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 30th.
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 August 2nd through to August 30th.
For more details, visit the website event.
Concerts in the Park – Terra Zetto (Latin/World Continental)
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 19th.
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 2018 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.
Robert Held: Monet reVisited
This summer, the Oceanside Community Arts Council proudly presents a singular exhibit in modern art glass celebrating the art and inspiration of impressionist painter, Claude Monet. Featuring a whimsical recreation of Monet’s secret garden, including a beautiful pond with dancing water lilies, internationally renowned glass artist, Robert Held creates a spectacular homage in glass and light. With the support of theatrical lighting and special f/x, an interactive artspace in the foyer area, the unique ‘experience alley’, and running slideshow footage of Monet’s famous Giverny estate, this exhibition promises to provide a stunning and unique experience to visitors.
A must-see exhibit for our community members and visitors alike, Monet ReVisited 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 1st, 2018.
For more details, visit the website event.
Summer by the Sea Street Market 2018
Craig Street 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 15th year, the Tuesday night market runs from 6 to 9pm with over 180 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.
This event runs every Tuesday until August 28th.
For more details, visit the website event.
Duncan
Jennifer Lawson: Paintings and Prints
What is it that gives old homes and tangled gardens such character? Such personality? What makes us fall in love with them? It’s that indefinable essence Jennifer Lawson captures in her watercolour paintings.
Her 1863 log house studio is the perfect place from which to paint Mt. Tzouhalem, the Cowichan River, or an old milk jug overflowing with sweet peas. Fresh air and old linens, riotous country gardens, Victorian houses, sun-warmed peaches in china bowls; these are the things she has loved with her paintbrush for over 40 years. Her paintings, limited edition prints, and cards evoke a timeless, treasured world, from her birthplace in Yorkshire to India, from Bermuda to the Garry Oak meadows of Vancouver Island.
This event runs from July 18th until August 3rd, 2018.
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 from all summer through October at Centennial Park.
For more details, visit the website event.