Plenty of kids activities will be available throughout Ladysmith Days. (Ladysmith Celebrations Society)

By Ian Holmes

Ladysmith Days

Family friendly & free: Ladysmith Days goes this weekend, pro wrestling makes debut at popular event

Aug 5, 2023 | 5:53 AM

LADYSMITH — Thousands of people are expected to participate in Ladysmith Days this weekend, the community’s signature summer event.

Activities started on the afternoon of Friday, Aug. 4 at Coronation Mall, with the remainder of the celebration featuring games, contests, entertainment and numerous vendors on Saturday and Sunday primarily at Transfer Beach.

Brian Bancroft, Ladysmith Celebrations Society vice president, said the free weekend of activities entertains a wide range of people.

“We’re really stoked about the whole event coming together. It’s going to be a great year, we’re going to be taking all of the successes of last year and we’re adding a lot more onto it. We’re absolutely excited about it.”

A complete schedule of events for Ladysmith Days 2023. (Ladysmith Celebrations Society)

plants on plants

New Nanaimo 'mini forest' believed to be first of its kind on Vancouver Island

22h ago

just keep swimming

'I'm celebrating the little things:' Nanaimo water polo player returning to the pool

May 18, 2024

Starting Up

Nanaimo box lacrosse season getting underway for three Timbermen teams

May 18, 2024

New to Ladysmith Days this year saw the re-introduction of events on the Friday of the weekend celebration at Coronation Mall at the south end of town, with a miniature car show, concert and sidewalk show among mall merchants.

Bancroft said a dedicated 12-member board of directors, in addition to group of around 30 core volunteers and widespread local corporate support makes Ladysmith Days possible.

“It’s got something for everyone, it’s volunteer driven and the community really pulls together,” Bancroft told NanaimoNewsNOW.

A fireworks display originating from a barge in Ladysmith Harbour lights up the night sky on Sunday, Aug. 6 at 10 p.m. and scheduled to last about a half-hour, Bancroft said.

Vehicular congestion will be an issue, with Bancroft advising drivers to avoid the area if possible and and pedestrians to be cautious.

Traffic control personnel will guide vehicular movement on the Trans Canada Hwy. in the Transfer Beach area at the time.

“You can see the fireworks from practically anywhere in Ladysmith, it’s going to be a great show,” Bancroft said excitedly.

A substantial new addition to Ladysmith Days is the introduction of pro wrestling, courtesy of the increasingly popular Vancouver Island Professional Wrestling (VIPW) circuit.

Bancroft said many people in the community are excited about it.

“We’re bringing professional wrestling to Ladysmith for the first time. It’s going to be the craziest thing in sports entertainment history for Ladysmith,” Bancroft said.

VIPW co-owner BJ Laredo, a well known Nanaimo based wrestler, said they’re thrilled for the Saturday night show starting at 6:30 p.m. at Transfer Beach.

Laredo said staging a wrestling show at the Ladysmith Amphitheatre has been on his mind for a while.

“I take my kids to Transfer Beach all the time and I say to my wife every time we’re there how cool it would be to have a wrestling show right there and finally we’re getting the chance to do it,” Laredo said, who noted this is a great chance to introduce their brand to many new people.

Laredo said VIPW prides itself on providing clean, family-friendly entertainment.

“I was once that kid sitting in the audience, so I try and portray ourselves more as fun and family-friendly, no blood or swearing,” Laredo told NanaimoNewsNOW. “We try and keep everything as fun and relative to kids as we can. During intermission we always spend time with kids signing free autographs.”

Former WWE star Kalisto, now wrestling as Samuray Del Sol, will be a main attraction for the six-match card expected to wrap-up at about 8:30 p.m.

Laredo, who’s competing in a Ladysmith Days tag-team match, said a 20 wrestlers are competing in an Over the Top Rope Battle Royal match for the main event.

More information on Ladysmith Days can be found here.

Vancouver Island Professional Wrestling regularly stages shows throughout the Island, including this July 21 event in Port Alberni. (VIPW)

Join the conversation. Submit your letter to NanaimoNewsNOW and be included on The Water Cooler, our letters to the editor feature.

info@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @NanaimoNewsNOW