Another street will join the party this weekend at the Downtown Nanaimo Bathtub Days Street Fair.
Families can check out cars, compete in a watermelon-eating contest or take aim at a dunk tank, during a street fair that’ll stretch from Commercial Street to the Co-op on Victoria Crescent this Friday and Saturday (July 21 and 22).
Kevan Shaw, president of the Victoria Crescent Association, said a year ago his group felt left out because there was never a street fair for bathtub days on Victoria Crescent. The group decided to take matters into its own hands.
“It’s going to be a lot of fun and it’s memories of the old bathtub festivities that Frank Ney would wear his pirate suit and scream out “Nanaimo, bathtub racing capital of the world, sun porch capital of Canada,” said Shaw, adding that’s what the association wants to bring back.
“Brings tears to my eyes ’cause growing up as a kid here, [it] put us on the map. That was fun. The whole downtown shut down, we had people from other countries come here it was busy, busy, busy and it was a real community pride and spirit.”
Kim Smythe, president of the chamber of commerce, said at a recent council meeting there’s collaboration with the bathtub society to complement events at Maffeo Sutton Park and incorporate the Shaw Sail Past On Wheels Parade on a route that will see three downtown neighbourhoods enjoy the celebrations.
Festivities are from 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Friday on Commercial Street and 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday. On Victoria Crescent the fair goes from 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. and 10 a.m.-3:30 p.m. on Saturday.