Wondering what’s happening around town?
We’ve got you covered!
Featured Event: Nanaimo Fringe Festival, August 11th– 14th, Harbour City Theatre or Vancouver Island Conference Centre, Show Times vary. $12 a show, festival passes are also available, 5 shows for $40.
The 6th annual Nanaimo Fringe runs August 11-21, 2016. Enjoy 48 live theatre show times. 8 companies will be performing in front of a live audience who may love, hate, become transfixed or even startled. This festival is perfect for developing, emerging and experimenting artists. 100% of ticket proceeds go directly to the artists. You need to be a member to attend. Get your $5 fringe button at the door and wear it throughout the festival.
Longwoodstock, August 12th – 13th, Longwood Brewery,
Back by popular demand! Join us at the Longwood Brewery Back Lot Summer Bash for live music, beer gardens, food vendors and great times! Begin Friday and Saturday at the Longwood Brewery and continue the each night at Nanaimo’s hottest after parties downtown. Featured artist include Daniel Wesley, WiL, Northcote, Job Middleton, Dope Soda, Sirreal & More.
CONCERTS and LIVE MUSIC
Summertime Music Series 2016. Thurs @ 12 PM. Diana Krall Plaza. FREE.
This week featuring The Distributors. Bring your lunch and listen to some great local music!
Live at Longwood. Thurs @ 8 PM. Longwood Brew Pub.
Live music every Thursday night, this week featuring Cody Nyman & Calixxa.
Friday Fun at Minnoz, Fri @ 7 PM, Minnoz Restaurant, FREE
A ‘must be at’ for this exciting downtown night spot! Elegant & classy! Prime rib featured plus Wine, spirits or craft beer tastings courtesy various Vancouver Island vendors. No cover, reservations recommended! Mention promo code: @DaveHartMusic
Marty Steele at the Keyboards. Sun @5:30 PM. MGM Restaurant. FREE. Marty Steele has played dance music for the beginner and advanced alike, along with a great selection of easy listening instrumentals. Guaranteed fun for the young and old alike, it makes for a very satisfying early evening in a very comfortable setting.
Saturdays & Wednesdays at New York Pizza. 6PM – 8PM. Quiet enough to enjoy your dining experience, but with an upbeat energy, Marty’s style of playing matches the ambience of the restaurant – a mix of elegance and grit that will satisfy your musical tastes.
Herbicidal Maniacs “L I V E” in Concert, Sat @ 8 PM, Lantzville Pub, FREE
Come out and enjoy an evening of ALL ORIGNIAL music from the Herbicidal Maniacs, dance to their groove and feel the power of their Westcoast Sound!
KIDS ACTIVITIES
Concerts in the Park, Mon @ 12:30PM & Wed @ 6PM, Maffeo Sutton 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. This Monday enjoy some Blues/Jazz/Pop musical stylings by Joan Wallace and the Mary’s and on Wednesday enjoy Classical music stylings by The Nanaimo Chamber Orchestra
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 @ 9:30 AM – 3PM. Morrell Nature Sanctuary. $25/day. 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 PM. Nanaimo Museum. Incl. in admission. This 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!
Summer Playground Program. Mon – Fri @ 10 M. Various Locations. FREE. Hey, kids 5-12! Drop into one of our neighbourhood playgrounds this summer for FREE family fun! Activities could include crafts, games, sports & arts.
Drop-in Tabletop Gaming. Sat @ 1 PM. Nanaimo Harbourfront (Downtown) Library. FREE. Bored? Like games? The come check out our Board Game Afternoon!
Strategy Board Game Night. Tues @5 PM. Nanaimo Harbourfront (Downtown) Library. FREE. Love to play board games? From Settlers of Catan to worker placement, a librarian will be on hand to moderate and play. Bring your games, bring your opponents or come alone and meet others who share your hobby.
NALT Summer Picnic, Sat @ 11 AM, 3145 Frost Road in Cassidy, FREE
Join us for guided tours, live local music, wild salmon BBQ and special tribute to Anneke and Peter Van Kerkoerle.
Love Your City – Free Family Fun Day! Sat @ 11 AM, Maffeo Sutton Park, FREE
You’re invited along with everyone else in Nanaimo! Come out and have fun in the park with great live music all day, puppet shows, face painting, jumping castles, bouncy obstacle course, gladiator joust, and other fun games! Plus free hot dogs, tons of cotton candy, popcorn and MUCH MORE!
SHOWCASES and TOURS
Historic Pub Tour, meet at the Bastion, Thur @6:45pm, $25
You get two funky old pubs, loads of historic and quirky facts about our ever-evolving liquor laws in BC, beer, a slice of Mambo’s pizza and an eclectic guide to bring it all to life!
Newcastle Island Walking Tour & Salmon BBQ. Sun @ 10 AM. Newcastle Island. BBQ: Adult $50, Child $25; Ferry: Adult $9, Child $6. Begins at the Totem Pole where you will enjoy the regular tour of storytelling and a nature walk. Once the tour is over, you will enjoy eating a traditionally cooked BBQ salmon while the Snuneymuxw chef will take you through the process of cooking traditionally and speak of the teachings handed down through the generations. Tours are approximately 2.5 hours, pre-booking required.
Nanaimo Art Gallery presents: Trusses. Thurs – Sun @ 10 Am. Nanaimo Art Gallery. By Donation. Trusses is an exhibition of works by contemporary artists and architects that explore how buildings resonate through their uses and their interactions with other forms of culture.
Nanaimo Bar Trail Run. Tues @ 9:30 AM. Diana Krall Plaza. $15. Bring your running shoes and get ready for an approx. 6-8km run (nobody left behind). At the finish line indulge in a coffee and a world famous Nanaimo Bar
The Story Behind the Artifact. Daily @ 10AM. Nanaimo Museum. $0.75 – $2. The artifacts on exhibit range from ordinary household objects to those that have survived fatal accidents. They cover hundreds of years of Nanaimo’s history, from First Nations stone tools to surveying instruments used up to the 1990’s.
OTHER HIGHIGHTS
Cannon Firing, Daily @ 11:45 AM, in the Square next to the Bastion, FREE.
Join the ceremonial cannon firing which is accompanied by Bill Poppy, the Nanaimo bagpipe icon.
Whiskers & Wine, Fri @ 6PM, Nanaimo & District BCSPCA Community Animal Centre, $50
Join us and CTV Host Brian Williams for an evening of wine, craft beer, and local food. Enjoy music from local bank “Boomshack”. There will also be an array of fantastic live and silent auction items, including a selection of cat collectible items donated from the estate of beloved and greatly missed animal lover Sylvia Tuele.
Festival-Style Open-Air Yoga, Fri @ 4:30 PM, Gallery Row, FREE
We invite you to express yourself at Gallery Row’s Summer Festival Series by donning your best festival-style face and body paint! Please bring your own mat and anything else you want for decorating yourself beforehand!
Culture and Heritage Paintout 2016, Sat @ 11 AM, EJ Hughes Gallery, $10
Bringing culture and heritage to life in an artistic race against time! Meet at the EJ Hughes Gallery on Saturday at 11 AM then head out to a randomly designated spot downtown Nanaimo to set up and paint a cultural or heritage subject at the location. Meet back to the Gallery with your completed painting for judging and prizes. Pre-registration is required, deadline August 12.
Highland Dancers, Thurs & Sat @ 11:30 AM, net to the Bastion, FREE
Twice a week the cannon firing is accompanied by several local highland dance students. Be sure to be there early as they start at 11:30 a.m. before the actual cannon firing ceremony.
Salsa Sundays Salsa/Rueda intro Nanaimo, Sat @ 3 PM, Vibe Dance Studio, $10 one session, $15 both sessions
3-4:15: Beginner salsa/Rueda class. Learn the fundamentals of Cuban salsa and start dancing immediately in the uniquely Cuban Rueda circle. This class is open to beginner dancers but will move as quickly as dancers’ salsa basics allow
4:30 – 5:45: Beyond beginner salsa/Rueda (too advanced for new salsa dancers who took the first session). Learn the difference between a Cuban and LA salsa Cross Body Lead and put it into practice in this more advanced Rueda class. You will also learn the different timing and prep for turns.
Kayak & Yoga, Thurs @ 6PM. OmTown Yoga. $45
A guided paddle to New Castle Island where the group will land and be lead through a chilled out yoga flow as the sun sets. After, we will then take a moment together to enjoy the amazing view, and then paddle back to Nanaimo. All levels welcome, no yoga or kayaking experience necessary. Snacks provided by Power House Foods & Elevate Me. Yoga led by Katherine Boere Kayaks & guides provided by Alberni Outpost
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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