Downtown Pedestrian Mall

The City of St. John’s Downtown Pedestrian Mall is open in 2025 from June 26 to September 1 from noon to 10 p.m. daily.

This popular location is bustling with excitement as restaurants and bars create outdoor patios and other businesses expand into the street. Water Street from Adelaide Street to Prescott Street will be closed to vehicles, with pedestrian traffic ramping up to take in the festivities and enjoy the energy and people-friendly vibe. During this time, delivery drivers and other business related traffic can access the street from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.

The DPM was introduced in 2020 as a way to bring foot traffic into the city's downtown and to give businesses some added attention during the pandemic. It was such a hit, that it’s been an annual event ever since.

Entertainment is also on offer with a variety of free performances and events taking place throughout the summer.

Click through the below sections by pressing the plus tab to learn more about events and other information to help you plan your visit.

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Call for Proposals - Markets on Water
The City of St. John’s is inviting local event organizers to submit proposals to host Markets on Water as part of the 2025 Downtown Pedestrian Mall. Organizers will be provided free use of designated space on Water Street to host vendor markets between July 7 and September 1. Markets can feature a variety of vendors, including licensed food and mobile vendors, and must operate within the Pedestrian Mall’s hours of noon to 10 p.m. Preference will be given to organizers proposing multiple market dates and including special Canada Games activations on August 14 and 21. The deadline for proposals is Friday, May 30. How to submit your application Review the detailed Call for Proposals document. Email your proposal to ccook@stjohns.ca. Be sure to include: A brief description of your market concept and the type of vendors you plan to include Dates of your proposed markets The number of markets you plan on delivering Will you be delivering a market on Thursday, August 14? Will you be delivering a market on Thursday, August 21? Are you aware of the insurance requirements and can you meet the requirements? If you have any questions, please email ccook@stjohns.ca.
Community Event Space
The City of St. John’s is providing free space on the Downtown Pedestrian Mall for organizations to get creative and engage with the community. We would love to hear your ideas. If interested, please fill out the application form and share with us how you would like to enhance the Downtown Pedestrian Mall. Ensure you review the important considerations and requirements within the form before submitting. Questions can be referred to specialevents@stjohns.ca.
Pop-Up Events
Each Friday throughout the summer, the Downtown Pedestrian Mall hosts various pop-up events from 2 to 4 p.m. in front of the Scotiabank building featuring local entertainers.
Accessibility
Accessible parking, Metrobus and GoBus Approximately 23 accessible on street parking spaces and 36 accessible parking spaces within private parking garages are available near the Downtown Pedestrian Mall for accessible parking permit holders. Metrobus customers can use Route 3 on an Accessible Low Floor Bus which stops at Ayres Cove/Harbour Drive near the Downtown Pedestrian Mall. Route schedules can be accessed through Metrobus. GoBus customers can book their ride to the Downtown Pedestrian Mall through GoBus . Accessible Parking and Bus Stop locations can be found on the Downtown Pedestrian Mall Parking and Transportation Map. Barrier free routes Where the built environment permits, 2 meter barrier free routes are available through the centre of the pedestrian zone and along the sidewalks. Accessible rest areas A variety of rest areas including, accessible picnic tables, benches, Adirondack chairs and high-top tables are available throughout the DPM. Wayfinding and navigation The Downtown Pedestrian Mall is BlindSquare enabled. BlindSquare accessible wayfinding and navigation apps are free to download in Apple and Android app stores and help pedestrians to safely navigate the mall. Apple users can download BlindSq Event. Android users can download XploreNinja by BlindSquare Planning your visit Accessibility features of businesses within the Downtown Pedestrian Mall vary and are regulated by provincial legislation. Pedestrians are encouraged to contact businesses of interest for more information when planning a visit. Accessibility feedback Visitors are encouraged to provide feedback and suggestions to further advance inclusion and accessibility of the Downtown Pedestrian Mall by contacting 311, Access St. John’s or emailing inclusion@stjohns.ca. Bathrooms Two portable accessible toilets and a handwashing station are available during the Downtown Pedestrian Malls hours of operation (noon to 10 p.m. daily.) on the corner of Harbour Drive and Ayre’s Cove. Portable toilets will remain in place until the closure of the Downtown Pedestrian Mall on Monday, September 1. The City of St. John’s will regularly maintain the facilities and appreciates the public's cooperation in keeping these facilities clean and accessible for all. The installation of the portable toilets is being done on a trial basis and will be evaluated to determine the most appropriate solution for washroom access on the Downtown Pedestrian Mall.

Call for Proposals - Markets on Water

The City of St. John’s is inviting local event organizers to submit proposals to host Markets on Water as part of the 2025 Downtown Pedestrian Mall. Organizers will be provided free use of designated space on Water Street to host vendor markets between July 7 and September 1.

Markets can feature a variety of vendors, including licensed food and mobile vendors, and must operate within the Pedestrian Mall’s hours of noon to 10 p.m. Preference will be given to organizers proposing multiple market dates and including special Canada Games activations on August 14 and 21.

The deadline for proposals is Friday, May 30.

How to submit your application

Review the detailed Call for Proposals document.
Email your proposal to ccook@stjohns.ca. Be sure to include:
- A brief description of your market concept and the type of vendors you plan to
  include
- Dates of your proposed markets
- The number of markets you plan on delivering
- Will you be delivering a market on Thursday, August 14?
- Will you be delivering a market on Thursday, August 21?
- Are you aware of the insurance requirements and can you meet the requirements?

If you have any questions, please email ccook@stjohns.ca.

Community Event Space

The City of St. John’s is providing free space on the Downtown Pedestrian Mall for organizations to get creative and engage with the community. We would love to hear your ideas. If interested, please fill out the application form and share with us how you would like to enhance the Downtown Pedestrian Mall. Ensure you review the important considerations and requirements within the form before submitting. Questions can be referred to specialevents@stjohns.ca.

Pop-Up Events

Each Friday throughout the summer, the Downtown Pedestrian Mall hosts various pop-up events from 2 to 4 p.m. in front of the Scotiabank building featuring local entertainers.

Accessibility

Accessible parking, Metrobus and GoBus

Approximately 23 accessible on street parking spaces and 36 accessible parking spaces within private parking garages are available near the Downtown Pedestrian Mall for accessible parking permit holders.
Metrobus customers can use Route 3 on an Accessible Low Floor Bus which stops at Ayres Cove/Harbour Drive near the Downtown Pedestrian Mall. Route schedules can be accessed through Metrobus.
GoBus customers can book their ride to the Downtown Pedestrian Mall through GoBus .
Accessible Parking and Bus Stop locations can be found on the Downtown Pedestrian Mall Parking and Transportation Map.

Barrier free routes

Where the built environment permits, 2 meter barrier free routes are available through the centre of the pedestrian zone and along the sidewalks.

Accessible rest areas

A variety of rest areas including, accessible picnic tables, benches, Adirondack chairs and high-top tables are available throughout the DPM.

Wayfinding and navigation

The Downtown Pedestrian Mall is BlindSquare enabled. BlindSquare accessible wayfinding and navigation apps are free to download in Apple and Android app stores and help pedestrians to safely navigate the mall. Apple users can download BlindSq Event. Android users can download XploreNinja by BlindSquare

Planning your visit

Accessibility features of businesses within the Downtown Pedestrian Mall vary and are regulated by provincial legislation. Pedestrians are encouraged to contact businesses of interest for more information when planning a visit.

Accessibility feedback

Visitors are encouraged to provide feedback and suggestions to further advance inclusion and accessibility of the Downtown Pedestrian Mall by contacting 311, Access St. John’s or emailing inclusion@stjohns.ca.

Bathrooms

Two portable accessible toilets and a handwashing station are available during the Downtown Pedestrian Malls hours of operation (noon to 10 p.m. daily.) on the corner of Harbour Drive and Ayre’s Cove. Portable toilets will remain in place until the closure of the Downtown Pedestrian Mall on Monday, September 1.

The City of St. John’s will regularly maintain the facilities and appreciates the public's cooperation in keeping these facilities clean and accessible for all. The installation of the portable toilets is being done on a trial basis and will be evaluated to determine the most appropriate solution for washroom access on the Downtown Pedestrian Mall.