Gastown's car-free Sundays return with flower markets and live art

Gastown's cobblestone streets go car-free every Sunday from July 5 through September 6, bringing back a second year of the Gastown Sunday Set—a carefully curated lineup of activations meant to make locals slow down and experience the neighbourhood differently.

The series cycles through four rotating programs, each designed to reflect Gastown's character:

Streetside Sessions – Coffee Party (July 5, August 9, September 6) Public Disco collaborates to bring DJs spinning tunes to a neighbourhood coffee party. Small businesses, artists and the wider community gather in an accessible space. Over a dozen coffee shops in Gastown offer exclusive party menu items.

Gastown in Bloom – Flower Market (July 12 and 26, August 23) Local florists, plant shops and producers set up an outdoor flower market. The neighbourhood transforms into what organizers call a "botanical promenade," inviting visitors to stroll, shop and connect with nature in an urban setting.

Open Air Atelier – Live Art Battles (July 19, August 2 and 30) Live artists compete in real-time while attendees vote on their work. The event reimagines Gastown as an open-air art crawl, featuring live performances, live painting and everything in between.

Gastown Unscripted – Letting Water Street Breathe (August 16) A one-day-only event with minimal programming, designed to elevate Water Street's inherent charm through informal activations that unfold organically throughout the day.

GBIS executive director Elise Yurkowski says last year's events exceeded expectations. "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."