Following a successful debut that drew more than 5,000 visitors into the heart of the city earlier this year, Main Street Sundays is set to return this weekend, transforming a stretch of Johannesburg’s CBD into a vibrant, car-free public space dedicated to people, creativity and community.
The initiative, spearheaded by Jozi My Jozi in partnership with Young Urbanists, the City of Johannesburg and Joburg Tourism, will once again close Main Street in Marshalltown to vehicles on Sunday, 21 June, creating a pedestrian-friendly environment stretching from 44 Main Street to Gandhi Square.
At its core, Main Street Sundays is about encouraging residents to experience the city differently, not through a car window, but on foot, by bicycle, skateboard or roller skates.
“We invite everyone to come out and experience the inner city as a car-free zone for a day,” says Dawn Robertson, Visitor and Creative Economy Catalyst at Jozi My Jozi. “It’s essentially about human connection. Main Street Sundays is a chance to meet Jozi at a chilled, walking pace.”
The inaugural event in April offered a glimpse of what Johannesburg’s streets could become when people take precedence over traffic. Visitors filled the roadway with impromptu games, art installations, music and conversation, creating an atmosphere rarely experienced in one of South Africa’s busiest urban centres.
By temporarily converting a major business corridor into a public gathering space, organisers hope to reshape perceptions of the inner city and encourage greater public engagement with the CBD. The event also aims to address long-standing concerns about safety through a coordinated presence of marshals, volunteers, the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department and emergency services.
A diverse programme of activities
Visitors can expect a diverse programme of activities throughout the day. Dedicated lanes will accommodate cyclists, walkers, skaters and families with prams, while markets, food stalls, live music and interactive experiences will line the route.
Several themed zones have been planned, including a wellness area featuring yoga sessions and silent book clubs, a family-focused children’s zone hosted by Play Africa, an active mobility corridor for cyclists and skaters, and a walkable art mile showcasing exhibitions, galleries and public art installations. Gandhi Square will host a vintage and vinyl market, food court and live entertainment.
Media partners Talk Radio 702 and VOW 88.1 FM will broadcast live from the event, adding to what organisers describe as an all-day celebration of Johannesburg’s culture, creativity and diversity.
More than a street festival
For Roland Postma, Managing Director of Young Urbanists, the initiative represents something bigger than a street festival.
“If we want Jozi to work, we must start with its streets. Because once you change the street, you change the city. And once you change the city, you change the country,” he says.
Organisers are encouraging residents from across Johannesburg to make a day of it. Secure parking will be available at nearby garages, while visitors can also travel via the Gautrain to Park Station and use a complimentary shuttle service operating between the station and Main Street.
With its blend of culture, community engagement, family-friendly activities, and urban exploration, Main Street Sundays is fast becoming one of Johannesburg’s most compelling public-space initiatives.
“Main Street Sundays is about restoring Johannesburg’s soul,” Robertson says. “When we close the streets to cars and open them to community, we remind people that this city is theirs. We want everyone who walks down that street on Sunday to feel something shift inside them and remember why they fell in love with this city in the first place.”
As Johannesburg continues to explore new ways to revitalise its urban core, Main Street Sundays offers a powerful reminder that vibrant cities are built not only by infrastructure but by the people who inhabit and experience them.
Registration for the event is free.
