Spirit of Nanaimo Society

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Spirit of Nanaimo Society Contact information, map and directions, contact form, opening hours, services, ratings, photos, videos and announcements from Spirit of Nanaimo Society, Nonprofit Organization, Nanaimo, BC.

The Society was founded with the vision of hosting five annual community events, each reflecting a different theme: community bonding, Indigenous-led collaboration, multicultural celebration, harvest traditions, and holiday gatherings.

ONE LEAF. ONE MESSAGE. ONE COMMUNITY. Tomorrow, we want to see Nanaimo fill an entire wall with gratitude.At the 1st Ann...
10/09/2026

ONE LEAF. ONE MESSAGE. ONE COMMUNITY.

Tomorrow, we want to see Nanaimo fill an entire wall with gratitude.

At the 1st Annual Downtown Nanaimo Harvest Festival, stop by our Community Gratitude Wall, choose a leaf and write down something that makes you thankful.

It can be anything.

A person who has made a difference in your life.
A place that feels like home.
A memory you never want to forget.
A moment that changed something for you.
Or simply something about our community that you're grateful for.

Then add your leaf to the wall alongside messages from neighbours, families, children, seniors and other members of our community.

By the end of the afternoon, we hope hundreds of individual thoughts will come together to create one beautiful picture of gratitude from across Nanaimo.

FREE • ALL AGES • EVERYONE IS WELCOME

We're incredibly grateful to Berwick Retirement Communities - also known as Berwick on the Lake - the Exclusive Sponsor of the Community Gratitude Wall.

Their support is helping us provide this meaningful activity completely free for everyone attending the festival and creating an opportunity for different generations in our community to participate together.

Thank you, Berwick Retirement Communities Empowered Living, for helping us celebrate connection, community and gratitude this Thanksgiving weekend.

TOMORROW - SATURDAY, OCTOBER 10
2:00-6:00 PM
Maffeo Sutton Park
FREE COMMUNITY EVENT

Hosted by Spirit of Nanaimo Society

What will YOUR leaf say?

Come add it to the wall tomorrow and help us fill it with gratitude from across Nanaimo.

Tell us something you're grateful for in the comments - then come write it on a leaf tomorrow!

TOMORROW, CAPTURE A LITTLE PIECE OF AUTUMN WITH US!The 1st Annual Downtown Nanaimo Harvest Festival is TOMORROW, and whi...
10/09/2026

TOMORROW, CAPTURE A LITTLE PIECE OF AUTUMN WITH US!

The 1st Annual Downtown Nanaimo Harvest Festival is TOMORROW, and while you're enjoying everything happening at Maffeo Sutton Park, make sure you stop by our Harvest Photo Experience!

We've created a special fall-inspired photo area where you can capture a memory from the very first year of the festival.

Bring:

Your family
Your friends
The kids
Your festival crew
Or just yourself!

Take a photo, have some fun and leave with a little piece of the Harvest Festival saved on your camera roll.

COMPLETELY FREE • ALL AGES

We're incredibly grateful to Payworks, the Exclusive Sponsor of the Harvest Photo Area, for helping us bring this free experience to the community.

Their support is helping us create a space where neighbours, families and friends can come together and capture a memory of the day - at no cost.

So tomorrow, when you see the Harvest Photo Area…

STOP. POSE. SNAP.

And don't forget to tag Spirit of Nanaimo Society when you share your photos - we'd love to see the festival through your eyes!

TOMORROW - SATURDAY, OCTOBER 10
2:00-6:00 PM
Maffeo Sutton Park
FREE • ALL AGES
FREE COMMUNITY EVENT

Hosted by Spirit of Nanaimo Society

A huge thank-you to Payworks for exclusively sponsoring the Harvest Photo Area and helping us create another free experience for Nanaimo.

Who are you taking your Harvest Festival photo with tomorrow? Tag them below!

TOMORROW, COME MAKE SOMETHING TO TAKE HOME FROM THE HARVEST FESTIVAL! The 1st Annual Downtown Nanaimo Harvest Festival i...
10/09/2026

TOMORROW, COME MAKE SOMETHING TO TAKE HOME FROM THE HARVEST FESTIVAL!

The 1st Annual Downtown Nanaimo Harvest Festival is TOMORROW, and our Creativity Corner will be ready for kids, teens, adults - and anyone who feels like getting creative!

Stop by and make your very own FREE fall bracelet!

Choose your beads
Create your own design
Make your bracelet
Take it home as a little keepsake from the festival!

FREE • ALL AGES • NO EXPERIENCE NEEDED

We’re thrilled to have Coastal Community Credit Union as the Exclusive Sponsor of the Creativity Corner, helping us make this hands-on activity completely FREE for our community.

And you won't be creating alone!

Lost Arts Club will be facilitating the bracelet-making throughout the afternoon, helping festival guests choose their beads, get creative and make something uniquely their own.

Whether you're 5, 15, 35 or 75 - come make a bracelet with us!

TOMORROW - SATURDAY, OCTOBER 10
2:00-6:00 PM
Maffeo Sutton Park
FREE FALL BRACELET MAKING
FREE COMMUNITY EVENT • ALL AGES

Hosted by Spirit of Nanaimo Society

A huge thank-you to Coastal Community Credit Union for supporting free creativity and community connection at this year's festival, and to Lost Arts Club for bringing the Creativity Corner to life!

Tag someone you'd make a fall bracelet with tomorrow!

TOMORROW, IT’S TIME TO PUT YOUR FALL KNOWLEDGE TO THE TEST!Think you know your pumpkins, autumn traditions, harvest fact...
10/09/2026

TOMORROW, IT’S TIME TO PUT YOUR FALL KNOWLEDGE TO THE TEST!

Think you know your pumpkins, autumn traditions, harvest facts and all things fall?

Join us for HARVEST TRIVIA at the 1st Annual Downtown Nanaimo Harvest Festival tomorrow!

1. SCAN
2. PLAY
3. TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE
4. WIN PRIZES!

Harvest Trivia is FREE to play and open to all ages, so challenge your friends, bring the family and see who knows the most about fall!

A huge thank-you to Proline Management Ltd., the Exclusive Sponsor of Harvest Trivia, for helping us bring this free interactive activity to the community.

AND YES - THERE ARE PRIZES!

Prizes for our Harvest Trivia winners have been generously donated by:

Dairy Queen Grill & Chill at Country Club Centre
Vancouver Island Karaoke

Complete the trivia during the festival and then make your way over to the Lions Pavilion for the results!

WINNERS ANNOUNCED AT 4:30-4:45 PM
We'll announce the winners live over the event mic and speakers at the Lions Pavilion.

So the question is...

HOW MUCH DO YOU REALLY KNOW ABOUT FALL?

Come find out tomorrow!

TOMORROW - SATURDAY, OCTOBER 10
Festival: 2:00-6:00 PM
Trivia winners: 4:45 PM
Maffeo Sutton Park • Lions Pavilion
FREE COMMUNITY EVENT • ALL AGES

Hosted by Spirit of Nanaimo Society

Tag the person you think you could beat at Harvest Trivia!

NANAIMO - THE HARVEST FESTIVAL IS TOMORROW, AND WE COULD STILL USE A FEW MORE HELPING HANDS!Tomorrow, Maffeo Sutton Park...
10/09/2026

NANAIMO - THE HARVEST FESTIVAL IS TOMORROW, AND WE COULD STILL USE A FEW MORE HELPING HANDS!

Tomorrow, Maffeo Sutton Park will come alive for the 1st Annual Downtown Nanaimo Harvest Festival, and we’re looking for a few more volunteers to help us make the day run smoothly.

You don’t have to commit to the entire day - even a few hours can make a difference!

Volunteers can help with:

Festival setup
Free hot chocolate & marshmallow service
Welcoming festival guests
Scarecrow Contest
Community Gratitude Wall
Creativity Corner
Harvest Trivia
Harvest Photo Experience
Community Warmth Drive donation collection
General event support & cleanup
End-of-day takedown

Our Community Warmth Drive will also be collecting gently used coats, gently used blankets and brand-new socks throughout the festival, with donations supporting The Salvation Army Nanaimo Centre of Hope and Salvation Army Church Nanaimo. Volunteers will help us welcome and organize those community donations.

And yes…

VOLUNTEERS GET THE FIRST CUPS OF FREE HOT CHOCOLATE!

Come help us set up, grab a warm cup of cocoa, meet some great people and spend part of your Thanksgiving weekend helping bring a free community event to Nanaimo.

No event experience is required. You can volunteer for a shift or the whole event.

TOMORROW - SATURDAY, OCTOBER 10
Maffeo Sutton Park
Festival: 2:00-6:00 PM
Volunteer help needed before, during & after the event

WANT TO JOIN US?

Comment “VOLUNTEER” below
Send us a DM
Email [email protected]

Last-minute volunteers are welcome - please reach out today!

And if you can’t volunteer, you can still help us by sharing this post with someone who might be available tomorrow.

Hosted by Spirit of Nanaimo Society

NANAIMO, TOMORROW, BRING A LITTLE WARMTH WITH YOU.The 1st Annual Downtown Nanaimo Harvest Festival is TOMORROW, and as o...
10/09/2026

NANAIMO, TOMORROW, BRING A LITTLE WARMTH WITH YOU.

The 1st Annual Downtown Nanaimo Harvest Festival is TOMORROW, and as our community comes together to celebrate Thanksgiving weekend, we're also coming together to support local people in need.

Spirit of Nanaimo Society will be hosting our Community Warmth Drive, with all collected items supporting The Salvation Army Nanaimo Centre of Hope.

WE'RE COLLECTING:

GENTLY USED COATS
Adults & kids • All sizes

GENTLY USED BLANKETS
Clean and in good condition

BRAND NEW SOCKS
Adults & kids • All sizes

Tonight, take one last look through your closets.

Have a coat you don't wear anymore?

Did your child outgrow their winter jacket?

Have a clean blanket tucked away that you could pass along?

Or are you making a last-minute shopping trip and able to pick up a package of new socks?

Set it by the door tonight and bring it with you tomorrow. 🍂

You don't have to bring a lot. If hundreds of neighbours each bring just one item, together we can turn those individual donations into something much bigger.

LET'S FILL THE DONATION AREA, NANAIMO!

Every item collected will be donated to Salvation Army Church Nanaimo and Centre of Hope Hope to support local people in need.

TOMORROW - SATURDAY, OCTOBER 10
2:00-6:00 PM
Maffeo Sutton Park
FREE COMMUNITY EVENT • EVERYONE WELCOME

Hosted by Spirit of Nanaimo Society

Donations are completely optional - you do not need to donate anything to attend and enjoy the festival.

SHARE THIS POST TODAY. Someone who sees it tonight might have exactly what we're looking for sitting in their closet.

Bringing something tomorrow? Comment COAT • BLANKET • SOCKS below!

TOMORROW, NANAIMO - WHO’S TAKING HOME THE $100?!The 1st Annual Downtown Nanaimo Harvest Festival is TOMORROW, and there ...
10/09/2026

TOMORROW, NANAIMO - WHO’S TAKING HOME THE $100?!

The 1st Annual Downtown Nanaimo Harvest Festival is TOMORROW, and there is still time to enter our FREE Scarecrow Contest!

We’ve got THREE $100 CASH PRIZES up for grabs:

BEST OVERALL - $100 CASH
MOST CREATIVE - $100 CASH
PEOPLE’S CHOICE - $100 CASH

PLUS MORE PRIZES!

Additional prizes have been generously provided by Nanaimo Airport and Vancouver Island Refillery, giving even more of our scarecrow creators a chance to go home with something!

A huge thank-you to Co-operators | Odimega Financial Group, the Exclusive Sponsor of the Scarecrow Contest, for helping us make the contest completely FREE TO ENTER and providing our cash prizes.

AND WHO'S DOING THE JUDGING?

We're welcoming local guest judges from:

Island-ish Boutique - sisters and owners Shannon & Kelly
Vancouver Island Karaoke - owners Amanda & Ray

They'll be helping us choose Best Overall and Most Creative - but there's one award they don't get to decide…

PEOPLE'S CHOICE IS UP TO YOU, NANAIMO!

Festival guests will get to vote for their favorite scarecrow.

HAVEN'T MADE ONE YET? YOU STILL CAN!

Don't overthink it.

Grab some old clothes.
Find a hat.
Stuff it with materials you already have.
Give it some personality.
Bring it tomorrow!

You do not need to spend a bunch of money or be an artist. We want funny scarecrows, traditional scarecrows, weird scarecrows, business-themed scarecrows, family creations - whatever you come up with!

Families, friends, businesses, organizations and community groups are all welcome to enter.

📩 REGISTER TODAY: Comment "SCARECROW" below or Send a DM or EMAIL
[email protected]

TOMORROW - SATURDAY, OCTOBER 10
2:00-6:00 PM
Maffeo Sutton Park
FREE COMMUNITY EVENT

Hosted by Spirit of Nanaimo Society

$300 IN CASH PRIZES + MORE PRIZES • FREE TO ENTER • AND THERE'S STILL TIME!

Tag someone who could pull together a scarecrow tonight - and SHARE THIS POST so we can fill those remaining spots!

LET’S FILL THE GRATITUDE WALL, NANAIMO!This Saturday, we're starting with an empty wall.By 6 PM, we hope it tells a stor...
10/09/2026

LET’S FILL THE GRATITUDE WALL, NANAIMO!

This Saturday, we're starting with an empty wall.

By 6 PM, we hope it tells a story about what our community is thankful for.

At the Community Gratitude Wall, everyone attending the 1st Annual Downtown Nanaimo Harvest Festival is invited to add a little piece of their own story.

Pick a leaf.
Write something you're thankful for.
Add it to the wall.

One leaf. One message. One community.

Your leaf might say family.

Someone else's might say friendship, home, recovery, a teacher, a neighbour, their children, their grandparents, a second chance - or simply Nanaimo.

Individually, they're small messages.

Together, we hope they'll create a beautiful snapshot of what matters to the people who call our community home.

We're proud to have Berwick Retirement Communities as the Exclusive Sponsor of the Community Gratitude Wall, helping us make this activity completely FREE and open to all ages.

And we especially love that this is something generations can participate in together - from little ones writing their first leaf to parents, grandparents and seniors sharing theirs.

Will you help us fill the wall?

THIS SATURDAY - OCTOBER 10
2:00-6:00 PM
Maffeo Sutton Park
FREE • ALL AGES • EVERYONE WELCOME

Hosted by Spirit of Nanaimo Society

Come find the Gratitude Wall, write your leaf and leave a little piece of gratitude behind.

Let's see how full Nanaimo can make it.

THINK YOU KNOW YOUR FALL FACTS, NANAIMO?This Saturday, put your knowledge to the test with HARVEST TRIVIA at the 1st Ann...
10/08/2026

THINK YOU KNOW YOUR FALL FACTS, NANAIMO?

This Saturday, put your knowledge to the test with HARVEST TRIVIA at the 1st Annual Downtown Nanaimo Harvest Festival!

SCAN the QR code
PLAY as you explore the festival
TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE
WIN PRIZES!

From autumn traditions to harvest-themed questions, see how much you really know - and challenge your family and friends to see who can get the best score!

Best of all?

IT’S FREE TO PLAY!

We’re thrilled to have Proline Management Ltd. as the Exclusive Sponsor of Harvest Trivia, helping us offer this interactive activity completely FREE to our community.

And we have prizes up for grabs!

A big thank-you to:

Dairy Queen Grill & Chill
Vancouver Island Karaoke

for providing prizes for our Harvest Trivia winners!

WINNERS ANNOUNCED AT 4:45 PM!

Make sure you're near the Lions Pavilion at 4:45 PM, when we'll announce the winners live over the festival mic and speakers.

So bring your phone, bring your smartest friend and get ready to find out…

HOW MUCH DO YOU REALLY KNOW ABOUT FALL?

THIS SATURDAY - OCTOBER 10
2:00-6:00 PM
Winners announced: 4:45 PM
Maffeo Sutton Park • Lions Pavilion
FREE COMMUNITY EVENT • ALL AGES

Hosted by Spirit of Nanaimo Society

TAG the person you want to challenge at Harvest Trivia!

NANAIMO, WE’RE TWO DAYS AWAY AND WE STILL NEED VOLUNTEERS! This Saturday, the 1st Annual Downtown Nanaimo Harvest Festiv...
10/08/2026

NANAIMO, WE’RE TWO DAYS AWAY AND WE STILL NEED VOLUNTEERS!

This Saturday, the 1st Annual Downtown Nanaimo Harvest Festival comes to Maffeo Sutton Park - and we could use a few more helping hands to bring it all together!

You don't have to volunteer for the entire day.

Help for a shift
Help with setup
Help serve hot chocolate
Welcome festival guests
Help with activities
Help us keep things organized
Stick around for takedown

Or spend the whole event with us!

And yes, we're keeping our promise…

VOLUNTEERS GET THE FIRST CUPS OF FREE HOT CHOCOLATE!

No special experience is required. We just need friendly people who are willing to lend a hand and help us create a welcoming FREE community event for Nanaimo.

Whether you're a student looking for volunteer hours, someone who loves community events, or you simply have a couple of hours to give this Thanksgiving weekend, we'd love to hear from you.

THIS SATURDAY - OCTOBER 10
Maffeo Sutton Park
Festival: 2:00-6:00 PM
Volunteer opportunities available before, during & after the event

WANT TO HELP?

Comment “VOLUNTEER” below
Send us a DM
Email [email protected]

Already attending? Consider giving us a hand for part of the day and then stay to enjoy the festival you helped make happen.

PLEASE SHARE! We’re only two days away, and every extra set of hands makes a difference.

Hosted by Spirit of Nanaimo Society

Address

Nanaimo, BC

Website

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