, the event invites visitors to stroll, shop local, and immerse themselves in this botanical promenade.

You can check it out for yourself on July 12, 26, and Aug. 23, 2026.

Open Air Atelier: Live Art Battles

Taking place on July 19, Aug. 2, and 30, 2026, Open Air Atelier is a live art competition that reimagines Gastown as an open-air art crawl. Emerging artists will be set up across the neighbourhood, creating original pieces that will compete for the public’s vote.

Gastown Unscripted: Letting Water Street Breathe

This relaxed Sunday session (Aug. 16, 2026) will lean into Water Street’s natural charm, with informal activations taking place throughout the day between Richards and Columbia Streets.

As always, the GBIS will work closely with the City to ensure attendee safety throughout each Sunday Set.

Mark your calendars!