City will also offer program support to food trucks, artists and musicians

In support of local restaurants affected by COVID-19, the City of Fredericton is launching a partnership with Downtown Fredericton and Business Fredericton North called “Fredericton al fresco”.

The initiative will see almost 60 bistro-style and picnic tables set up in public spaces, on the south side and north side of the city, for use by residents as an extension of available seating at sidewalk cafés and outdoor patios affected by physical distancing.

As a result of the cancellation of summer festivals and events due to COVID-19, the City will also be allowing some local food trucks to set up in parking lots serving Odell and Killarney Lake parks. 

In addition, the City will hire local artists and musicians to offer cultural initiatives in support of the Fredericton al fresco initiative. This will include temporary public art displays, as well as light musical entertainment. 

Start times for each program will vary, but the focus will be from June until the start of September.  This is all part of the City’s #SupportFredLocal initiative to support local businesses and the community during COVID-19.  Details follow.

Outdoor Tables

As part of the “Fredericton al fresco” effort, tables will be set up in the following locations: 

• Phoenix Square - 18 bistro-style tables,
• Barracks Square - 21 picnic tables, and
• the Nashwaaksis Commons - 18 picnic tables.

Residents will be able to carry their take-out food to these tables.  Since each table has a number, they will also be able to order and have food delivered directly to the tables by participating restaurants. Table use will be restricted to people in your bubble.

The tables will not be licensed for the consumption of alcohol.  Staff will be on hand to sanitize and monitor the tables.  Since the areas being used are large, all physical distancing measures can be observed.

The program will run from early June to early September. Hours will vary from 11 am to 8 pm, seven days a week, weather permitting. 

Food Trucks

Recognizing that residents will be out in public spaces more than ever this summer, enjoying family time and practicing safe physical distancing, the City will add to that experience by allowing several food truck operators to set up in three locations around the City.

The first two locations will be the beach parking lot at Killarney Lake Park, with two trucks and the Waggoners Lane parking lot at Odell Park, with two more trucks.  As the summer progresses, two food truck will also be allowed to set up at the Prospect Street entrance to Odell Park.

Food trucks involved in the Fredericton al fresco initiative will follow all health and safety protocols; residents will be asked to observe COVID-19 physical distancing measures.

To the extent possible, participating food trucks will be operated by Frederictonians, from the established food truck list. They will be a diversity of vendors over the summer.  More details about the food trucks, time of operation, etc., will be announced later.

Cultural Initiatives

And finally, in support of local artists, the City will offer cultural initiatives as part of the Fredericton al fresco effort.

Artists will be invited to submit proposals for temporary art displays at Phoenix Square that are intended to inspire the community and convey a sense of gratitude, strength, positivity, and hope. The call for artists will begin soon, with an estimated timeline for installation of mid-July.

Musicians will be part of the al fresco mix in the downtown locations.  Final details are still being developed.

In addition, the City’s popular Summer Artist in Residence program in Odell Park and the Botanic Gardens will undergo changes to feature artists working outdoors and observing COVID-19 physical distancing requirement.