Organizers have a good idea what this year's Bathtub Weekend will look like (Loyal Nanaimo Bathtub Society)

By Ian Holmes

bathtub planning

‘Let’s go:’ plans for annual bathtub weekend come into focus

Jun 6, 2023 | 5:22 AM

NANAIMO — While a lack of clarity due to the pandemic hampered planning efforts previously, the identity of this year’s Bathtub Weekend is crystal clear.

“Family friendly is what it’s all about,” Loyal Nanaimo Bathtub Society Commodore Greg Peacock emphatically told NanaimoNewsNOW.

Nanaimo’s signature weekend starts on Friday July 21 and concludes with the World Championship Bathtub Race on Sunday, July 23, featuring activities at Maffeo Sutton Park the entire weekend.

Musical entertainment, food trucks and kids activities are offered prior to the race itself.

Peacock said it was much easier for their board of directors to plan for this year’s event knowing pandemic restrictions likely wouldn’t be an issue.

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“I won’t say no concerns about pandemic related things, but the consensus was there would be nothing getting in our way, so lets just go and do the best we can and that’s what we’ve done.”

Trooper will headline the entertainment stage on Friday, July 21, which will serve as the only paid act during two days of music leading up to race day.

The Joe Cocker experience closes out the musical acts on the Saturday night, while multiple Nanaimo based and other Vancouver Island artists will be heavily featured, Peacock said.

“We’ll get the finalization of the bands, I’m going to list all of the food trucks that are going to be there. They’ll be information available at bathtubbing.com.”

A dozen food trucks and numerous non-food vendors will be set up at Maffeo Sutton Park for the entire weekend.

A giant bouncy castle and a crafts tent will be set up for kids.

Another family-friendly draw is the popular parade taking place Saturday, July 22 at 10:30 a.m.

Peacock said about 60 entries took part in last year’s parade, the most in decades.

“In the last two weeks leading up to it we just got slammed with a bunch of people that wanted to bring floats into the parade – in my mind, the more the merrier, let’s go!”

Peacock confirmed there would not be a fireworks display again this year, pointing to how cost-prohibitive a show would be.

Upwards of 150 volunteers are expected to help pull off Bathtub Weekend, which is the third and final event of the three-part Nanaimo Marine Festival.

The Dragon Boat Festival and Silly Boat Regatta both also draw thousands of people to Nanaimo’s waterfront, boosting the local economy.

Jaime Garcia won last year’s World Championship Bathtub Race with a time of just over two hours and six minutes.

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ian@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @reporterholmes