EVENTS CALENDAR

Festivals and events

Embrace the eclectic energy of Nanaimo at our Bathtub Races, a thrilling tribute to our marine heritage, or get lost in the magic of our Lantern Festival, join the city in colour for our Pride Festival, Jazz fest and more. Every season brings something new and exciting, ensuring that no two visits to Nanaimo are ever the same.

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Calendar of Events

S Sun

M Mon

T Tue

W Wed

T Thu

F Fri

S Sat

2 events,

Luminous Paths: Nanaimo’s 150th and Beyond

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And WInter Came – Benefit Concert for the Old City Arts Hub

2 events,

- Event Series

Island Roots Farmers’ Market

3 events,

- Event Series

Nanaimo! The City That Sings – A Choral Kaleidosope

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Vancouver International Mountain Film Festival (VIMFF) Hosted by the NMBC

3 events,

- Event Series

Songs for Nobodies

6 events,

Trust Fall

Trust Fall

Nanaimo Flea Market 

- Event Series

Songs for Nobodies

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Joe Farnsworth and Sarah Hanahan

- Event Series

Songs for Nobodies

4 events,

- Event Series

Film Screening – All we imagine as light

- Event Series

Film Screening – All we imagine as light

3 events,

- Event Series

Island Roots Farmers’ Market

3 events,

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R-RATED | Diversity Hires Stand Up Comedy Tour | NANAIMO

3 events,

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Vancouver Island Symphony presents Whoever Said Opera is Boring?

2 events,

3 events,

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The Debaters Live

6 events,

- Event Series

Harbour Hustle – VIU Super Smash Bros Meetup

- Event Series

Island Roots Farmers’ Market

- Event Series

Harbour Hustle – VIU Super Smash Bros Meetup

- Event Series

Harbour Hustle – VIU Super Smash Ultimate Tournament Series

5 events,

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Singing Valentines

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Valentine’s Day Printmaking

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Ashley Wey Trio @ The Vault

2 events,

1 event,

4 events,

- Event Series

Island Roots Farmers’ Market

- Event Series

Harbour Hustle – VIU Super Smash Ultimate Tournament Series

- Event Series

Harbour Hustle – VIU Super Smash Bros Meetup

1 event,

2 events,

Maple Sugar Festival du Sucre d’Érable

4 events,

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Coldest Night of the Year

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Coldest Night of the Year

2 events,

1 event,

2 events,

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Relation-SHI% Comedy

4 events,

- Event Series

Island Roots Farmers’ Market

- Event Series

Harbour Hustle – VIU Super Smash Ultimate Tournament Series

- Event Series

Harbour Hustle – VIU Super Smash Bros Meetup

1 event,

1 event,

3 events,

19th Annual Naked Bungy for Mental Health

Event Series
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Tacos and Tunes

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All Day

Trust Fall

Nanaimo Art Gallery 150 Commercial Street, Nanaimo

From origami objects that are folded based on remote instructions, to artworks developed through psychic intervention, Trust Fall is an exhibition featuring works by Jon Sasaki and Laura Gildner that celebrates the creative potential of mistakes and miscommunication. Nanaimo Art Gallery offers admission by-donation. Their hours are Tuesdays to Saturdays from 10 am to 5 pm and Sundays 12 to 5 pm. Visit their website for all details including Friday lunchtime tours of Trust Fall. Image: Jon Sasaki in collaboration with Baco Ohama, Misconstructions, Origami object folded by Jon following verbal instructions sent by Baco, 2022

Ongoing

Luminous Paths: Nanaimo’s 150th and Beyond

Maffeo Sutton Park 100 Comox Rd,, Nanaimo

The City of Nanaimo invites you to join us for Luminous Paths: Nanaimo’s 150 & Beyond, a winter artfestival that is a celebration of light, art, land, and community. Temporary art installations will illuminatepublic space, transforming a once familiar environment into something new, a place-making experiencethat ignites imagination, inspiring hope and excitement for the future of our community. The festival will open with an event on January 22, 2025, in Maffeo Sutton Park, with live performances,and involvement of local community groups to mark the date of the first Council meeting 150 years agofor the newly incorporated City of Nanaimo. Temporary art installations will be on display in identifiedpublic spaces, encouraging visitors to explore park and community spaces. Musicians and performerswill be engaged in performances over the course of the evening at locations corresponding withtemporary art installations. The central event space in a local waterfront park (Maffeo Sutton Park), willinclude interactive booths, food trucks, City of Nanaimo 150 merchandise, children’s activities, andadditional educational and promotional material. The HMCS Nanaimo plans to visit Nanaimo for severaldays at the beginning of the festival. Culture Staff and the Port of Nanaimo are working together toarrange berth for the vessel. The HMCS Nanaimo intends to offer focused outreach for visitors to viewthe vessel throughout the first weekend of the event.  Artists and cultural community partners will further be highlighted through various public engagementopportunities through the course of the festival, such as artist talks, tours, and educational workshopshosted within a variety of cultural spaces. Temporary public art projects will remain available for viewing until the festival closing event onFebruary 17th (Family Day). The final event will focus on engaging families and youth, withperformances by child-friendly acts and take place in one centralized location (Maffeo Sutton Park). Illuminated Art Installations by Artists:

Free

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Ongoing

8th Annual Nanaimo International Jazz Festival

Get ready, Nanaimo! The 2024 Nanaimo International Jazz Festival is back, and it's bigger, bolder, and jazzier than ever! From September 12th to 15th, downtown Nanaimo transforms into a jazz lover's paradise! Kick off the festival with our special event, "Jazz Me a Note," on Friday, September 6th at the Vancouver Island Sculpting Studio. It's a night of art, live jazz, and crazy creations! Then, join us on the Wesley Street Stage in the historic Old City Quarter for FREE performances that'll have your toes tapping and spirits soaring! And don't miss the Headliner Concert on September 14th at The Port Theatre, featuring The Canadian All Stars Sextet! With award-winning talents like Phil Dwyer and Christine Jensen, this is a show you won't want to miss! Plus, enjoy free and ticketed events of live jazz at local bars and restaurants, and join our New Orleans-style parade at Maffeo-Sutton Park on September 14th! Visit nanaimojazzfest.ca for all the details. The 8th annual Nanaimo International Jazz Festival—where the soul of jazz comes alive!

Free – $40

IGNITE 2024 – Nature Nurture

Vancouver Island Conference Centre 101 Gordon Street, Nanaimo

Save the date for September 14, 2024, for IGNITE2024 – NatureNurture, as the Vancouver Island Conference Centre transforms into an artistic experience of charitable activity as we aim to raise $100,000 for vulnerable and at-risk youth in Nanaimo. Prepare for an evening of extraordinary performances featuring a diverse array of volunteer musicians, dancers, live art, models, drag artists, and more, all supported by local makeup artists and hairstylists. Together, we will showcase their talents in support of mental health. This year’s donor recipients for IGNITE are: Take a Hike Foundation and SD #68’s Learning Alternatives School Doors open at 6pm

$120