Summer by the Sea Street Market returns on the evening of Tuesday, June 10 (Parksville and District Chamber of Commerce)

By Ian Holmes

market season

Large downtown summer street market returns to Parksville

Jun 10, 2025 | 5:28 AM

PARKSVILLE — A festival-like atmosphere Tuesday nights throughout the summer has arrived for downtown Parksville.

Staged by Parksville and District Chamber of Commerce, the annual Sumer by the Sea Market runs weekly starting June 10 through August 26, with the market primarily held on Craig St.

Running from 6 p.m. through 9 p.m., the final two market nights of the season end at 8:30 p.m.

Newly appointed market coordinator Rosa White said about 130 vendors will be set up weekly appealing to a wide demographic.

“We have around 90 full-time vendors, about 10 full-time food trucks and another 70 to 80 drop-ins, we have a good variety of people who are going to be there,” White told NanaimoNewsNOW.

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Baked goods, local produce, original art, jewelry, candles, greeting cards, pottery, household goods, souvenirs and many more items will be for sale.

Craig St. Hirst Ave. and a portion of Middleton Ave. will closed off to vehicular traffic and parking to make room for the market.

Most of the merchants are from the Oceanside area, while some vendors travel from Nanaimo and the Comox Valley.

White looks forward to taking in the first few market nights to see how the season can potentially be fine-tuned this year.

“If I can make suggestions to make this better and make better connections with people, I think that’s the way to move forward.”

Liette Masse, executive director of the Parksville chamber, said this market is crucial in expanding the local economy for local businesses, including those with a downtown presence and smaller home-based offerings.

“It’s a good opportunity for them to be front-facing, with not just local people, but also with all of our visitors that come to Parksville and the surrounding areas throughout the summer months.”

Weekly attendances range from about 1,000 people early in the season, expanding upward to about 2,500 attendees.

Musicians and entertainers are welcome to apply to perform at Summer By the Sea Market by sending an email to: market@parksvillechamber.com.

A pair of community booth spaces are also available to Oceanside-based non-profit organizations which could benefit from added exposure.

In addition, the Parksville Downtown Business Association is providing temporary seating and tables at Memorial Plaza to coincide with the weekly market experience.

More information on Summer by the Sea Street Market, entering its 22nd year, can be found here.

There are several seasonal markets taking place in the region, with Nanaimo’s popular Commercial Street Night Market scheduled to begin on Thursday, June 19.

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