NANAIMO

Commercial Street Night Market

The popularity of ‘night markets’ has grown throughout urban centres over the past few years and now it’s Nanaimo’s turn to join this popular movement. Visit downtown as the heart of the city beats a bit stronger and faster when the Commercial Street Night Market begins its eleven-week run ending August 29th.
Commercial Street from Terminal Avenue to Church & Chapel Streets will be closed to vehicle traffic as artisan vendor booths, crafters, food producers, and downtown merchants line the streets selling everything from food to crafts to curios. Live entertainment will be staged at several points and a variety of family activities like bouncy castles and climbing walls will be offered to visitors. A self-guided Arts & Culture Walk will be promoted as well. Downtown restaurants and cafés are also invited to join in and bring their hospitality out onto the street.
This event runs from June 20th through to August 29th. 

For more details, visit the website event.

Concerts in the Park

This summer bring a lawn chair and plan a picnic to dine 'al fresco' while enjoying some great musical talent in two of Nanaimo's most beautiful and popular parks. These concerts are FREE and are great for the whole family!
Concerts are held: 
Tuesdays, 12:30-1:30 pm in Maffeo Sutton Park (July) and Bowen Park Amphitheatre (August)
Wednesdays in July, 6-7:30 pm in Bowen Park Amphitheatre 
Wednesdays in August, 6-7:30 pm om Maffeo Sutton Park 
For more details, visit the website event. 

PARKSVILLE

Parksville Beach Festival

The gated exhibition is open to the public from July until August 18th. 
Be sure to bring your camera to this amazing event because once the exhibition is over the sculptures are gone forever. And don’t forget to bring your own buckets and shovels as you and your family are sure to be inspired to create a little sandcastle magic of your own after viewing these unique works of sand artistry. 

The 2019 Quality Foods Sand Sculpting Competition and Exhibition is located in Parksville’s Community Park, next to the Lion’s Venture Land Playground and Water Spray Park. 
For more details, visit the website event.

Soft Shore: where land and water meet

This summer, the Oceanside Community Arts Council proudly presents Soft Shore: where land and water meet is an exploration of texture, colours and art methods in celebration of the beauty of the natural ocean shore landscape. Featuring a collaboration of artistic styles and narratives, Soft Shore blends fibre, wood, metal, acrylic, glass and photography in a community’s homage to the spectacular natural scapes of the Oceanside shoreline.

Following the outstanding success of artist Robert Held’s Monet reVisited project last summer which drew thousands of visitors to the MAC, Installation Designer and glass artist, Robert Held and Jennifer Bate, Executive Director of the MAC, together with other internationally celebrated artists to create a unique art experience. A must-see exhibit for our community members and visitors alike, Soft Shore joins other stellar summer events in Parksville, confirming the MAC as a feature destination for arts and culture on Vancouver Island. 
This event runs from July until September 6th, 2019.   
For more details, visit the website event.

Summer by the Sea Street Market 2019

Craig Street is infused with energy and excitement every Tuesday night! Brought to you by the Parksville & District Chamber of Commerce, this street market is a true reflection of our community's vibrant character. 
In its 16th year, the Tuesday night market runs from 6 to 9pm with over 200 vendors to visit. The market is popular with locals and visitors looking for a unique experience. With an eclectic mix of local merchants, artisans, craftspeople, farmers, entertainers and of course food vendors, there really is something for everyone. Dinner at the market or one of our many downtown restaurants? Why not? A variety of menu options with restaurants, vendors and food trucks offering everything from organic and vegan to comfort foods and ethnic options, all prepared onsite and freshly made for you! Whatever you decide, you are sure to find something to enjoy. You might also consider taking home some farm fresh produce to prepare your own feast. This year’s market is enjoying an increase in farm vendors providing us with the benefit of local and fresh options. 

Summer by the Sea Street Market is an economic benefit to the community; it helps to increase the number of visitors to Parksville's downtown core and is a great weekday event for those visiting the area. Come down and enjoy the Tuesday evening market while supporting local businesses, artisans and food producers. 
Experience downtown Parksville like you never have before.
This event runs every Tuesday until August 27th. 
For more details, visit the website event.

DUNCAN

39 Days of July 2019 – Cowichan Summer Festival

Yes, 39 days are taken up with ‘free to the public’ musical treats in a music festival atmosphere in downtown Duncan (the longest festival of it’s kind in the world) celebrating it’s 40th year running. Brought to you by the Duncan Cowichan Festival Society with a variety of community sponsors June 28th– Aug 5th.

All of the scheduled musical events are designed to bring community together to celebrate our diverse local / Canadian and international music scenes, to give the opportunity to meet our neighbours, share a common experience and hopefully be able to now greet each other with a friendly smile on any future happen chance connections. We are proving that downtown Duncan and the Cowichan Valley is… ‘a rather fun place to be’.
For more details, visit the website event.

SALT SPRING ISLAND

Salt Spring Island Tuesday Farmer's Market

The Salt Spring Tuesday Market aims to inspire our community to embrace a local food culture that stewards land, nourishes people and honours farmers with a spirit of kinship and integrity. 
Over a thousand visitors stream through the market each week, vying for the most succulent basket of  strawberries or the first tomatoes of the year. The air fills with laughter, children, and story telling. Local  chefs tantalize taste buds with seasonal fare. Feet tap to the rhythm of the band. The SSTFM is a food-only market that specializes in authentic, local, fresh and seasonal product. The SSTFM offers a range of vegetables, fruit, meat, eggs, herbs, nuts, flowers, cheese, baked goods, vinegar,  jams and more. 
  
This event runs all summer to the end of October at Centennial Park. 
For more details, visit the website event.

Happy Summer!