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.

One of the best things about putting together these event listings is that I feel like I have an insider’s look into all of the amazing things happening in Nanaimo.

From this weekend’s Nanaimo Blues Festival (check out our story on it if you haven’t read it yet) to the numerous free or very affordable concerts, gatherings and more, there is so much to do.

I personally love the idea of setting up chairs or a blanket with some friends in the park to take in a free show, especially as we get ready to say goodbye to long summer nights.

What are your favourite events to attend over the summer? Feel free to let me know by responding to this email.

🖊️ What you said ⌨️

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“LOCAL coverage! And a variety of coverage — it alerts me to events I never would have known about — so I feel it gets everyone looking outside their own little area at events throughout the community!”

— From our newsletter survey

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🎵 Listen 🎤

Thursday, Aug. 6

• 6:30 p.m.: Nanaimo Blues Festival launch party at The Queen's. Tickets $30 for members and $35 for non-members.

• 6:30 p.m.: Open Mic at The Vault Cafe. Signup at 6:30 p.m., performers at 7 p.m.

• 7 p.m.: Gravemass Western Canada tour with YEGG and Stinkhorn at The Globe Live Studio. Tickets $20 in advance, $26 at the door.

Friday, Aug. 7

• 1 p.m.: Concerts in the Park featuring Paul Gellman at Bowen Park. Free.

• 3 p.m.: Symphony Summer Sizzle at Departure Bay. Tickets pay what you can, $13 to $43.

• 4 p.m.: Nanaimo Blues Festival at Maffeo Sutton Park. Tickets for concerts and workshops online.

• 6:30 p.m.: Altered by Mom, Hyaenas and Cold Fame at The Queen's. Tickets $16.50.

• 7 p.m.: The Deadly Nightshades play funk soul and R&B grooves at The Vault Cafe. Doors at 7 p.m., show at 8 p.m. Cover is $15.

• 9 p.m.: Myles Shady at The Old City Station Pub. Tickets $7.50 or $10 at the door.

Saturday, Aug. 8

• 4 p.m.: Nanaimo Blues Festival at Maffeo Sutton Park. Tickets for concerts and workshops online.

• 6:30 p.m.: Nanaimo Blues Society Blues Fest afterparty at The Queen's.

• 8 p.m.: Frederika Ionescu Quintet at The Vault Cafe. Doors at 8 p.m., show at 9 p.m. Cover is $15.

Sunday, Aug. 9

• 1 p.m.: Nanaimo Blues Festival at Maffeo Sutton Park. Tickets for concerts and workshops online.

Wednesday, Aug. 12

• 6 p.m.: Concerts in the Park featuring Jordan Reems at Diana Krall Plaza. Free.

🎭 View 🖼️

Thursday, Aug. 6

• 8:45 a.m.: Summer Camp: Mixed Media Mayhem at Nanaimo Art Gallery.

Friday, Aug. 7

• 12:15 p.m.: Lunchtime Tour of ‘Biophilia’ at Nanaimo Art Gallery. Free for members, $5 for non-members.

• 7 p.m.: “Boys’ Club” presented by Nanaimo Fringe Festival at The Hall at St. Andrew's United Church. Tickets $20.

Saturday, Aug. 8

• 8 p.m.: Lantzville Comedy Show at Lantzville Pub with headliner Dylan Williams and featuring Elyott Ryan. Tickets $20.

• 9 p.m.: “Boys’ Club” presented by Nanaimo Fringe Festival at The Hall at St. Andrew's United Church. Tickets $20.

Sunday, Aug. 9

• 3 p.m.: “Boys’ Club” presented by Nanaimo Fringe Festival at The Hall at St. Andrew's United Church. Tickets $20.

Monday, Aug. 10

• 8:45 a.m.: Summer Camp: Wild Wonders at Nanaimo Art Gallery.

• 4 p.m.: “Boys’ Club” presented by Nanaimo Fringe Festival at The Hall at St. Andrew's United Church. Tickets $20.

⛹️ Meet 🎲

Thursday, Aug. 6

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

• 1 p.m.: Wild Child Tie Dye at Gabriola Historical and Museum Society. Tickets $8.

• 3:30 p.m.: Old World Campaign at Drop Zone Games.

• 9 p.m.: Lanterns for Peace ceremony at Sway-a-Lana Lagoon, Maffeo Sutton Park, in remembrance of the first atom bomb ever used on the city of Hiroshima.

Friday, Aug. 7

• 6:30 p.m.: Book Launch: Plant Teachings from My Auntie at Nanaimo Museum. Free.

Saturday, Aug. 8

• 10 a.m.: Coast Salish drum making with Snuneymuxw Nation member Donna Manson at Kin Hut, Departure Bay Beach. Cost is $165 for a 13 inch drum and $185 for a 15 inch drum.

Tuesday, Aug. 11

• 6 p.m.: The Hearth gathering place for women at My Inner Harbour. Tickets $10 to drop-in or $30 for the series.

Wednesday, Aug. 12

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

• 5 p.m.: Kill Team Drop In at Drop Zone Games.

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