Things to do
Things to do in Nanaimo
Vancouver Island's harbour city: the 1853 Bastion, the waterfront walkway, the famous bar — and the gateway to the island's north.
Photos for Nanaimo are still on their way. Every listing below is real.
Top things to do in Nanaimo
The Harbour City: the Bastion, the bar, and the waterfront.
- The Bastion — The 1853 Hudson's Bay Company bastion: the cannon firing (summer), the harbour history.
- Harbourfront Walkway — The waterfront: the marina, the seaplanes, the walk to Maffeo Sutton Park.
- Nanaimo Museum — The coal-mining and harbour history: the indigenous gallery, the bastion street.
- Newcastle Island — The provincial marine park 10 min by ferry: the beaches, the trails, the First Nations history.
- Piper's Lagoon — The rocky point park: the sunset spot.
- Old City Quarter — The heritage streets: independent shops, the cafés.
Free things to do in Nanaimo
Nanaimo is generous if your budget isn't. All of these cost nothing or close to it:
- Harbourfront Walkway — The waterfront: free.
- Maffeo Sutton Park — The park: free.
- Piper's Lagoon — The point: free.
- Old City Quarter — The heritage streets: free.
- Newcastle Island (walk) — The island trails: ferry is the cost.
Festivals & the religious calendar
The town's own festivals:
- Bathtub Racing (Nanaimo Marine Festival) (July) — The Great International World Championship Bathtub Race: only in Nanaimo — the city's legendary silliness.
- Canada Day (1 July) — The harbour fireworks.
- Nanaimo Bar Trail (year-round) (year-round) — The dessert's hometown: the trail of bakeries doing the official bar.
And the national calendar:
- Canada Day (1 July) — The national birthday: fireworks, concerts, red-and-white everywhere. Big in every town on this list.
- Thanksgiving (second Monday of October) — Harvest long weekend: turkey dinners, fall colours at peak in much of the country.
- Victoria Day (Monday before 25 May) — The May long weekend: unofficial start of summer, fireworks in many cities.
- Remembrance Day (11 November) — Ceremonies at cenotaphs nationwide; the National Ceremony in Ottawa is the reference point.
Exact dates are confirmed yearly — check local listings before booking around a festival.
Sports: Hockey
The Nanaimo Clippers (BCHL) at Frank Crane Arena: junior hockey in a hockey town. The harbour's sailing, the Nanaimo Yacht Club racing, and the diving (the artificial reefs) are the water sports.
Mountain biking at Doumont; the bathtub race (July) is the other sport — sort of.
Tickets: official site
What's new in Nanaimo
The Bathtub Race's July dates are confirmed yearly. The waterfront development continues. The seaplane schedule expands in summer.
Submit your event
Running something in town? Dayfari lists community events free — gigs, markets, fundraisers, club nights, temple and church programmes. Submit your event and it can appear in the town feed within a day. No account needed to suggest; the Dayfari team reviews every submission.
Common questions
How many days do I need in Nanaimo?
Two full days covers the highlights above. Add a third for the day trips — see our day-trips guide.
What can I do in Nanaimo for free?
Plenty — see the free list above. The town's festivals and markets are the other great free shows.
When is the best time to visit Nanaimo?
Time it for a festival if you can — the calendar above is the cheat sheet. Otherwise, the shoulder seasons dodge the crowds.
More to explore in Nanaimo
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