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NANAIMO – Let the fun begin! March is the month that Festivals and special events really get started in Nanaimo. That’s why the month has been branded as “Festival Nanaimo” celebrating all of the activities that kick off a year of festivities for our community.
We notice it especially at the Chamber with three of our major events taking place in and around the month. “Dine About” started in mid-February and runs until March 6. Enjoy fixed price, high quality, great value, 3 course menus at $25, $35 and $45 at 28 different restaurants from Qualicum Beach to Cedar. Nanaimo joins Vancouver, Victoria and Kelowna in this popular spring dining promotion. The event ends March 6.
On March 4, excellence in business is rewarded at our annual Business Achievement Awards. This year the Awards presentation takes on an “Oscar-style” format as it moves to the Port Theatre with high-class appies, a jazz band in the lobby, paparazzi at the door, plenty of bubbly available, and a little big band on stage to welcome the winners onto the stage.
Then, on Saturday, April 2, the Chamber presents Nanaimo’s first Food Truck Festival downtown. It complements two other events that day – Pirate Fest and the Vancouver Island Sympony’s Community Day. Join the crowds and get in on some fine ‘street eats’ and enjoy the entertainment. Watch for more news coming soon!
And then the rest of the year’s very special celebrations unfold (and this is just a partial list) – Heritage Days and the Book Festival in May, our Feastival in June along with the Multicultural Festival. Summertime is packed starting with Canada Day, then Dragon Boats, followed by Silly Boat Regatta, the Great Bathtub Race and Marine Festival. Move into August and welcome the Blues Festival and our own incredible agricultural fair – VIEX. That slides us into autumn when the Old City Quarter hosts Harvest Festival heralding in several other food events including the Bite of Nanaimo.
Of course, these are only highlights of Nanaimo’s festivals and celebratory events. The Chamber is excited to be part of these events and proud to take the lead on a few of them. See you at a Festival soon — there’s so many to choose from!
– Kim Smythe is CEO of the Greater Nanaimo Chamber of Commerce. He can be reached at ceo@nanaimochamber.bc.ca.
