Plan your visit to AREA 506
Here’s what you can expect to find on your visit to the Waterfront Container Village
Regular Gate Hours
Waterfront Container Village: 11AM to 7PM
The Docks Container Lounge: 11AM to 10PM
Wednesday to Sunday
Here’s what you can expect to find on your visit to the Waterfront Container Village
The AREA 506 story starts way back in 2015 with a plan to start a music festival on the waterfront.
Built to create a showcase for the ‘best of New Brunswick’, the first AREA 506 Festival occurred over the NB Day weekend in 2016. Anchored by the pillars of music, culture and goods, the festival was built to highlight the diversity of this province.
Open since 2022 and in operation from May through November each year, the Village was designed by our small team and built by a group of local tradespeople and small business owners. The colour palette is intended as a nod to our marine heritage in Saint John, complemented by colourful artwork by local and international artists. Through businesses, experiences, live music and performances, we hope to reimagine what it is to live life in a Port City.
Art
We’re incredibly proud to have artists from all corners of the globe come to work with us — it helps put New Brunswick on the map!
As you wander down our own Graffiti Alley, which we’re pretty sure is the most selfied space in New Brunswick, you’ll find two 20 foot-tall murals - a combination of works by two internationally acclaimed artists:
On the water side, Ledania is from Colombia and completed this 2400 square foot mural in the summer of 2022. If her style feels familiar to you, it may be because she was one of the creative forces behind the Disney movie Encanto.
On the opposite wall is Eelco, a street artist from the Netherlands who was passionate about creating a marine-inspired mural – it now surrounds a vibrant space where visitors sit and enjoy a coffee or an ice cream on a sunny day.
At the end of Graffiti Alley, you’ll find what has become affectionately known as the Monster Container. Part art installation, part community performance space, this 20’ container was designed and painted by Toronto artist Alex Currie, better known as runt. Al’s army of neon monsters and rascally creatures can be found on some of Toronto’s most iconic live music venues and recognizable spaces.
As you travel through the rest of the Village, keep your eyes peeled for clever installations (there are more than a dozen!) by French artist OakOak, who works to transform ordinary spaces into fun public art.
Near the back gates, we have a colourful space to enjoy a bit to eat, and this space is pure vibes. This area was designed in partnership with local artist Fabiola Martinez, who engaged local schools to help bring the idea to life with amazing colours and vibrantly painted planters.
Shopping
The vendors at AREA 506 are carefully curated every season, with a focus on local, independent business owners and brands that create great experiences for visitors to the Waterfront Container Village. In Retail Row you’ll find a selection of clothing, local gifts, snacks, beauty, self-care experiences, and even regional tourism information.
Container Village Vendors
Food & Drinks
The Waterfront Container Village is open for roughly 150 days per season, with nearly 100 events per year. Whether it’s our signature Waterfront Concert Series, one of many community events, or weekly favourites like Family Movie Night, Trivia Night or Friday-after-work local music nights – there’s no shortage of things see on the stage.
This area is also home to a wide selection of food options, from authentic Mexican cuisine to bubble tea to Canadian east coast favourites. There are great food options for lunch, dinner, or a late-night snack.
Wander into The Docks Container Lounge for a beverage - choose a New Brunswick craft beer from one of 10 taps or a cocktail from our list of classic and specialty New Brunswick-inspired selections.
The Viewing Deck
Upstairs at The Docks you’ll find the best views of the Harbour, not to mention the beautiful City of Saint John. From here, you can see the elements of the kind of industry that drives a Port City, but also the amazing architecture that encapsulates the soul of Canada’s Oldest Incorporated City.
Whether it’s sipping a drink while wasting away a sunny Saturday, enjoying a live show in one of the region’s most interesting performance venues, or taking in all that the city has to offer – the view from the top deck makes you truly appreciate where you are, and how much the city of Saint John has to offer.
The Crew Lounge
The AREA 506 Waterfront Container Village was built with three groups of people in mind – local residents, travellers visiting our city by land, and cruise ship passengers. The Village was built in partnership with the Port of Saint John, and they’ve been strong partners ever since. Together, we want to create an amazing introductory experience to the city for people that might be visiting Saint John, New Brunswick, or even Canada for the first time.
Fun Fact: on average, 10% of a ship’s passengers are crew members. Port Saint John saw a great opportunity to offer crew members a comfortable area to themselves where they can take a break, grab a coffee, and enjoy free Wi-Fi to connect with family and friends. This innovative space was built inside a double-stacked container, and even has a deck where crew members can get some fresh air and enjoy a great view of the Saint John Harbour.
Partners
Take a minute to thank our partners & support them because they support us
