Winter’s Looking Bright… and Nanaimo’s Got the Glow
Don’t let the winter blues dim your spirits! This January, Nanaimo is glowing brighter than ever!
Luminous Paths: Nanaimo’s 150 & Beyond invites you to explore a winter art festival like no other. This celebration of light, art, land, and community will transform Nanaimo’s public spaces into stunning works of illuminated art. Temporary installations will reimagine familiar places, creating immersive experiences that spark creativity, ignite imagination, and inspire hope.
As part of Nanaimo’s 150th celebrations, Luminous Paths isn’t just about art, it’s about coming together as a community, reflecting on our shared journey, and looking forward to a bright future. Whether you’re a local or just visiting, this festival promises moments of wonder, joy, and connection.
Bundle up, grab a warm drink, and let the glow of Nanaimo’s creativity guide your way through this magical experience.
Here are the Deets
When’s the glow-up happening? Mark your calendars—Luminous Paths lights up Nanaimo from January 22 to February 17 at Maffeo Sutton Park (though we fully expect you to keep shining long after that!). Don’t miss the spectacular opening event on January 22, from 5–9 PM, and be sure to catch the grand finale celebration on February 17, from 4–8 PM. These events will be the perfect bookends to an unforgettable festival experience!
Expect a festival that’s as vibrant as our community, with live performances, interactive booths, food trucks serving up delicious eats, City of Nanaimo 150 merch, fun-filled kids’ activities, and plenty of educational and promotional goodies. It’s going to be the event of the season, and trust us, you don’t want to miss it!
But why January 22? Because exactly 150 years ago, Nanaimo held its very first City Council meeting. And now, we’re celebrating this milestone the best way we know how: with art, light, and a whole lot of community pride.
Meet the Incredible Artists
Not only will there be a plethora of live performances, food trucks, and more, but Luminous Paths is also your chance to connect with Nanaimo’s creative community! Throughout the festival, artists and cultural partners will shine with a range of public engagement opportunities. Think artist talks, guided tours, hands-on workshops, and plenty more!
Don’t just admire the art from afar, get out and explore! These installations are scattered throughout Nanaimo’s parks and community spaces, ready to inspire your next adventure. While you’re at it, keep an eye out for local musicians and performers adding some extra magic at art spots across town.
But hurry! These temporary art pieces will only be glowing bright until the grand finale on February 17th.
bailey macabre
bailey macabre is an agender nêhiyaw/michif/Ukrainian self-taught interdisciplinary artist and writer residing on the homelands of the Snuneymuxw on so-called Vancouver Island with matrilineal ties to Beardys & Okemasis Cree Nation. Their practice includes a variety of mediums from comics and digital art to painting, sculpture, beadwork and zines.
David Martinello
David Martinello uses print, sculpture, painting, film, poetry, installation and performances alongside traditional woodworking to investigate the expressive attributes of wood. By curating an impressionistic response to the material’s characteristics, Martinello contemplates wood’s legacy to develop a holistic account of its influence in natural and constructed environments. Martinello’s practice is informed by a BFA from Queen’s University and years of building furniture with his company Alternative Woodworks. He has curated several shows and owned a gallery, and his art has been seen in galleries across Canada and public artworks commissioned by municipalities in BC and Alberta.
Jenny Smith
Jenny Smith is a multidisciplinary artist with a focus on community engagement. With a first love of literature, she was a winner for the Royal British Columbia Museum’s writing contest on Leonardo Da Vinci’s art, and her paintings have been featured in multiple literary journals, including on the cover of Room Magazine. In 2021, her interactive-engagement sculpture “In Your Hands” was installed on the West Vancouver waterfront for the summer. In 2023, she engaged hundreds of Pender Island residents in a community art project themed upon the inner child. Her current work explores relationships between technology, nature and the unseen world.
Mauro Dalla Costa
Mauro is a multidisciplinary artist from Argentina based in Nanaimo since 2017. He specializes in printmaking, particularly screen printing. Mauro also explores 3D art, animation and other creative disciplines. His work combines traditional craftsmanship with contemporary techniques inspired by geometry, space and the universe. He creates pieces that invite reflection and connection blending meticulous detail with experimentation.
Monkey C Interactive
Monkey C Interactive is the interactive work of artists David Parfit and Scott Amos. Whether it’s a strange and whimsical musical instrument like the Bubble Organ, a giant motion-responsive LED cube sculpture, a tech-house-looping mutant cash register or a 5-story-tall musical stairwell, Monkey C Interactive’s public art installations and interactive sculptures have amused and delighted countless people in their hometown of Victoria, BC and at numerous festivals and events.
Coming from Out Of Town? We got your back.
Whether you’re a Nanaimo local or just visiting, we’re here to make your travel plans a breeze. Ready to explore? Check out these travel tips based on where you’re coming from—because getting here should be just as fun as being here.
South Island Crew? We Got You:
- By Car – Jump in your ride and cruise up the Trans-Canada Highway. Pack some snacks, because depending on where you’re coming from, you might be looking at a 2-hour drive. But hey, we’re worth it.
- By Bus – Catch the Island Link Bus from Duncan or Victoria, and roll into Nanaimo’s Departure Bay Terminal. From there, hop on bus 20 (A Dover – Downtown) or 25 (Ferry Shuttle – Downtown), walk or grab a cab straight to Maffeo Sutton Park. Easy peasy.
North Island Explorers? Here’s How You Get Here:
- By Car – Jump on Highway 19 and cruise south. Depending on your starting point, it’s a 3+ hour ride, but trust us, the destination is so worth the drive. Pack extra snacks, you’ll need ‘em.
- By Bus – Catch either the Island Link Bus from Parksville, Comox Valley, Campbell River, or even Port Hardy, really, we’ve got you covered. Once in Nanaimo, you’ll then arrive at the Departure Bay Terminal. Hop on bus 20 (A Dover – Downtown) or 25 (Ferry Shuttle – Downtown), walk or grab a cab straight to Maffeo Sutton Park.
West Coast Adventurers? Getting Here’s a Breeze:
- By Car – Hit Highway 4 and head towards Highway 19. Once you make it to Highway 19, travel south until you land in Nanaimo. With a little road-trip playlist, it’s a solid 3+ hours of driving.
- By Bus – Catch either the Island Link Bus from Ucluelet, Tofino or Port Alberni and get ready for a scenic ride. Arrive at Departure Bay Terminal, the catch a quick local bus (either 20: A Dover – to Downtown or 25: Ferry Shuttle – to Downtown), walk or call a cab to Maffeo Sutton Park!
Vancouverites? Hullo there:
- By Boat – It’s never been easier to get to Nanaimo from Vancouver! Hop on the Hullo Ferry at the downtown terminal, and 70 minutes later, you’re in Nanaimo. The best part? Hullo Ferries is offering 10% off all fares from January 20 to February 18! Just use the code LUMINOUS10 at checkout.
From there, take their shuttle and you’re for a quick 10-minute walk straight to Maffeo Sutton Park. Can you say seamless? - By Plane – Hop aboard Harbour Air, Sunshine Coast Air, or Seair Seaplanes for quick, scenic flights to downtown Vancouver or YVR’s South Terminal. In just 20 minutes, you’ll be landing with style (and maybe even snapping a sky-high selfie along the way)!
Coming from farther? Let’s Make It Fun:
Whether you’re visiting from out of province, across Canada or from interior British Columbia, getting to Nanaimo is easy!
- By Plane – Connect to Nanaimo from anywhere in the world. Nanaimo’s modern airport is home to three air carriers – Air Canada, WestJet and Pacific Coastal. Located just 18km south of downtown Nanaimo, the airport offers shuttles, taxis, rental car kiosks, as well as short and long-term parking.
- By Car – Want to road-trip it? Take one of two ferries from Vancouver. Depart Horseshoe Bay and you’ll be in Nanaimo in 1 hour 40 minutes. Or, head to Tsawwassen and arrive at Duke Point, just 15 minutes south of Nanaimo, 2 hours later. Pro tip: Book your ferry in advance, especially during the summer or long weekends. Bonus: Food, shopping, and a kids’ playroom to keep things exciting on board.
Need a Place To Stay?
The Best Western Dorchester has you covered with an exclusive 25% off your stay and 15% off dining at Embers, Nanaimo’s cozy wine and charcuterie cellar. Whether you’re toasting to Nanaimo’s 150th or soaking in the glow of the festival, this deal will keep your sparkle shining bright. Book your stay, grab a glass, and let the celebrations begin!
Ready to feel the glow? Don’t miss your chance to experience Nanaimo like never before! Plan your visit, explore the art, and make memories that shine bright long after the festival ends.
Book your stay today and let the celebration begin!
Want more info? Check out the City of Nanaimo’s website.
This event is funded (in part) by the Government of Canada, through the Canadian Heritage Building Communities through Arts and Heritage grant.
Thank you in addition to the Government of Canada, City of Nanaimo, the Port of Nanaimo and HMCS Nanaimo.
