Welcome to The Hub Nanaimo, your weekly insider guide to the best of community arts and culture. Did a friend forward this email to you? Subscribe to this newsletter.

There is so much going on this weekend, from Symphony Summer Sizzle at Departure Bay to the World Championship Bathtub Race. I’ve done my best to compile all of the goings on in our events listing below.

I want to highlight one event in particular that Discourse reporter Mick Sweetman wrote about this week: Snuneymuxw Days. 

This annual event grows every year, according to event organizers, and promotes healthy living for youth while sharing Snuneymuxw culture with the community. A new addition to the event this year is a soccer tournament, to be played at fields across Nanaimo. You can check out Mick’s story on Snuneymuxw Days below.

Have a great weekend!

🖊️ What you said ⌨️

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“Excellent all round news and entertainment coverage.”

— Mike, from our newsletter survey

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🔎 Watch for 🔍

Snuneymuxw Days shares culture with Nanaimo community

Health and wellness event features sport, traditional games and a feast and runs from July 24-26.

A MESSAGE FROM THE NANAIMO INTERNATIONAL FILM SCREENING SOCIETY

Nanaimo International Film Screening Society (NIFSS) Early Bird Season Ticket Promotion for the 2026-27 Season ends July 31.

On the first (or second) Sunday each month from September to April, the NIFSS community gathers downtown at the Shaw Auditorium to experience critically acclaimed and award winning international an Canadian films not readily accessible in mainstream cinemas on Central Vancouver Island, including provocative documentaries and heart-stirring dramas. 

Until July 31, season tickets are available on our website for the early bird discount price of $95 (21% savings over the single ticket price for eight feature films). The 2026 Fall Season film line-up has been finalized; our Winter/Spring line-up will be announced in the fall. 

Join the nearly 700 NIFSS enthusiasts who support independent, international, Indigenous and Canadian cinema in Nanaimo.

🎵 Listen 🎤

Friday, July 24

• 3 p.m.: Symphony Summer Sizzle at Departure Bay. Tickets cost C$20.00 - C$45.00

• 5 p.m.: Summer Chaos Metal/Punk Show with Distain, Unwind, Hagathog and Painted Silver at The Globe Live Studio. Tickets cost $20.50.

• 8 p.m.: Messor, The Grundles, Fly the Insect and Bogue Brigade play The Terminal. Cover is $15. 

• 8 p.m.: Alt-country queen of Vancouver Island Carolyn Mark, along with singer songwriter Naomi Shore at The Vault Cafe.

• 9 p.m.: Bathtub Weekend After Party with Dextones and Boomboxer at The Queen’s. Free entry with Bathtub wristband or $10 in advance.

• 9:30 p.m.: The Blisters classic rock cover band at The Nanaimo Bar. Cover is $10.

Saturday, July 25

• 6 p.m.: Disaster In A Dress Album Release Show with Stank, Grace Boulevard and Zoe The Strange at The Globe Live Studio. Tickets cost $15 in advance, $20 at the door.

• 8:30 p.m.: Junior Dad, Greenhorse, Global Fake and Scratch Patch play psyched out garage, Midwest emo and power pop at The Vault Cafe. $15 cover or pay what you can. All ages.

• 9 p.m.: Bathtub Weekend After Party Night Two with DJ DBL-G at The Queen’s. Free entry with Bathtub wristband or $10 in advance.

• 9:30 p.m.: Video dance party with DJ EI Devine at The Nanaimo Bar. Cover is $10.

Sunday, July 26

• 3 p.m.: Sunday Blues Jam with Nigel Mack and The Blues Attack at The Queen’s. Free entry for Blues Jammers or $15 at the door.

🎭 View 🖼️

Saturday, July 25

• 7 p.m.: Shelter - A play reading presented by Western Edge Theatre as a staged reading in the Port Theatre lobby. Tickets from $7 to $20.

⛹️ Meet 🎲

Friday, July 24

• 8:45 a.m.: Summer Camp: Fabric Fun at the Nanaimo Art Gallery

• 10:30 a.m.: Mining and Mischief: Coal Mining in Nanaimo walking tour from the Nanaimo Museum. Runs Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and statutory holidays from July 1 – Sept. 7. Tours can start anytime between 10:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. on those days.

• 11 a.m.: Snuneymuxw Days 2026 at Snuneymuxw First Nation.

• 1 p.m.: Loyal Nanaimo Bathtub Society weekend kicks off with vendors, kids zone, food trucks and concert starting at 5 p.m. at Maffeo Sutton Park.

• 5:30 p.m.: The 2000’s Teen Lock-In at Vancouver Island Regional Library – Nanaimo North.

Saturday, July 25

• 8 a.m.: Snuneymuxw Days 2026 at Snuneymuxw First Nation.

• 9 a.m.: Tone and Sculpt with Frankie at Woodgrove Centre. Tickets are free.

• 10 a.m.: Loyal Nanaimo Bathtub Society weekend with events at Maffeo Sutton Park and parade along Commercial Street at 10:30 a.m.

Sunday, July 26

• 8 a.m.: Snuneymuxw Days 2026 at Snuneymuxw First Nation.

• 11 a.m.: World Championship Bathtub Race with Loyal Nanaimo Bathtub Society events at Maffeo Sutton Park.

• 1 p.m.: Art Lab Sunday: Feathery Mobiles at the Nanaimo Art Gallery. Free for members, $5 for non-members.

Monday, July 27

• 6 p.m.: Reader's Choice Book Club: Evening Park Edition at Maffeo Sutton Park.

Tuesday, July 28

• 10 a.m.: Knitting Group at Vancouver Island Regional Library – Nanaimo North.

• 10 a.m.: I-Spy: Garden Buds at the Nanaimo Museum.

Wednesday, July 29

• 3 p.m.: Nanaimo Farmers' Market - Island Roots in Beban Park.

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