Massive crowds gather for the last night of the Vancouver Olympics at Robson Square, in front of the Vancouver Art Gallery

In all the years that I’ve lived in the Vancouver, I have never seen anything like the street partying downtown tonight, especially around Robson Square / GE Plaza, where crowds so thick you could barely move celebrated the last night of the Vancouver 2010 Olympics by watching the Closing Ceremonies together on the big screen by the Square and projected large-scale on the side of Sears.

Crowds at Robson Square watch the Closing Ceremonies projected onto the side of Sears

Neil Young, performing at the Vancouver 2010 Closing Ceremonies, projected onto the side of Sears for crowds at Robson Square

Thousands packed the streets and the steps of the Vancouver Art Gallery, with impromptu dancing and chanting (“Can-a-da! Can-a-da!) breaking out where ever there was a bit of extra space or lull in the general roar of the crowd.

Watching the Closing Ceremonies on Robson Square's big screen.

Crowds pack VAG's steps and Robson Square

During the Closing Ceremonies, the (free) ice skating rink and steps leading down to the Robson Square Main Stage actually weren’t crowded. But after the Ceremonies, there was no doubt they would be just as incredible a party scene as the nearby streets.

Under the dome at Robson Square

It’s only 9pm as I post this, and I can guarantee you there will be fierce partying throughout the night at both Robson Square—where the festivities continue until midnight—and the Granville Street pedestrian corridor (just one block away). If you don’t want to miss Vancouver’s biggest street party ever, get down there right now! (But take the Canada Line—as of one hour ago, bus transit to downtown was suspended and Granville Street Bridge northbound was closed due to crowds!)