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The sun is peeking through and the feeling of spring is in the air, which means that Pride season (a.k.a. summer) is on the way and there are a number of things happening this week in the 2SLGBTQIA+ community that I wanted to highlight. 

You can start off your Saturday with a 2SLGBTQIA+ gardening workshop hosted by AVI Health and Community Services. Participants will be given a package of seeds with the agreement that they bring back a plant to put in a community garden when the time for that comes. 

Then there’s the annual Burger and Bevy fundraiser for the Nanaimo Pride Society at The Queen’s on Saturday afternoon, which is already sold-out. This is a crucial fundraising event for the city’s Pride week in early June.

There’s also a performance by Nanaimo Drag at The Terminal Bar across the street from The Queen’s after the Pride fundraiser.

The Coast is Queer is also calling 2SLGBTQIA+ artists and writers to submit visual art including painting, photography, mixed media and textiles for an upcoming exhibition called “Queer Spectrum” that will be displayed in the Harbourfront Library’s Creativity Commons from August to October. For more information on how to submit your art you can see the application form. 

Also on my radar for the spring is a planned meet-and-greet for queer Americans who will be visiting Nanaimo in April as part of Tod’s Nanaimo Infusion at White Sails Brewing on April 25. 

Thank you for reading,

Mick Sweetman

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🎵 Listen 🎤

Tuesday, March 18, 7 p.m.: The BC Cadet Honour Band will perform at The Port Theatre. Tickets are free but must be reserved.  

Thursday, March 20, 6:30 p.m.: Opal in Sky, Nameless King, Thirteen Goats, Yegg and Antler will play a metal show at The Globe Live Studio. Tickets cost $20 online or $25 at the door. 

Thursday, March 20, 9 p.m.: Indie psych band Pranatricks will play at The Vault Cafe. Tickets are $18 in advance or $25 at the door. 

Thursday, March 20, 6 p.m.: Sweet Tooth Burlesque Revue will perform at The Queen’s. Tickets cost $25. 

Friday, March 21, 7 p.m.: Smash TV, Chronic Fatigue, Butcher and Night Mirrors will play an all ages show at The Globe Live Studio. Tickets cost $20. 

Friday, March 21, 8:30 p.m: Frog Eyes, Himalayan Bear and Ford Pier will play at The Vault Cafe. Tickets cost $20.

Saturday, March 22, 6 p.m.: The Nanaimo Blues Society will hold a fundraiser and silent auction with music by The Blues Connection ft. Michael Patrick, Brice Tabish Band and other guests. Tickets cost $25 for society members and $30 for non-members. 

Saturday, March 22, 6:30 p.m.: Lineup, Mean Bikini, Gorilla Flip, Cop Shovit, Snow Sailing and Jaded Parade will play an all ages punk show for Nelly’s birthday at The Globe Live Studio. Tickets cost $20. 

Saturday, March 22, 7 p.m.: Nanaimo Area Land Trust benefit with DJ Black Dot versus VOID at The Vault Cafe. Tickets cost $10-$20 or pay what you can.  

Saturday, March 22, 7 p.m.: Renowned pianist Charles Richard-Hamelin performs for the Nanaimo Conservatory of Music’s annual fundraising concert at St. Andrew’s United Church. Tickets cost $45. 

Saturday, March 22, 7:30 p.m.: Singer and multi-instrumentalist Tai Williams will play at The Port Theatre. Tickets cost $28.50 or $13.50 for students. 

Saturday, March 22, 10 p.m.: Nanaimo Drag presents Burning Money at The Terminal Bar. Tickets cost $10.

Sunday, March 23, 8 p.m.: Pure Love Eternal Peace, Fuzzpeddler and The Monarch will play at The Terminal. Tickets cost $15. 

Tuesday, March 25, 7:30 p.m.: Internationally renowned virtuoso fiddlers Natalie MacMaster and Donnell Leahy take their music to new heights with an all-new show “Four on the Floor” at The Port Theatre. Tickets cost $55. 

Tuesday, March 25, 7:30 p.m.: The Comedy Misfits will showcase Vancouver Island comedians at the Sip Pub. Tickets cost $25.

🎭 View 🖼️

Wednesday, March 19, 6:30 p.m.: The VIU Muslim Women’s Club presents a screening of Concerning Violence, a film that explores resistance movements to colonialism drawing on Frantz Fanon’s insights. Admission is free and popcorn and drinks are $5. 

Friday, March 21, 2 p.m.: A special spring break screening of The Wild Robot will take place at the Nanaimo Harbourfront Library. 

Sunday, March 23, 1 p.m.: Create beautiful origami works inspired by John Sasaki’s artwork in Trust Fall at the Nanaimo Art Gallery. Tickets cost $5 for non-members.

⛹️ Meet 🎲

Friday, March 21, 5 p.m.: Nanaimo Pride Society’s Burger and Bevy fundraiser at The Queen’s. Tickets cost $35 but are already sold out.

Saturday, March 22, 8:30 a.m.: The Vancouver Island Leadership Conference will address the theme, Navigating Sustainability, exploring the environmental, social and economic pillars of sustainability at Vancouver Island University. Tickets cost $90 or $15 for students. 

Saturday, March 22, noon: AVI Health and Community Services is holding an LGBTQIA2S+ gardening workshop where you get one pack of starter seeds in exchange for bringing one back to the community garden when it’s ready to plant. You must RSVP on Facebook to attend the event.

Saturday, March 22, 7 p.m.: Vancouver Island Pro Wrestling returns to the Beban Park Centennial Building.Tickets cost $20 in advance or $25 at the door. 

Saturday, March 22, 7:30 p.m.: Salsa Dancing Nanaimo’s Spring Celebration: Dinner & Salsa Social Dance will take place at the Nanaimo Yacht Club. Tickets cost $39.67

Sunday, March 23, noon: Lions free skate at Frank Crane Arena.

Tuesday, March 25, 10 a.m.: A Spring Break Escape Room geared towards elementary school children and families will be at the Nanaimo North Library until March 29.

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