With an empty stomach and great expectations, I found my way down to the B.E.S.T. Pancake Breakfast at Granville Square to find a massive assembly of happy smiling people waiting patiently for their fluffy pancake breakfast and organic coffee.... (more)I found the friendly VanCity camp near the back and signed in to get my bright new shiny red cruiser, complete with matching bike lock and helmet.

FREE OF CHARGE.
FREE OF BORING CORPORATE STUFF.
FREE OF CARS.

Last year's first-ever Car-Free Commercial Drive Festival gave around 24,000 people a glimpse of urban paradise: One glorious free-for-all street party thrown BY the people of East Van, FOR the people of East Van. It's time once again to reclaim our streets – FOR FUN.

This landmark grass-roots phenomenon features the notorious East Van Chopperfest (with pedal-powered soundsystem), roving artists and performers of all flavours, spontaneous peculiar occurrences, a Soap Box for speechifying, Commercial Drive Merchant Market, organization info tables, Special Kidzone, the Cooperative Way, street hockey, tons of babies and dogs, more crazy bikes than you can shake a stick at, and general merry mayhem.

Three perfomance stages include the Grandview Live Stage boasting an eclectic mix of local performers; the Tribal Harmonix Streatbeat Stage featuring Vancouver's best dj's and mc's shaking it down; and the Home-Word Stage dishing up spokenword, storytelling, slam poetry and audience activation.

PLEASE DON'T DRIVE TO THE DRIVE! Parking is VERY limited. Ride, walk, or take transit.

*photo by Flickr user tilo_driessen