Make Your Holiday Shopping Merry: Enjoy 2 hours of Free Parking in Downtown
Barrie this December!
Support local businesses and experience the charm of downtown Barrie this holiday season,
with two hours of free on-street parking throughout December.
Please note that on-street parking downtown remains limited to a two-hour maximum year-round. Additionally, parking is free after 5 p.m. on weekdays, all day on weekends, and on statutory holidays in downtown areas. Regular fees apply in municipal lots and the Collier Street Parkade.
For more details on parking, visit Barrie.ca/Parking.
To explore downtown businesses, entertainment, and events, visit DowntownBarrie.ca.
Overnight On-Street Parking Restrictions
The City’s Overnight Parking By-law will be in effect from December 1 to March 31.
On-street parking is not permitted from 3 a.m.–6 a.m. within the Downtown Business Improvement Area and from 12:01 a.m.–7 a.m. on all other City streets.
These restrictions allow snow-clearing crews to keep streets safe and ensure that large emergency vehicles have access throughout the City.
For more information, visit barrie.ca/OvernightParking.
Ring in 2025 at Barrie’s Downtown Countdown!
When:December 31, 2024 | 6 p.m. – 11:59 p.m.
Where: Barrie City Hall, 70 Collier Street.
Join this year’s free family-friendly New Year’s celebration featuring musical guest Madeline
Merlo, Kyle Wauchope and Sonshine & Broccoli, plus buskers, food vendors, and fun activities for everyone!
Enjoy skating, face painting, a bon fire warming zone, and two spectacular fireworks shows at 8 p.m. and midnight.
Getting there: Free Barrie Transit starts at 5 p.m. until 3 a.m. extended hours, and downtown parking is free.
For more information, visit barrie.ca/DowntownCountdown.
Another busy road construction season wraps up
Check out Barrie’s end of season construction video, which highlights progress of the City’s major road work and road improvements projects over the past year. Over $110 million was invested in various road and infrastructure projects this year.
Thank you to residents for your patience and cooperation during another busy construction
season in Barrie! View all construction project updates at barrie.ca/roadwork.
Digital Waterfront Parking Permits Extended to December 2026 
The City of Barrie is making parking more convenient! Digital waterfront parking permits,
previously set to expire in 2024, will now remain valid until December 31, 2026. This extension
ensures residents can enjoy uninterrupted access to select waterfront parking areas without the need for frequent renewals. All active permits will automatically reflect the updated expiry date.
Physical hangtags for waterfront parking are no longer valid. Barrie residents are required to switch to a digital parking permit. Visit barrie.ca/WaterfrontParking for step-by-step instructions on how to get your free digital permit through the HotSpot app or website—no payment information is required.
For more information on how to apply or to activate your digital parking permit, visit
barrie.ca/parking.
Holiday Hours for Barrie Services
The following City of Barrie services will be affected:
City Hall: Closed at noon on Dec. 24, closed on Dec. 25, Dec. 26, Dec. 27, closed at noon on
Dec.31 and closed Jan.1.
Recreation Centres: The Peggy Hill Team Community Centre, East Bayfield Community Centre, and Allandale Recreation Centre will operate on the following holiday schedule:
- December 24 (Christmas Eve): Open 6 a.m.–12 p.m.
- December 25 & 26 (Christmas & Boxing Day): Closed
- December 27–30: Normal operating hours
- December 31: Open 6 a.m.–12 p.m.
- January 1 (New Year’s Day): Closed
Visit barrie.ca/RecDropins for drop-in schedules.
Barrie Transit:
- December 24 (Christmas Eve): Operating on a regular weekday service.
- December 25 (Christmas Day): No transit service.
- December 26 (Boxing Day): Operating on a Sunday schedule, with an early start at 7
a.m. - January 1 (New Year’s Eve): Free transit service starts at 5 p.m. with Routes 1 and 8
running until 3 a.m. Except the 400 Express Route. - New Year’s Day: No transit service.
Visit MyRideBarrie.ca to plan your trip.
Parking:
Downtown parking (on-street and lots is not enforced on statutory holidays. Waterfront parking is enforced 24/7/365. To park for free in select waterfront areas, vehicles must be registered with a digital waterfront parking permit.
Residents are reminded that there are possible exceptions to the overnight parking bylaw on December 25, 26, and January 1 from 12:01 a.m. to 7 a.m., unless the city declares a Winter Maintenance Event by 4 p.m. on the previous day.
Visit barrie.ca/parking for details.
Barrie Public Library:
- December 24 (Christmas Eve): Open until 1 p.m.
- December 25 & 26 (Christmas & Boxing Day): Closed
- January 1 (New Year’s Day): Closed
Waste Collection:
- December 25 (Christmas): No curbside waste collection. Collection will occur one day
later for the remainder of the week. - January 1 (New Year’s): No curbside waste collection. Collection will occur the following
day.
Visit barrie.ca/CurbsideCollection for more information and to look up your collection schedule.
Landfill: The landfill will be closed on December 25, December 26 and January 1. For more information, visit barrie.ca/landfill.
Plan your activities and travel accordingly during this holiday season!
Presented by The City of Barrie
The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of The City of Barrie and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of iPolitics.
