It’s expected to be a busy weekend in the Metro Vancouver area as several events, including Surrey’s Vaisakhi parade and the Vancouver Sun Run, are scheduled to take place.
The Surrey Vaisakhi Parade will take to the streets Saturday, complete with performers, floats, live music and vendors.
Organizers say the event is the largest Vaisakhi parade in the world, and is expected to draw up to 500,000 people.
The parade route begins at the Gurdwara Sahib Dasmesh Darbar, located at 12885 85 Ave., and continues along 124 Street. Performers and floats will turn onto 75 Avenue, continue on 76 Avenue and onto 128 Street, then head back to the temple.
Meanwhile, parts of the downtown Vancouver, including part of Robson Street at Cambie and a section of Beatty Street in front of B.C. Place, will be closed for the Coast City Country music festival, which runs from Friday to Sunday.
The 37th Vancouver Sun Run is scheduled for Sunday, bringing thousands of participants and their supporters to the city.
TransLink says SkyTrain service on the Expo and Millennium lines will begin 30 minutes earlier than usual on Sunday and the SeaBus will start one hour early to accommodate demand. The West Coast Express will also operate special trains.
Several road closures will be in effect, some as early as 5 a.m. PT.
Most notably, closures will affect the Burrard Bridge and Cambie Bridge. This is on top of a closure and detour at the Granville Bridge for construction expected to last until fall.
Additionally, Georgia Street from the Causeway to Pender Street will be closed from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. and Pacific Avenue from Jervis to Hornby streets will close from 8 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
A full list of Sun Run closures is available at the Vancouver Sun Run website.
And, last but certainly not least, the Vancouver Canucks’ playoff run begins Sunday night with the NHL team set to take on the Nashville Predators at 7 p.m. at Rogers Arena.
Ahead of the game, the City of Vancouver advised drivers of road closures for other events, and encouraged people to plan ahead and walk, cycle or take transit into downtown.