The Best Reason to Visit Vancouver Island in August 2015

Vancouver Island Exhibition 2015The 2015 Vancouver Island Festival

Vancouver Island is always a beautiful place, with lush, green forests, sparkling blue waters, and beautiful, well maintained homes and bustling towns.

And summer is the time to show all these off – and more!

This August 21-23 will see the 2015 Vancouver Island Exhibition (VIEx) back in action in Nanaimo for another year!

Where the Action is At

Head to 2300 Bowen Road at Beban Park in Nanaimo (map and directions here).

Admission to the VIEx 2015 varies from free for children under 6 to $22.00 for a full three-day pass  (available only on the first day of the fair.) See more about it here. It’s a great deal!

The Shooting Star Midway opens at 11am each day with wristbands providing awesome ride discounts and convenience. Come ride and play all day! We love to see miles and miles of smiles!

New to Shooting Star’s Midway this year is the Classic Tilt-A-Whirl ride!  Or choose your old favourites, the Zipper or the Sizzler.  For those who prefer to ride a little easier and enjoy the view, try the Ferris Wheel.  Take your child for a first time ride on our Kiddie Carousel.  Try your hand at all the great midway carnival games and then enjoy the famous mini-donuts and cotton candy, as well as dozens of other great foods.

Download a map of the exhibition site here.

Attractions and Entertainment Galore

The Vancouver Island Exhibition for 2015 has got it all! Live music, stage acts, the Courtenay Cadora Drill Team, logging competitions, animal shows and the Kennel Club, tons of exquisite food options, the Island Chef Competition, a haunted house,  bingo and a big dance competition (see below).

Click these links for the full array of attractions and entertainment.

*** New to the 2015 Vancouver Island Exhibition – there will even be a chance to meet and greet NHL stars!

Love Dance?

Then come on down to the first ever TD Canada Trust Dance Competition. Dancers of all ages and skill sets will be competing, between the hours of 10am and 12:30pm on Saturday August 22nd on the Thrifty Foods Main Stage.

Like Food and Cooking?

Aside from the traditional mini-donuts you simply MUST have at Vancouver Island’s premier carnival?

There’s something else here for you! Come to the VIEX Island Chef culinary competition and watch the cooks duke it out for the title. There will be two rounds, one for home chefs and one for professionals. Read more on the competition here.

And this year there’s a twist… the chefs will have to create courses for the general public. Anyone who purchases a ticket can become a judge! This is the ultimate experience – actually being able to participate in the competition without needing to have done formal cooking classes.

So clear your August schedule and cancel your plans. The VIEx comes to Nanaimo only once a year! Come out and have fun. The weather will be spectacular, as will the views on the ferry ride if you’re coming from the Lower Mainland or Sunshine Coast.

Be there for August’s best carnival, food, entertainment, rides, midway and outright fun!

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