Thousands are expected along Commercial St. on Thursday, Aug. 31 for the final Night Market of the 2023 season. (Alex Rawnsley/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Alex Rawnsley

season finale

Nanaimo Night Market ‘doing its job’ for downtown business ahead of final week

Aug 31, 2023 | 5:18 AM

NANAIMO — It’s the end of another immensely successful season for the Commercial Street Night Market in the city’s downtown.

Thursday, Aug. 31 marks the 11th and final market of the 2023 schedule which sees thousands descend onto Commercial St. every Thursday from late June to the end of August.

Nanaimo Chamber of Commerce CEO Corry Gervais said after roughly 25,000 people attended the first market back on June 22, an average of around 4,000 have come on a weekly basis. She added the event is ‘doing its job’ to promote business.

“Part of the priority of the Night Market is to bring business into the downtown core and revitalize that area. We’ve heard anecdotal remarks from businesses down there that they’re super happy to have it down there, it’s been making their evenings.”

Ongoing surveys of area businesses will help quantify the market’s impact through another summer season.

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Thursday’s event will see Funkanometry open the festivities with a performance, followed by a meet and greet on Commercial St.

Anywhere between 150 and 200 vendors will line both sides of Commercial St., including upwards of a dozen food trucks at Diana Krall Plaza.

Products from baked goods to pottery, art and much more are setup at the Night Market. (Alex Rawnsley/NanaimoNewsNOW)

Gervais said there has been an additional focus on activities for all ages this year, ensuring people can do more at the market than just shop.

“The team here at the Chamber wanted to focus on the visitor experience and also create some areas of interest throughout the whole event site. You’ll be in one area and there’ll be live music, in another area there will be things for kids do, in another area there’ll be tastings. Visitor experience was number one.”

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.

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