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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.

Hello all, 

This is my final arts and culture newsletter for the year as I am taking some well-earned vacation time for the holiday season starting next week. 

I just wanted to take a moment and thank everyone who has sent in their appreciation for the work that I do collecting and curating all of the amazing events that happen in our city on a weekly basis for this newsletter.

It honestly is a lot of work and I’m so glad that I’ve been able to showcase the wide breadth of events in our community, from underground all-ages punk and metal shows to classical opera.

I hope that you have a happy holiday season and am looking forward to returning to your inbox with a new feature for The Hub in the new year that should make these event listings even more comprehensive and accessible. 

Cheers,
Mick Sweetman

🖊️ What you said ⌨️

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"Full coverage of events for everyone!"

— Kari Fetherston, from our newsletter survey

A MESSAGE FROM THE NANAIMO INTERNATIONAL FILM SCREENING SOCIETY

Nanaimo International Film Screening Society (NIFSS) begins its 2026 Winter/Spring Season on January 4 with two inspiring films.

NIFSS has released its 2026 Winter/Spring Season feature film lineup. Until January 3, you can purchase a Half-Season Ticket for all four feature films (January - April) at an eight per cent savings off the $15 single ticket price (or a 12.5 per cent savings off the $10 single ticket price for those under age 25).

Each month we gather downtown at the Shaw Auditorium to celebrate a diverse variety of films not easily accessible in mainstream cinemas on Central Vancouver Island, ranging from provocative hard-hitting films that expose injustice to inspiring heart-stirring dramas.

Join the nearly 500 NIFSS enthusiasts that enjoy independent, international, Indigenous and Canadian cinema in the spirit of community.

🎄 Holiday Markets and more 🎄

Thursdays, Dec. 11 to 18: Downtown Nanaimo Winterfest has late-night shopping and holiday activities in Diana Krall Plaza and the downtown core. Admission is free.

Friday, Dec. 12 to Sunday, Dec. 14: The Mistletoe and Magic Handmade Market features artisan booths, a full concession by Sandy’s Ukrainian Kitchen, gift wrapping by the Nanaimo Child Development Centre, a children’s play area and a visit from Santa. The market takes place at the Beban Park Social Centre (see above link for hours). Admission costs $7, kids 12 and under are free.

Saturday, Dec. 13, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.: The Cedar Secondary Christmas Market will take place at Cedar Community Secondary School. Admission is by donation. 

Saturday, Dec. 13, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.: Ay Lelum’s Christmas Shopping Event at its storefront in Snuneymuxw First Nation will feature Ay Lelum in-store specials, Yamelst Designs Jewelry, Kwulasultun (Eliot White-Hill), Prairie Mountain Jewelry, Rae Rae Braids, and locally made food.  

Saturday, Dec. 13, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.: The Merry Little Christmas Craft Market will be held at St. Andrews Presbyterians Church. 

Sunday Dec. 14, 4 p.m. to 9 p.m.: A Holiday Market at The Vault Cafe will feature artisan goods, pottery, jewelry, fibre arts and more. Come have a cosy winter time and get some amazing local gifts for all your beloved pals. Admission is free. 

Saturday, Dec. 20 to Sunday, Dec. 21: Cedar Christmas Spirit Market at Cedar Community Hall. Admission is free.

Sunday, Dec. 21, 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.: The Island Roots Market Co-op will be holding a special holiday market at Beban Park in the Centennial Building. 

Got the inside scoop of an event you think should be shared? 

Let us know by sending Mick an email.

🎵 Listen 🎤

Thursday, Dec. 11, 6 p.m.: Lavender & Lefty play songs and stories about robberies and road trips, jailbreaks and heartaches, your best dog and your worst date at Royal Canadian Legion Mt Benson Branch 256. Admission is free. 

Thursday, Dec. 11, 8 p.m.: Lexi’s Fuck Cancer Fundraiser will feature a full night of music at The Nanaimo Bar with all proceeds going to Lexi Doodle’s Go Fund Me campaign. The cover is $10 but you can donate more. 

Friday, Dec. 12, 7 p.m.: Step back in time and experience A Christmas Carol with a brand-new radio play adaptation written by Amanda Cutting, performed live with classic radio flair, nostalgic jingles, and fun throwback references to beloved Nanaimo businesses of the 1940s and 50s at St. Andrews United Church. Tickets cost $11.70.

Friday, Dec. 12, 7 p.m.: The Nanaimo Fiddle Society’s Christmas Jam Session will be held at the Nanaimo Church of Christ. $5 for non-members. 

Friday, Dec. 12, 7 p.m.: The holiday spirit gets slaughtered in a night of pure metal mayhem featuring the unholy power of Torrefy, Yegg, Cryptic Enslavement and Empalement at The Terminal. Tickets cost $15 in advance or $20 at the door. 

Friday, Dec. 12, 7 p.m.: Joanne Eva, Ry, Alee King and Myles Young will play songs of the women of pop-punk at The Queens. Tickets cost $20 in advance or $25 at the door. 

Friday, Dec. 12, 7 p.m.: Negative Balance, Night Mirrors, Last Year's Wishes and Poor Sport will play the all-ages Pookiefest 2 at The Globe Live Studio. Tickets cost $15 in advance or $20 at the door.

Friday, Dec. 12, 7:30 p.m.: Be inspired by the magic of live storytelling performed on stage with Stories on Friday - Feeding the Fires at the Unitarian Hall of Nanaimo. Tickets cost $10. 

Friday, Dec. 12, 7:30 p.m.: Enjoy the Christmas music magic, masterfully performed by a select seven-piece ensemble in A Fascinating Christmas<> at The Port Theatre. Narrated by Steve Lebitschnig, owner of Nanaimo's most famous music store; Fascinating Rhythm. Tickets cost $49.50.

Friday, Dec. 12, 9 p.m.: Auto Jansz and Easels will play a night of indie rock and ragtime folk ‘n’ blues at The Vault Cafe. Tickets cost $15. 

Saturday, Dec. 13, 3:30 p.m.: Celebrate Christmas with Winter Harp’s "glorious" music combined with festive stories to warm your heart and wrap you in the Christmas spirit at The Port Theatre. Tickets cost $50 or $35 for students. 

Saturday, Dec. 13, 8 p.m.: Hypno Jerk, Dollhead and Eye Labia will play the Broke and Hungry fundraiser for AVI Health & Community Services Nanaimo. Tickets cost $20 plus a non-perishable food item for the food bank. 

Saturday, Dec. 13, 9 p.m.: Infamous outlaws the Coal Dust Gang play their own style of washed-out roadhouse honky tonk at The Terminal. $10 at the door.

Sunday, Dec. 14, 2:30 p.m.: Join the Camerata Singers for Sing We Nowell!, an afternoon of festive music with Fiddelium, Nanaimo's award-winning youth fiddle ensemble, at St. Andrew's United Church. Tickets cost $20 and children under 12 are free.

Sunday, Dec. 14, 3 p.m.: Nadine States will headline the weekly Sunday Blues Jam at The Queen’s. Tickets cost $10 or are free for blues jammers. 

Sunday, Dec. 14, 3 p.m.: Have you always wanted to sing, warble, trill or even whistle the most famous choruses that usher in our festive season? Join hundreds of other Messiah-lovers at the Really Big Sing-Along Messiah at The Port Theatre. Tickets cost $35 or $15 for youth under 25. Children under 12 are free.

Tuesday, Dec. 16 to Sunday, Dec. 21: The Yellowpoint Christmas Spectacular returns for its 17th season of music, dance and holiday magic at The Port Theatre. Tickets cost $65 for adults or $55 for students. 

Wednesday, Dec. 17, 7 p.m.: New York Jazz Guitarist Peter Bernstein will play St. Andrews United Church. Tickets cost $43.50. 

Thursday, Dec. 18, 9 p.m.: Check out The Vault Cafe’s monthly experimental/improvised music night Fake Jass with GUM, V.Vecker and CSTMR. Tickets cost $15.

🎭 View 🖼️

Thursday, Dec. 11, 6:30 p.m.: The House of Rouge presents All I want for Christmas is Drag at The Queen’s. Tickets cost $50 in advance or $60 at the door.

Friday, Dec. 12, noon: Take a lunchtime tour of the exhibit Commercial St. at the Nanaimo Art Gallery. Tickets cost $5. 

Saturday, Dec. 13, 2 p.m.: Brighten up the dark December days with a musical telling of the classic tale by Oscar Wilde The Selfish Giant at St. Andrew’s United Church. Tickets cost $25 or are $15 for youth under 18 or $160 for a family pass. 

⛹️ Meet 🎲

Friday, Dec. 12, 7 p.m.: The Nanaimo Clippers hockey team takes on the Surrey Eagles at Frank Crane Arena. Tickets cost $22 for adults, $20 for seniors and $12 for children between 6 and 12 years of age.  

Saturday, Dec. 13, 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.: The Nanaimo RCMP’s youth section will collect donations of toys, non-perishable food and gently used clothing and footwear at the Cram the Cruiser event for the Great Nanaimo Toy Drive at Real Canadian Superstore, 6435 Metral Dr.

Saturday, Dec. 13, 1:30 p.m.: Celebrate the holiday season by the water at Silva Bay Marina’s Christmas Boat Light Festival on Gabriola Island. 

Sunday, Dec. 14, 1:30 p.m. to 5 p.m.: Cut and paste paper to construct a holiday decoration at the Nanaimo Art Gallery’s Art Lab Sunday. Tickets cost $5 for non-members. 

Sunday, Dec. 14, 4:30 p.m.: Join Chabad of Nanaimo on the First night of Chanukah for a Menorah Lighting with music, donuts, hot cocoa and light in Maffeo Sutton Park.

Sunday, Dec. 14, 6 p.m.: Learn about each of the 12 days of Yule and create a Yuletide Blessing jar at Lobelia’s Lair Metaphysical. Cost is $65 and all supplies are included.

Wednesday, Dec. 17, 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.: Teens between 12 and 17 years old can drop into the Nanaimo Art Gallery on Wednesdays to make art a fun and relaxed environment. $5 per drop in, $45 for a 10-visit punch card or $150 for an annual pass. 

Thursday, Dec. 18, 6:15 p.m.: Skate with Santa at the Nanaimo Ice Centre.

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