Angels Abreast founded the 22-year-old Nanaimo Dragon Boat Festival movement. (Submitted photo)

By NanaimoNewsNOW staff

busy harbour

Nanaimo Marine Festival launches with dragon boat festival

Jul 11, 2025 | 3:55 PM

NANAIMO — Combined with an annual bump-up in tourism traffic making its way to Nanaimo, summer events season is here.

The annual Nanaimo Marine Festival, featuring three popular water-based events, launches this weekend with the Dragon Boat Festival.

Races start Saturday, July 12 and Sunday, July 13 at 9 a.m. in the waters at the eastern edge of Maffeo Sutton Park, featuring teams of 20 paddlers in women’s and mixed divisions in a 500-metre course.

On-shore events include entertainment, food vendors, a beer garden and kids’ activities.

Next weekend, the annual Silly Boat Regatta, a key fundraiser for the Nanaimo Child Development Centre, takes place Sunday, July 20.

On the Lake

Training, fundraising take precedence in winter months for Nanaimo Rowing Club

6h ago

clean-up

Locals plan to remove shoreline hazard in Qualicum Beach

Dec 13, 2025

Wings Clipped

Seguin-Lescarbeau and Rimmer lead Clippers to Teddy Bear Toss win

Dec 13, 2025

The popular, family-friendly event features teams building their own boats the morning of the race, then attempting not to sink.

Some float, but most silly boats inevitably fall apart in front of thousands of appreciative onlookers (Alex Rawnsley/NanaimoNewsNOW)

Bathtub Weekend takes place Friday, July 25 to Sunday, July 27, culminating with the World Championship Bathtub Race.

Starting and ending at the Nanaimo Harbour at Maffeo Sutton Park on Sunday, July 27, the race starts at 11 a.m., with boats navigating an often choppy 58-kilometre course around the Winchelsea islands and back.

All three events are key local economic drivers for the local hospitality and restaurant, night-life industry.

More information on the Nanaimo Marine Festival can be found here.

More physically grueling than it looks, the World Championship Bathtub Race attracts thousands of people to Maffeo Sutton Park. (File photo/NanaimoNewsNOW)

Subscribe to our daily news wrap. Local news delivered to your email inbox every evening. Stay up to date on everything Nanaimo and Oceanside.

info@nanaimonewsnow.com

Follow us on: Twitter (X) | Bluesky | Facebook