Location: Near 235 Water Street (in front of the Scotiabank Building)
Dates/Times: Fridays from 2 to 4 p.m.

Each Friday throughout the summer, the Downtown Pedestrian Mall comes alive with pop-up performances from a variety of local entertainers. Don't miss our special Drag on Water performance on Sunday, July 12!

Schedule:

• Friday, June 26 - The Tide Quartet
• Friday, July 3 - Kate McCann
• Friday, July 10 - No performance
• Sunday, July 12 (4 to 6 p.m.) - Drag on Water (in partnership with St. John's Pride)
• Friday, July 17 - Damzel
• Friday, July 24 - Anchormen Barbershop Chorus
• Friday, July 31 - No performance. Check out the Downtown St. John's Buskers Festival!
• Friday, August 7 - Music Collection Drumline
• Friday, August 14 - Squeeze the Day
• Friday, August 21 - The Sweet Forget-Me-Nots
• Friday, August 28 - Cirque'letics
• Friday, September 4 - Kittiwake Ballet

Location: Ayres Cove to Prescott Street

Every Thursday from 2 to 8 p.m., starting July 9, Water Street comes alive with Markets on Water — a weekly celebration of local creativity, culture, and community.

The market will feature vendors hosted by The Mom Market. Each week, you’ll discover a rotating lineup of carefully curated small businesses — from handcrafted goods and artisan products to one-of-a-kind art, fashion, jewelry, home décor, sweet treats, and so much more.

Don’t miss our two special Saturday markets on August 8 and 22!

Location: Near 248 Water Street

A new welcoming outdoor space designed for families and people of all ages to gather, relax, and connect. Throughout the season, the area will offer a mix of active and leisure-focused experiences that encourage play, creativity, and social interaction. 

Free drop-in programming is offered on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., starting July 7 (weather dependent).

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.

On-street parking spaces are located throughout downtown, serviced by Pay Stations and the PayByPhone app. Motorists must follow posted signage in all areas. Paid on-street parking is enforced Monday to Friday, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Parking is free after 6 p.m. on weekdays and all day Saturday and Sunday.

Motorists may also use paid, privately owned parking garages and lots, including:

• 351 Water Street
• 330 Duckworth Street
• 125 Water Street (Alt Hotel)
• 277-281 Water Street, accessed near 125 Harbour Drive (Bowring Centre)
• 1 Clift Baird's Cove (Sonco)

Privately owned parking lots in the City may enforce their own parking rules by using vehicle immobilization (booting). Private operators have the legal right to manage parking on their property under the Highway Traffic Act. The City does not have the legal authority to regulate enforcement practices in private parking lots, including booting. Always check posted signage at the entrance and throughout the lot for restrictions, including evening and weekend requirements. Failure to follow posted rules may result in fines, towing, or immobilization.

Additional parking, public transit, and active transportation information is available on the Parking and Transportation map.

Two portable, accessible toilets and a handwashing station are available on the Downtown Pedestrian Mall in the area of Water Street and McBride's Hill during hours of operation (noon to 10 p.m. daily). 

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.

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.