Events
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Bastion Lighting Colours Blue, Green, Orange, Purple and Yellow for January 22 - February 17, 2025 for "Luminous Paths - Nanaimo's 150th and Beyond"
Jan 22, 2025
A winter festival that is a celebration of light, art, land and community at Maffeo Sutton Park in celebration of 150 years of incorporation (December 24, 1874) from January 22 - February 17, 2025. The first Mayor and Council election was held on January 20, 1875 and Mr. Mark Bate was voted in to become the City's first Mayor with a 7-member Council. Their first official Council meeting was held on January 22, 1875. Congratulations Nanaimo for 150 years! -
Luminous Paths: Nanaimo’s 150 & Beyond
Jan 22, 2025, 5:00 PM
The City of Nanaimo invites all to join us on January 22, 2025 from 5-9 p.m. at Maffeo Sutton Park for the opening of Luminous Paths: Nanaimo’s 150 & Beyond, a free winter art festival that is a celebration of light, art, land and community. -
Lions FREE Skate 2024/2025
Feb 9, 2025, 12:00 PM
The City of Nanaimo Parks & Recreation, Lions Club of Nanaimo, Save-On-Foods and many other community sponsors are proud to present the Lions Free Skates. Held Sunday's at Frank Crane Arena from 12-1:30 pm. -
Lions FREE Skate 2024/2025
Feb 16, 2025, 12:00 PM
The City of Nanaimo Parks & Recreation, Lions Club of Nanaimo, Save-On-Foods and many other community sponsors are proud to present the Lions Free Skates. Held Sunday's at Frank Crane Arena from 12-1:30 pm. -
Lions FREE Skate 2024/2025
Feb 23, 2025, 12:00 PM
The City of Nanaimo Parks & Recreation, Lions Club of Nanaimo, Save-On-Foods and many other community sponsors are proud to present the Lions Free Skates. Held Sunday's at Frank Crane Arena from 12-1:30 pm. -
Bastion Lighting Colours Pink, Purple, Blue and Green on February 28, 2025 for Rare Disease Day
Feb 28, 2025
Raising awareness and generating change for the 300 million people worldwide living with a rare disease, their families and carers. -
Bastion Lighting Colour Yellow on March 1, 2025 for Endometriosis Awareness Month
Mar 1, 2025
To raise awareness of endometriosis, a chronic condition where tissue similar to the lining of the uterus grows outside of the uterus. -
Lions FREE Skate 2024/2025
Mar 2, 2025, 12:00 PM
The City of Nanaimo Parks & Recreation, Lions Club of Nanaimo, Save-On-Foods and many other community sponsors are proud to present the Lions Free Skates. Held Sunday's at Frank Crane Arena from 12-1:30 pm. -
Lions FREE Skate 2024/2025
Mar 9, 2025, 12:00 PM
The City of Nanaimo Parks & Recreation, Lions Club of Nanaimo, Save-On-Foods and many other community sponsors are proud to present the Lions Free Skates. Held Sunday's at Frank Crane Arena from 12-1:30 pm. -
Lions FREE Skate 2024/2025
Mar 16, 2025, 12:00 PM
The City of Nanaimo Parks & Recreation, Lions Club of Nanaimo, Save-On-Foods and many other community sponsors are proud to present the Lions Free Skates. Held Sunday's at Frank Crane Arena from 12-1:30 pm. -
Bastion Lighting Colour Green on March 17, 2025 for St. Patrick's Day
Mar 17, 2025
The day commemorates Saint Patrick and the arrival of Christianity in Ireland, and, by extension, celebrates the heritage and culture of the Irish in general. Celebrations generally involve public parades and festivals, céilithe, and the wearing of green attire or shamrocks. -
Lions FREE Skate 2024/2025
Mar 23, 2025, 12:00 PM
The City of Nanaimo Parks & Recreation, Lions Club of Nanaimo, Save-On-Foods and many other community sponsors are proud to present the Lions Free Skates. Held Sunday's at Frank Crane Arena from 12-1:30 pm. -
Lions FREE Skate 2024/2025
Mar 30, 2025, 12:00 PM
The City of Nanaimo Parks & Recreation, Lions Club of Nanaimo, Save-On-Foods and many other community sponsors are proud to present the Lions Free Skates. Held Sunday's at Frank Crane Arena from 12-1:30 pm. -
Bastion Lighting Colour Purple on April 4, 5 and 6, 2025 for National Dental Hygienists Week
Apr 4, 2025
The month of April is Oral Health Month and an important part of this celebration is National Dental Hygienists Week™, celebrated annually April 4-10. Focusing on the importance of maintaining good oral health practices and helping Canadians understand the role and importance of the dental hygiene profession. -
Bastion Lighting Colour Green on April 7, 2025 for Green Shirt Day
Apr 7, 2025
This became known as the “Logan Boulet Effect”. On April 7, the anniversary of the day Logan Boulet (defenseman for the Humboldt Broncos hockey team who was injured in the bus crash in Saskatchewan April 6, 2018) became an organ donor, Canadians recognize Green Shirt Day by wearing green and talking about the powerful impact of organ donation. April is also Organ Donation Awareness Month across Canada. -
Bastion Lighting Colours Green, Grey, Blue, and Red on April 9, 2025 for Vimy Ridge Day
Apr 9, 2025
Vimy Ridge Day is a day to commemorate the deaths and casualties of members of the Canadian Corps in the Battle of Vimy Ridge (France), which took place during the First World War in 1917. By April 12, the Canadians had taken all of their objectives, as well as 4,000 prisoners. The Canadians held Vimy Ridge. This victory came at a high cost as 3,598 Canadians lost their lives, and 7,000 were wounded during the four-day battle. April 9, 1917 is still the bloodiest day in Canadian military history. The holiday has been observed annually on 9 April since 2003. -
Bastion Lighting Colours Blue and Green from April 11 - 13, 2025 for the Association of V.I. Coastal Communities Conference
Apr 11, 2025
The Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities is a body formed for the purpose of representing in one organization the various municipalities, regional districts and other local governments of Vancouver Island, Sunshine Coast, qathet/Powell River, the North Coast and the Central Coast. Nanaimo and the Regional District of Nanaimo are hosting the conference in 2025. -
Bastion Lighting Colour Red on April 17, 2025 for World Hemophilia Day
Apr 17, 2025
On April 17, 2025, the global bleeding disorders community will come together to celebrate World Hemophilia Day. This year’s theme is “Access for all: Women and girls bleed too”. Today, women and girls with bleeding disorders (WGBDs) are still underdiagnosed and underserved. The global bleeding disorders community has the power—and the responsibility—to change this. Through recognition, diagnosis, treatment, and care, the quality of life of women and girls will improve, and the bleeding disorders community will become stronger. -
Bastion Lighting Colours Yellow, Green, Pink, Orange, Blue, and Purple from April 18 - 21, 2025 for Easter
Apr 18, 2025
Easter is a religious Christian holiday observed around the world to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ, the spiritual leader of Christianity—and to Christians, the son of God. But with some aspects of the holiday rooted in pagan and Jewish traditions, the origin of Easter dates back to centuries before Christ was even born. -
Bastion Lighting Colour Purple for Fibromyalgia Awareness Day on May 12, 2025
May 12, 2025
Every year, on May 12th, millions of people hold events to raise awareness for fibromyalgia, an invisible and debilitating chronic condition. Fibromyalgia can cause pain, fatigue, and lack of sleep, which can make it difficult to do daily activities or work. Other symptoms include: Muscle stiffness Difficulty sleeping or staying asleep Mental process problems, such as difficulty remembering things or concentrating Treatments can help relieve pain and prevent flare-ups. Some people with fibromyalgia experience fewer flare-ups and milder symptoms after finding treatments that work for them
Special Events
The City of Nanaimo hosts special events year round, so check back here often or join us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter as we are always adding more!
Hosting a Special Event in a City of Nanaimo Park?
Do you have plans to host an event in one of Nanaimo's Parks?
If you are looking for community events happening in and around Nanaimo, visit www.tourismnanaimo.com and view the events page.
Clubs and Organizations in Nanaimo
The City of Nanaimo is home to several clubs and organizations. From arts, social, sports or community, check out this Clubs and Organization Listing and see how you can get involved! Email parksandrecreation@nanaimo.ca to add your non profit group to this list or to update your organization information.
Bastion Lighting Events
Do you have a cause or organization and would like to have a Bastion lighting event? Visit our Bastion Lighting Requests page to get details on how to qualify and request the Bastion be lit for you!
Last updated: June 20, 2024
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