Nanaimo Marine Festival
&
“Great” INTERNATIONAL WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
BATHTUB RACE
Nanaimo harbor was the scene of a bathtub race extravaganza at the first race in 1967. As the City of Nanaimo's "Centennial Event" that year, close to 200 tubbers (in every type of craft imaginable) entered the fun competition and amazingly, 47 completed the 36 mile course to Vancouver's Fisherman's Cove across the straits of Georgia. Now the "Great RACE" finishes at Departure Bay in Nanaimo covering a very grueling course that leaves Nanaimo harbor circles Entrance Island and then up to and around Winchelsea Island and then back to Departure Bay in Nanaimo. In the early days it was indeed a challenge to just get past the starting line in the choppy confusion caused by an extra 785 small and large observation and escort boat in Nanaimo harbor. From the confusion of a first time bathtub race 43 years ago, the Nanaimo to Nanaimo "Great" INTERNATIONAL WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP BATHTUB RACE & 4 day Nanaimo Marine Festival has evolved. Where once a select band of tubbers were the highlight they now share the spotlight with many other land and water events which are interesting and often spectacular to watch.
This years Nanaimo Marine Festival's salute is to the “CANADIAN NAVAL CENTENNIAL 1910 - 2010”. The salute will also be the theme for the as well as the theme for the "SAIL PAST on WHEELS FUN PARADE" on the Saturday of Bathtub Weekend.
The various events through out the
city in July culminate with the KICK OFF on Thursday,
July 22nd with the opening of the LNBS Marine Festival
Food Fair, Kiddies Harborside Playdock, Kiddies
Karnival, "TIM HORTONS" Marine Festival
Entertainment Stage and the children's programs
at Maffeo Sutton and Swy-a-lana Lagoon parks adjacent
to the Nanaimo Harbor. Also for your enjoyment are
the many informative static displays on boat safety,
military, water sports plus many others.
On Saturday, July 24th at 10:30 AM the annual “Sail
Past on Wheels Fun Parade” takes place through
the Old City Quarter and the City Center followed
by the the finals of the LNBS World Championship
Waiters Race sponsored jointly by the PEPSI BOTTLING
GROUP AND MOLSON. Also down at the waterfront the
Marine Festival Food Fare, the Kiddies Harborside
Playdock, TIM HORTONS Marine Festival Entertainment
Stage, the Kiddies Karnival, along with many other
static displays and the Loyal Order of the Moose
Bavarian Garden held in Maffeo Sutton park and various
events in the harbor.
In the evening Vancouver Islands premier
fireworks display the spectacular "QUALITY
FOODS" Festival of Lights & Music fireworks
display takes place in the Nanaimo harbor at 10:00
PM. Then join the thousands of excited spectators
as the 44th annual "Great" INTERNATIONAL
WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP BATHTUB RACE starting at 11:00
AM sharp in Nanaimo harbor for the approximate 1
½ hour challenge in the straits of Georgia
to the "PEPSI FINISH LINE" at Departure
Bay. After the tubs leave the excitement continues
both on land and in the water with the Marine Festival
Food Fair, the Kiddies Karnival, Harborside Playdock,
If you prefer (and remember you can do both) you
can join us at the always spectacular "PEPSI
FINISH LINE" at Departure Bay beach and watch
the finish of the "Great" RACE and enjoy
the many food and refreshment booths
Four full days of fun and activities for the young,
old and in-between, family oriented and held in
NANAIMO, the Sun-Porch of Canada, the Jewel of the
West and the Bathtub Racing Capital of the World,
during the always (well almost always) sunny month
of July. So come join us July 22nd to July 25th,
2010 and take in the World's Cleanest Sport, Bathtub
Racing and the 43rd running of the "Great"
INTERNATIONAL WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP BATHTUB RACE &
Nanaimo Marine Festival and another bonus most of
the events and activities are FREE.
Nov 24/09
