‘Expression and celebration:’ Nanaimo Pride parade & festival taking over downtown

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Semple recommended Front St. as a prime viewing location for people with accessibility challenges, as the area is flat and close to a planned festival at the park.

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An accessibility viewing tent will be established at Dallas Square Park, next to the Cenotaph, with space available on a first come first serve basis.

Audio description services will also be available for people with visual impairment.

Semple said the parade is “a really beautiful lineup of expression and celebration,” made up of local businesses and organizations from the mid-Island.

Maffeo Sutton Park will be the site for a four-hour festival on Sunday, with nearly 100 vendors setup and activities for the whole family. (Image Credit: Nanaimo Pride Society)

It leads to Maffeo Sutton Park where a four-hour festival will take place.

“We’ve grown it again,” Semple told NanaimoNewsNOW. “It’s going to be 95 vendors, 15 food trucks, we have a full main stage lineup. The 3 p.m. headliner is a Chappell Roan tribute band from Victoria called Hot To Go, they are phenomenal. It’s going to be a great day.”

Activities include a kids zone, free paddling on Swy-a-Lana Lagoon and many other activities.

A free shuttle service will be available from both Nanaimo North Town Centre and Nanaimo City Hall, to Maffeo Sutton Park, between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m.

“We’re just really, really excited to welcome people, and we think we’ve put together a pretty awesome offering. We expect around 15,000 people based off last year, but with the addition of the shuttle, we’re hoping to actually see our numbers grow, as we’re hoping that that increases access and reduces some of the parking stress.”

More details on the parade and festival are available on the Nanaimo Pride Society’s website.

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