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VIDEO: Bernard Avenue closes to make way for Pedestrian-only summer

From the foot of Bernard to St. Paul Street, Kelowna's Bernard Avenue is off-limits to vehicle traffic for the summer.

They're calling it #MeetMeOnBernard.

<who> Photo Credit: KelownaNow

Crews were busy setting up the new fencing around the patios which will extend well into the street.

The city and the Downtown Kelowna Association are promising something bigger and better than what people saw last year.

<who> Photo Credit: KelownaNow

"The only thing that's going to be the same as 2020 is it's the same four blocks," said the Downtown Kelowna Association's Mark Burley.

"It's going to be dressed-up. It's going to be a lot more fun."

<who> Photo Credit: KelownaNow

"We can't wait and we're so grateful the city gave us this space and this opportunity again this year," said Robyn Sigurdson at Sunny's Diner.

"We think it should go from the May Long weekend until the Thanksgiving long weekend, said Hans Birker from the Bohemian Café.

We found Birker enjoying a cup of coffee on the patio outside the Bean Scene.

<who> Photo Credit: KelownaNow

"We've had to hire five more staff to gear up for what we know is going to be a fantastic thing," added Birker.

Daelyne Ponipal at the Market 509 Café expects it to be great.

<who>Photo credit: KelownaNow </who> Daelyne Ponipal

"It's going to be really good for business and just the community in general," said Ponipal.

"It's very good," said Jag Sekhon, the new owner at Pacific Poke at the foot of Bernard.

<who> Photo Credit: KelownaNow

"Small businesses are struggling, so it's good to have more exposure," said Sekhon.

"The four and five hundred blocks are now animated with lots of activity," said Burley of the Meet Me On Bernard vision.

<who>Photo credit: KelownaNow </who> Mark Burley

There will be a mobile indigenous art gallery with stages for presentations, visitors can explore different themed 'parklets', there will be live music at certain times and life-sized animation of checkers and Jenga.

The four-block section of Bernard will have separate names for each of the three parts.

The two blocks closest to the water called Restaurant Row, the 400 block is called the Neighborhood Plaza and the 500 block will be known as the Community Square.

"There's lots going on this year," said Burley.

The official opening is Thursday, July 1.



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