Free holiday parking promotion in effect across the city

If you’re headed to downtown St. Catharines or Port Dalhousie for some holiday shopping or get-togethers, you’re now able to enjoy the gift of free parking on weekday afternoons.

As is a holiday tradition, the City of St. Catharines is offering up to three hours of free parking, between noon and 6 p.m., on weekdays through to Friday, Dec. 30, in the downtown core, and new this year in Port Dalhousie. The holiday parking promotion is now in effect at City-owned on-street metered spots and City-owned parking lots with pay machines. Visitors taking advantage of free afternoon parking are still subject to the City’s three-hour time limit.

While long-term parking at the City’s parking garage at Garden Park / Carlisle Street is not included in the promotion (but it continues to be a good option for visitors requiring longer-term parking to do their downtown business), once again the Ontario Street garage is eligible for free parking from noon to 6 p.m., for up to three hours. Those parking at the garage who are visiting a downtown business can ask for a voucher from the business, providing for three hours of free parking at the garage.

The annual parking promotion is a joint program between the City and the St. Catharines Downtown Association to bring people downtown during the holiday season.

There are more than 1,000 City parking spaces downtown within a few minutes' walk to shopping and dining, as well as entertainment at the FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre and the Meridian Centre. Visit our parking pages for more information, including a downtown parking map.