You could call the Open Air Dunlop festival a street closure, but it’s more of a street opening. Every Saturday from June to November, the City of Barrie blocks off a portion of Dunlop Street that runs through the downtown core and near the scenic waterfront. Without vehicular traffic on the road, the street comes alive with people traveling by foot, wheelchair and bicycle.

“Open Air Dunlop takes a traditional roadway and turns it into a pedestrian-focused, family-friendly venue that includes various activations and interactions,” says Craig Stevens, the executive director of the Downtown Barrie BIA. “The local community really enjoys a safe, traffic-free space to casually stroll amongst the downtown shops and support their favourite local businesses.”

In 2021, the Downtown Barrie BIA received a My Main Street non-repayable contribution of $146,500 to support the Open Air Dunlop festival. My Main Street is supported with a $23.25-million Government of Canada investment through the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario). The Downtown Barrie BIA received this funding as part of the My Main Street Community Activator program, administered by the Canadian Urban Institute (CUI), to support local projects that attract visitors and generate economic activity across southern Ontario.

The festival attracted more than 150,000 people to downtown Barrie, allowing visitors to explore over 400 businesses in the area. In feedback surveys administered after the festival, 78 percent of businesses in the BIA reported an increase in foot traffic and 74 percent reported an increase in sales. Visitors came from all over Simcoe County, the GTA and even farther away.

Organizers invited community groups to set up tents and interact with the public. Partners included UPlift Black (a social impact agency), Barrie Pride (supporting the 2SLGBTQIA+ community), the Busby Centre (advocating for those experiencing or at-risk of experiencing homelessness), Shak’s World (helping at-risk youth) and the Women & Children’s Shelter.

“The community groups were truly appreciative of the opportunity to participate; it allowed them to easily reconnect with their supporters and potentially reach out to new supporters,” says Stevens.

Dunlop Street is a perfect location for a public festival, with its central location and recently upgraded sidewalks and patio spaces. But even with the perfect location, the event still required a lot of planning and support to ensure each event ran smoothly.

“The funding from My Main Street was critical in supporting the logistical aspects of the event like road closures and security,” says Stevens. “It took a lot of organizing to close the main street and ensure it was secure for each individual event.”

The first festival was such a success that the city not only renewed the program for 2022, but also increased the number of events held on Saturdays. Plus, the city expanded programming to include street performances, live music at the Meridian Place stage, interactive displays and family-friendly activities such as art and yoga.

“Open Air Dunlop has brought a vision to reality,” says Stevens. “Utilizing a new pedestrian-focused streetscape together with an event to connect business and community.”

Photo Credit: Cecilia Doucette

Photo Caption: Crowds consisting of people on foot, bicycle, and mobility devices are photographed making their way through both directions on Dunlop Street.