Thousands of athletes, supporters and residents will be filling Penticton’s streets and parks this weekend for Subaru IRONMAN Canada. Residents are reminded to anticipate large crowds and extensive road closures on race day, Sunday, Aug. 28, and to use extra caution.
Road closures will cause significant delays on Sunday, including along Lakeshore Drive, Main Street and Skaha Lake Road. Motorists are advised to use Channel Parkway wherever possible. Many of the closures start at 4 a.m. Sunday and run until 1 a.m. the next morning.
Be aware that Main Street will be particularly busy between 1-5 p.m. when both runners and cyclists will be on the road. The best time to cross is between 9:45-11:30 a.m. A full list of closures, plus charts and maps, is available online at penticton.ca/ironman, including tips about where to cross Main Street.
Anyone planning to head downtown is encouraged to walk, ride bikes or take public transit wherever possible, since parking access will be limited. A map of downtown public parking lots can be found at penticton.ca/parking. For updates involving BC Transit, visit bctransit.com.
Allow extra time! Tips for race day
- Do your shopping and errands in advance.
- Expect delays. Allow extra time if you need to go across town.
- Flying out that day? Allow extra time to get to the airport.
- Heading to church? Give yourself extra time.
- Plan ahead. Know what roads are closed and where you can cross Main St.
- Participate in the fun. Get your fan kit and plan to cheer on local athletes.
- Make a day of it with the family! There is nothing more inspirational than watching the athletes cross the finish line and hearing their stories.
- Be patient and kind with athletes, volunteers, fans and event organizers. They are all doing their best to make it a great event!
Also expect extra foot traffic downtown on Saturday, Aug. 27, for the IRONKIDS Fun Run, with Lakeshore Drive being closed between Winnipeg Street and Riverside Drive from 8-10:30 a.m.
Residents are encouraged to get involved and show your support, as is the Penticton tradition. Visit the City’s website for information about how to get involved, volunteer, or take part in events and activities open to the public. Also, be sure to pick up your free fan kit at the Penticton Farmers’ Market this Saturday, Aug. 27.
The City has set up a Call Centre to answer your questions about getting around this weekend. Call 250-490-2345 (open from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Aug. 27-28).
A notice containing the information above was mailed to all Penticton households last week. It’s also posted online, including road closure charts and maps, at penticton.ca/ironman.