Thousands of people are expected to flood Commercial St. on Thursday nights through to the end of August, as the weekly Night Market returns for another year. (File Photo/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Alex Rawnsley

back in business

Commercial St. Night Market returns to Nanaimo’s downtown core

Jun 22, 2023 | 5:27 AM

NANAIMO — One of the city’s most beloved downtown events is back for another season.

The Commercial St. Night Market opens its 2023 season on Thursday, June 22, running every Thursday between 5 p.m. and 9 p.m. until the end of August.

Corry Gervais, CEO of the Nanaimo Chamber, told NanaimoNewsNOW around 200 vendors will be on hand through the market’s 11 week run with 150 set up any given week.

“Staff at the Chamber starts planning for Night Market the day after the last Night Market the previous year. Planning ramps up at the beginning of February and then we probably have everything in place and ready to go a month prior. Right now, it’s just putting all those plans in motion and we’re excited.”

Vendors line Commercial St. every Thursday night between mid-June and end of August. (File Photo/NanaimoNewsNOW)

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Vendors spaces sold out in April, meaning a solid line of roughly 150 local artisans will line Commercial St. from Terminal Ave. to near Front St. each week, as well as dozens through Diana Krall Plaza.

Gervais said thousands of people are expected to come downtown for the market weekly, providing not only a great crowd for the vendors on display, but the surrounding brick and mortar businesses too.

“The Night Market is designed to do that, we are expecting about 5,000 people per market night and studies show about 60 per cent of those people shop at nearby stores. We’d like to continue that trend of getting people reacquainted with the awesome businesses that are in our downtown.”

Parking is limited in the downtown core, however a free park and ride bus service is available from both Nanaimo North Town Centre and Country Club Centre.

Buses begin leaving North Town Centre at 4:30 p.m. with the last one departing downtown at 8:39 p.m.

Pets are allowed at the market, provided they remain on leash, while live entertainment will also be playing throughout the evening.

More information including the full transit schedule is available on the Chamber’s website.

Meanwhile, Parksville’s Summer by the Sea Street Market began June 13 and runs every Tuesday evening from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. through until the end of August.

The Chamber said over 130 vendors are registered each night along Craig St. from Jensen Ave. to the Island Hwy., as well as a section of Hirst Ave. and Middleton Ave.

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