Featured Event: Silly Boat Regatta, Sunday 8am-4pm, Maffeo Sutton Park, FREE
The Silly Boat Regatta has been a part of Nanaimo’s events calendar for over 30 years. Each year approx. 50 teams have the mission to build a boat out of recycled or recyclable materials and then race them in the inner harbour. All proceeds go towards the Nanaimo Child Development Centre, last year they were able to fundraise over $110,000. So bring the entire family to Maffeo Sutton park to look at the weird and wacky boat creations, cheer on the teams and enjoy the kids orientated entertainment, and fun!
CONCERTS and LIVE MUSIC
Summertime Music Series, Thurs @ 12PM-1PM, Albert Street Plaza, FREE. Bring your lunch and listen to some great local, live music!
Live at Longwood, Thurs @ 8PM, Longwood Pub. FREE. Live at Longwood features Phil Dickson & Hazen Sage. Enjoy local music and door prizes.
Concerts in the park, FREE. This summer, bring a lawn chair and a picnic while enjoying some great musical entertainment in two of Nanaimo’s most beautiful parks. What could be better?
- Monday, Maffeo Sutton Park 12:30-1:30pm – The Cside3
- Wednesday, Bowen Park Amphitheatre 6-7:30pm – Terra Zetto
Weekends at New York Style Pizza. Fri & Saturday @6pm, New York Style Pizza and Pasta, FREE Marty Steele, Nanaimo’s most versatile keyboardist, dishes up a wide repertoire of jazz, blues, and rock tunes.
The P.J. Perry Quartet, Sun @7:30pm, SimonHolt, $25. Don’t miss these Jazz greats playing in an intimate atmosphere. PJ Perry will be accompanied by award winning bass player, Neil Swainson, Kelby MacNayr and Ron Johnston.
Nanaimo Concert Band, Mon @6:30-8pm, Maffeo Sutton Park, FREE. Bring a chair or a blanket and enjoy this summer concert in a stunning location along the waterfront.
SHOWCASES and TOURS
Nanaimo Art Gallery presents: Trusses Thurs – Sun @ 10AM-5PM, by Donation. Trusses is explores how buildings resonate through their uses and their intersections with other forms of culture.
Nanaimo Bar Trail Run, Downtown Nanaimo, Tues @9:30-11am, $15. Go for 6-8km run, chat, learn about Nanaimo while sightseeing, and then enjoy a Nanaimo Bar at one of the locations on the Nanaimo Bar Trail.
The Nanaimo Museum presents: The story behind the artifact, Mon-Fri @10am-5pm, Admission$0.75-$2. The artifacts range from ordinary household object to those that have survived fatal accidents.
Newcastle Island Walking Tour & Salmon BBQ, Sun, $50, reservations required. Learn about the island & culture during a 1.5hour cultural walking tour with traditional story telling. After the tour enjoy a Salmon BBQ feast with salmon cooked in the tradition way over a pit fire.
KIDS ACTIVITIES
The Golden Bucket Contest, Daily, Nanaimo, FREE. This is a great way to get out exploring. Check out the weekly clue and try to find the golden bucket to have a chance to win prizes.
Summer Playground Program, Mon-Fri @10am-3pm, Various locations, FREE. Looking for something for the Kids? 6 Playgrounds all over time participate in this program and offer added crafts, activities, games or sports.
Wacky Wednesdays, Wed @1-2:30pm, Nanaimo Aquatic Centre, reg. admission. Enjoy some weird and wacky family time at the pool.
Art Lab Studio, Sat @ 9:30-12:30, Nanaimo Art Gallery, $12/child. Let your kids connect with artists, experiment with materials, learn new techniques, and have fun with art making.
Morrell Nature Sanctuary Summer Day Camp. Mon-Fri @ 9am-3pm. Morrell Nature Sanctuary $25/day. The Morrell Summer Day Camp is the place where they can learn about; Fast Flyers and Mighty Mammals, ICKY Insects, Slime Time or become a Forest Detective or Mad Scientist.
Summer Activities at the Museum, Wed & Fri@ 1:30-3:30pm, incl. in admission. These drop-in hands-on programs are ideal for children ages 5-12. It’s a great opportunity to keep your kids engaged and explore the Museum.
Sunset Cinema: Jungle Book, Sat @dusk, Maffeo Sutton Park, FREE. Bring a blanket and head down to the park to see a family classic, the Jungle Book.
Monster vs Aliens, Sun @ 1-3pm, Nanaimo Aquatic Centre, reg. admission. Bring the family to the pool and see who reigns: Monsters or aliens.
OTHER HIGHIGHTS
Salsa in the Park, Thu @ 7:30-10:30pm, Maffeo Sutton Park, sugg. donation $2. End your day with some salsa dancing in the Park. No experience or partner required, just bring your joy for dancing. Beginner lesson starts 7:30pm.
Friday Fun at Minnoz, Fri @7-10pm, Minnoz Lounge, FREE. Enjoy a lovely meal and live entertainment.
Nanaimo Priates vs Abbortsford, Sat @ 12 &2:30pm, Serauxman Stadium. Catch a baseball and cheer on BC’s Premier Baseball Team.
Nanaimo Timbermen vs Maple Ridge, Sat @7pm, Frank Crane Arena, $12
Nanaimo Spoken Word, Sat @ 1-3pm, The Vault Café, FREE. Head down to this popular café to see three different spoken word performers present their work.
Yoga on Tap, Sun @11-12pm, White Sails Brewing, $20. Ever done yoga in a brewery? Now is your time. Bring a mat and join the fun class with music and a brewery tour.
FARMER’S MARKETS
Island Roots Bowen Road Market, Weds @ 4-6:30pm and Sat @9-12pm, Beban Park, FREE. Nanaimo’s premier food-oriented market promoting the 100 mile diet.
Bastion Waterfront Farmers Market, Fri @10am-2pm, Pioneer Plaza, FREE. Find farmers, bakers, crafters and anything else locally grown, made or baked.
Nanaimo Flea Market. Fri @12pm, Wellington Hall, FREE. The Nanaimo Flea Market is open to everyone and has a variety of vendors. You can find holiday, everyday retro, jewelry, antiques, household goods, jam, jellies, baked goods, farmer’s eggs and so much more.
Cedar Farmers Market, Sun @10-2pm, Crow and Gate Pub Field, FREE. The market boasts over 70 full time vendors making it one of the region’s largest.
Lantzville Market, Sun @ 1:30-4pm, St. Phillips Church, FREE. This is a great little market featuring local vendors from Nanaimo and Region
For more local events, visit www.tourismnanaimo.com/events
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