A free Vancouver festival series celebrating and encoraging active transportation is turning to the public for financial help.
The Car Free Vancouver Society set up a GoFundMe page late last year with a goal of raising $12,000 to offset and support operational costs.
According to the campaign, the money will be used to free up vendor space for Indigenous and low-income artisans who would otherwise struggle to pay for a spot along Commercial Drive or Main Street.
Organizers admitted, like other major festivals in B.C., rising fees have led to challenges for executing the two-day 2025 slate, scheduled for Sept. 6 and 14.
"We are not immune," the GoFundMe description reads.
"As we envision our future, we know we need to ask for your help [...] Your contribution will directly impact helping create a sustainable future for Car Free Day Vancouver."
Hundreds of thousands of people attend Car Free Day, organizers explained, touting it as one of Vancouver's "largest and most diverse" street festivals.
B.C. events likely to downsize?
The festival does not want to downsize or outright cancel its event, believing it's important to uplift Vancouver creatives that enrich the city's culture.
In February, several festivals wrote an open letter to Premier David Eby and tourism minister Spencer Chandra Herbert asking the province to renew the B.C. Fairs, Festivals and Events Fund.
The fund provides up to 20 per cent of an event's total budget with a cap of $250,000.
Car Free Day Vancouver is not listed on the letter's signature, but the message of encouraging cultural identity and economic vitality is shared.
[O]ur fairs and festivals are more than entertainment," the letter reads.
"They attract tourists and lift up local businesses, from venues and suppliers that provide AV, stages and decor, to food vendors and specialty artisans. Jobs created by the arts and culture sector intersect with many other key industries."
By the numbers
Data from a recent event industry stakeholders survey, included with the open letter, suggested 88.9 per cent of its respondents were very likely to downsize their events.
Hill Strategies 2023 stated B.C.’s cultural economy is "a national growth leader," growing by seven per cent between 2010 and 2021 as opposed to a drop of 12 per cent by the average province in Canada.
As well, B.C. government data suggests there was a $8.6-million GDP increase in 2021 by the province's arts, culture and heritage sector — an uptick of 12.6 per cent from 2020.
As for Car Free Day Vancouver, until funding becomes available, organizers hope the public can contribute to its 2025 events by supporting local businesses, non-profits and performing artists.
"Let’s come together to support the creative heart of Vancouver," the GoFundMe page added.
Each year, Car Free Day Vancouver closes vehicle traffic on Commercial Drive and Main Street on separate days to raise awareness on environmental sustainability and community engagement.
For more information, you can visit the event's website. The deadline is Monday, April 7, for interested vendors and artisans to apply for a spot at the festival.
