The City of Charlottetown is advising community members of traffic impacts from the 2023 Canada Winter Games IllumiNATION Festival, taking place from Sunday, February 19 to Saturday, March 4, 2023.
IllumiNATION will feature music, culinary, visual art and interactive exhibits across the Island with every event open to the public and free to attend. The main festival grounds are located at Port Charlottetown, 1 Weymouth St.
Motorists are asked to use caution when travelling downtown during the 2023 Canada Games and IllumiNATION Festival due to an expected increase in activity in the area.
IllumiNATION Festival Hours
For the duration of the festival, the main festival event grounds at Port Charlottetown will be open:
- Sundays/Mondays: 1:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.
- Tuesdays/Wednesdays: Site closed – Founders’ Food Hall & Market open regular hours
- Thursdays/Fridays: 4:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.
- Saturdays: 1:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Limited Vehicle Access During Festival Operating Hours
Vehicle access to the following streets will be limited during festival operating hours:
- Prince Street south of Water Street
- Stan MacPherson Way
Parking on site during the festival is limited to those with VIP, accessible or festival parking passes, and select staff and vendors. Canada Games Event Services Volunteers will be stationed at both access points at Water Street / Stan MacPherson Way and Water Street / Prince Street to verify credentials.
Access during festival operating hours will be granted for clients of Modo Yoga and Pure Spa (who will be directed to the CADC Peake’s Quay Parking Lot) as well as staff and clients of the Epekwitk Assembly of Councils Building (who will be directed to their assigned spaces).
Condo residents in the area with designated parking spaces accessible from Prince Street south of Water Street and Stan MacPherson Way will be able to freely access their parking spaces at all times, with Event Services Volunteers assisting to ensure public safety during festival operating hours.
Drop Off Zone
Members of the public may drop off passengers at the Drop Off Zone at the turnaround loop at the end of Stan MacPherson Way. Event Services Volunteers will then direct motorists to the Park and Ride lot on Grafton Street for the shuttle service to the festival site.
Park and Ride
Festival patrons and volunteers are encouraged to use of the free Park and Ride service offered by the 2023 Canada Games.
The Park and Ride is located on Grafton Street in the parking lot across from the Event Grounds. Shuttles will begin transporting community members back and forth two hours prior to site opening and will operate continuously until 30 minutes following the closure of the main festival grounds.
To learn more about the IllumiNATION Festival, visit 2023canadagames.ca/festival.