Tourism Nanaimo is here to guide you to everything that this great city has to offer, from its oceanfront scenery and stunning mountain views, to the charming downtown area. Whether you're looking for local eateries, outdoor adventures, or a guide to the arts scene, you'll find extensive resources inside to make your trip planning easier.
Search Our Upcoming Events Calendar
Submit Your Event
With 3 theatres, 4 art galleries, the Nanaimo Museum, Vancouver Island Conference Centre and numerous entertainment venues, there is always something happening in downtown Nanaimo.
Submit your downtown event to the DNBIA events calendar or search for activities that fit your mood.
The DNBIA reserves the right to publish only those events that occur within the downtown BIA areas.
Calendar
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Feb 3 - May 21Nanaimo Museum Presents: Our Feathered Friends Why are feathers important to understanding birds? Why do some remain close to home year-round and others migrate for thousands of kilometers? Answers...
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Apr 3 - May 816 Artzi Stuff artists were inspired to make mixed media art, pottery, fused glass, jewellery, paintings and cards featuring music of all sorts. We have jewellery and sculpture made of guitar strings...
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Repeats every week every Tuesday until Wed Feb 25 2015 .May 1Jazz Jam Every Tuesday night at the Diner's Rendezvous. No cover charge
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May 3 - Jun 31887 Mine Explosion Commemoration @ The Nanaimo Museum Thurs May 3 to Sun June 3 On May 3, 1887, Nanaimo was devastated by a mine explosion that claimed the lives of 150 men. It was the single...
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May 4Come to ACMe to see Luke Blu Guthrie band. Luke's music is a clever and potent fusion of folk, funk, dark country, rock and roll, soul, blues and swing. The result is a body of contemplative,...
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May 5Saturday May 5 will be a busy day downtown with the arrival of the Norwegian Pearl. The ship is scheduled to dock at 8am with passengers descending on the downtown at 8:30. We are one of the last...
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May 5BookFest Downtown Nanaimo to Welcome Renowned Authors On Saturday May 5th, Downtown Nanaimo will help welcome the creators of some of Canada’s best children’s literature to...
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May 5Head to Diners Rendezvous for an evening of Blues. Rhythm, and Soul with Dave "Hurricane" Hoerl and A Couple of Hooligans. Doors open at 7pm, show starts at 8pm. Diners Rendezvous...
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May 5Come to ACMe for an evening of music with Melissa Hill. Hailing from Vancouver, formally trained in both classical and jazz piano, she covers everything on piano and vocals from classical music...
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May 5The Port Theatre presents Island Bel Canto Singers, one of Nanaimo’s best known women’s choirs in concert May 5th @ 7:30pm. The Island Bel Canto Singers mark their 15th anniversary...
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May 6May 6 - Maffeo Sutton Park Register at 10:00 am - Hike at 11:00 am - Picnic at Noon Gather pledges - ask 10 friends to support your walk! Last year 160 participants gathered for a...
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May 7The Port Theatre presents Women Fully Clothed, May 7th @ 7:30pm. Back with the sequel to their critically acclaimed, self titled comedy show, Women Fully Clothed, takes your life, adds...
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May 8The Port Theatre presents Chilliwack, Tuesday May 8th at 7:30pm. Chilliwack is celebrating more than 40 years of making music with a spring tour. Their credentials include 15 gold and...
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Repeats every week every Tuesday until Wed Feb 25 2015 .May 8Jazz Jam Every Tuesday night at the Diner's Rendezvous. No cover charge
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Repeats every 7 days every Friday until Fri Oct 05 2012 .May 11The Nanaimo Downtown Farmers' Market is one of the youngest markets on the island, being only in its fifteenth year. From a beginning of only a few vendors, we have grown to become a market of...
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May 11History of Gallery Row: Approximately five years ago, a group of ad hoc volunteers established a display of donated art works on the exterior of the derelict buildings at the corner of Fitzwilliam...
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May 11Come to ACMe for a retro evening with Flashback Freddy. Let Freddy take you on a blast from the past performing the 50’s & 60’s hits from your favorite artists including...
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May 12The Nanaimo Art Gallery is excited to present a special ArtRageous for children this Saturday May 12, 2012 from 10:30-12:00. Blue Water Project is an extra special ArtRageous, in connection...
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May 12Head to ACMe for an evening of entertainment with award winning guitarist Eric Harper. The Nanaimo based Harper creates not only a unique sound all his own but his music is melodically...
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May 12The Port Theatre presents Blues Odyssey 2012, May 12 at 7:30pm. The Blues Odyssey is a unique stage show with a "once only" revue of blues musicians showcasing their deep individual...
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May 13Nanaimo Women's Resources Centre will be BBQing and fundraising in the Diana Krall Plaza. Hotdogs, chocolates and custom made Mother's Day cards will be for sale. Head on down to the Plaza to...
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May 13Spotlight Series at the Port Theatre The Port Theatre presents: THE SOUND OF MUSIC SING-A-LONG Join us for this unique event with audience participation to the fullest, starting with a pre-show...
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May 13Head to Diners Rendezvous for guitarist singer-songwriter Ian Moore's Solo Acoustic show. His music contains elements of folk, rock and roll, world music, and blues. Doors open...
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May 15In Celebration of Bike to Work Week, Monday May 28th to Sunday June 3rd, join us in the Diana Krall Plaza May 15th for our Bike to Work Week Commuter Challenge. The celebration kicks off...
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Repeats every week every Tuesday until Wed Feb 25 2015 .May 15Jazz Jam Every Tuesday night at the Diner's Rendezvous. No cover charge
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Repeats every 7 days every Friday until Fri Oct 05 2012 .May 18The Nanaimo Downtown Farmers' Market is one of the youngest markets on the island, being only in its fifteenth year. From a beginning of only a few vendors, we have grown to become a market of...
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May 18Head to Diners Rendezvous for an evening of new wave rock performed by Canadian singer-songwriter Carole Pope. Doors open at 7pm, show starts at 8pm. Diners Rendezvous is located at 489 Wallace St....
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May 19HerART Finale Showcase on May 19th at the Nanaimo Centre Stage features art and performance works created by women and girls in free workshops developed and led by local artists. The Nanaimo Women...
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May 19Come on down to ACMe to experience The Cameron Wigmore Trio: a jazz featuring Cameron Wigmore on tenor sax. ACMe is located at 14 Commercial St, Nanaimo. There is no cover charge for this event...
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May 20Headed downtown for the Empire Day Parade? Bring your family and friends for a hotdog lunch from 12-2pm on St Paul's Anglican Church's front lawn for a fun-filled, noisy parade watching...
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May 20The 145th Annual Nanaimo Empire Days Parade is happening May 20th, 2012 at 1pm. Organized and put on by the Nanaimo Lion's Club, the Parade is sure to be an exciting event! The...
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May 22 - Jun 12The Nanaimo Chapter of the Federation of Canadian Artists is excited and proud to announce their Spring Juried Show, hosted by the Nanaimo Art Gallery downtown at 150 Commercial Street. It will run...
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May 22The Port Theatre presents the Toronto Symphony Youth Orchestra (TYSO) Tuesday May 22 at 7:30pm. The TYSO is a high-level orchestral training programme for talented musicians 22 and under....
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Repeats every week every Tuesday until Wed Feb 25 2015 .May 22Jazz Jam Every Tuesday night at the Diner's Rendezvous. No cover charge
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Repeats every 7 days every Friday until Fri Oct 05 2012 .May 25The Nanaimo Downtown Farmers' Market is one of the youngest markets on the island, being only in its fifteenth year. From a beginning of only a few vendors, we have grown to become a market of...
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May 25Visit ACMe for an evening of Jazz. The Lauren Bush Trio features Lauren on vocals, Andre Cullen on upright bass, and Patrick Courtin on piano. ACMe is located at 14 Commercial St, Nanaimo...
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May 25The Port Theatre presents Charley Pride May 25 at 7:30pm. Pride has had a remarkable 36 No. 1 hits and has sold more than 70 million records over the course of his career. His rich...
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May 26The Port Theatre presents Rhythm Dance- Dance to the Rhythm May 26 at 4pm. Come and celebrate Rhythm Dance Academy dancers of all ages performing Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Modern and Hip Hop....
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May 27Come down to Diners Rendezvous for an evening of blues with Tim Williams. Williams is a blues-based singer / songwriter / multi - instrumentalist. He is a 40 year veteran of the 'Roots...
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May 28 - Jun 1Bike to Work Week Various Locations, check out the website for more information
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May 29 - May 31Festival of Performing Arts Performing Arts BC, is a not-for-profit charity which acts as the umbrella organization for 34 regional performing arts festivals throughout the province. ...
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Repeats every week every Tuesday until Wed Feb 25 2015 .May 29Jazz Jam Every Tuesday night at the Diner's Rendezvous. No cover charge
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May 30Head to Diners Rendezvous for a night of acoustic singer-songwriters Ryan McMahon, Christopher Arruda and Cory Woodward. Doors open at 7pm, show starts at 8pm. Diners Rendezvous is located at 489...