A group of men gather to celebrate Vaisakhi festival

Celebrate the Vancouver Vaisakhi Festival and Parade

Road closures for Punjabi Market area on Saturday, April 13

April 11 2024 –

Note to editors: The City of Vancouver would like to apologize that a previous version of this release did not recognize that Vaisakhi is also an important religious celebration for the Sikh community.

Thousands of residents and visitors will be in the heart of South Vancouver this weekend to celebrate the annual Vaisakhi Festival and Parade.

We also look forward to the 45th Vancouver Vaisakhi Nagar Kirtan tomorrow to not only celebrate the spring harvest but also recognize 1699 - the year when Guru Gobind Singh created the order of the Khalsa. 

“Vaisakhi is a cultural celebration for our South Asian community that brings joy and vibrancy to Vancouver,” said Mayor Ken Sim. “It’s a fantastic display of culture, with community performers and live music for all Vancouverites to enjoy. I invite everyone to visit Punjabi Market this weekend to attend the parade, take in the delicious food, and support our local businesses.”

The parade will take place on Saturday, April 13, 2024 from 11am to 4pm. View the parade route and learn more about the event .

Traffic impacts and road closures

To accommodate the parade, road closures will be in effect on Saturday, April 13, from 10am to 6pm on the following streets: 

  • Main St closed from E 49th Ave to SE Marine Dr 
  • Fraser St closed from E 41st Ave to SE Marine Dr 
  • Westbound SE Marine Dr closed from Knight St to Main St 
  • 57th Ave closed from Knight St to Ontario St

Drivers travelling in the event areas should plan ahead and expect delays. Find out about parking near the event .   

To help the parade operates as smoothly as possible, attendees are encouraged to: 

  • Walk, bike, roll, or take transit whenever possible.  
  • Be mindful of road closures.  
  • Don’t let waste become litter: put waste in its place in the nearest garbage, recycling or organics bin. Additional temporary waste bins will be added for the events.  
  • Be considerate of the neighbourhood and keep noise to a minimum when leaving. 

More upcoming special events this spring

Resources  

If you are travelling in and around the event areas, plan ahead and expect delays.