Thousands are expected over the next three days at the Vancouver Island Exhibition at Beban Park, highlighted by West Coast Amusement's midway. (File Photo/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Alex Rawnsley

back for another year

Nanaimo welcomes 129th annual Vancouver Island Exhibition

Aug 25, 2023 | 5:34 AM

NANAIMO — The rides, the mini-donuts, the animals and the entertainment: VIEx is back for another year.

A foundational summer event for the Nanaimo region since 1894, the Vancouver Island Exhibition opens Friday, Aug. 25 and runs through Sunday, Aug. 27 at Beban Park.

VIEx society director Michelle Solloway told NanaimoNewsNOW the gates will open at 9 a.m. each of the three days, with plenty of activities and crowd-pleasing entertainment. The headline is, as usual, the rides, again presented by West Coast Amusements.

“Superdogs are back, they’re a crowd favourite and a lot of fun. We do have quite a bit of livestock shows, some goat shows and a horse obstacle day on Saturday.”

Plenty of rides and games are on offer again for the 2023 VIEx. (File Photo/NanaimoNewsNOW)

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The VIEx will be open until 11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, before closing at 5 p.m. on Sunday.

GlobalFMX will provide their typically astonishing show with high-flying tricks on BMX bikes.

Vancouver Island Pro Wrestling will stage several matches across the three days and the Mid-Island Vintage Tractor and Equipment Club return with daily parades and displays.

On the music main stage, George Canyon headlines the show on Saturday night.

Solloway said Friday is ‘Tribute Night’ with Tragically Hip, Heart, AC/DC, Alice in Chains and Stone Temple Pilots tribute bands performing.

A full schedule of events is available on the VIEx website.

The Main Stage will feature George Canyon on Saturday night, along with a host of tribute acts on Friday. (File Photo/NanaimoNewsNOW)

Last year’s event, the first since the pandemic restrictions were lifted, was the festival’s highest recorded attendance in at least 25 years, according to Solloway.

This year’s schedule will see some changes as a result of issues with several buildings at the Beban Park site.

“We unfortunately had all of our livestock barns condemned so we’ve made some adjustments. Our Home Arts division has been moved to online, we’ve got lots of submissions online. We’ve moved some of the animals up into the Centennial Building where Home Arts used to be.”

Live animal displays and events will take place underneath large tents around the site, including a petting zoo.

A new ticketing system is also part of the changes for the 2023 event, with Solloway asking exhibition-goers to be patient as volunteers learn the new system.

She’s optimistic though the change will eventually result in shorter lines and faster processing of people through the gates.

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