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All weekend activities held at Nanaimo’s Beban Park
Friday Feb. 22nd, 4pm - 9pm
Admission by donation
It’s Maple Sugar Time in Nanaimo again and this year the Festival’s cultural theme will celebrate Canada’s Aboriginal People, their Francophone flavours and their Maple Sugar Traditions with activities, high calibre performances, cultural exhibits and culinary delights, without forgetting the Festival’s signature trademark, Pure Maple Toffee on Snow! For the past 8 years February has been known as a sweet time for Nanaimo residents and thousands of Festival visitors, as folks enjoy 5 fun-filled days of cultural and traditional activities known for centuries in eastern Canada as the ‘Maple Sugar Times’. Presented by the Francophone Association of Nanaimo (L’AFN) and Citadelle-Camp this unique event kicks off on February 20th & 21st with the Festival’s School Program when thousands of students from Vancouver Island and the lower Mainland will have registered to experience French-Canadian and Aboriginal culture and tradition with musical performances, foods, crafts, displays and educational workshops. On the evening of Wednesday Feb. 20th Nanaimo’s Downtown joins in the festivities as the Port Theatre Presents the JUNO Award winning harmonica Master, Gérald Laroche, while on the Thursday evening, February 21st, Gallery 223 unveils a special exhibit featuring a local guest artist and Laroche, who is recognised nationwide for his other amazing talent: visual artist.
New this year! The Sugar Shack opens on Friday from 4pm to 9pm
On Friday February 22nd at 4pm, Beban Park's Centennial Building will begin its magical transformation into an old time Sugar Sh The 2008 Festival promises two and a half fun-filled days of activities available to the general public wishing to experience a unique bilingual event where audiences can immerse themselves into myriad French-Canadian festivities including educational exhibits, music, clowns, authentic foods and a genuine atmosphere of joie de vivre. Enjoy a variety of maple sugar products, treat yourself to a traditional home-made Tourtière meat pie or Poutine; visit the Entertainment Tent for an intimate musical performance or an Aboriginal workshop depicting the ancient art of tree tapping; take a horse-drawn carriage ride; be awed by world famous Ice Carvers demonstrating their incredible talents. Or simply sit back and relax to the sounds of folk and contemporary music from some of Canada’s best performers of all ages and cultural backgrounds gracing the Centennial Mainstage. Of course, a visit to the Festival is not complete without a sample of its signature mouth-watering maple toffee on snow and traditional maple sugar delicacies. Sunday morning starts with the ever-popular Lumberjack Breakfast and the Festival extravaganza will end on a high note with the 3rd annual Toffy Idol Contest for youths. The Maple Sugar Festival du Sucre d’Érable is a unique event sure to please all ages and tastes. It’s a must see, hear and taste experience!
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ack and the Festival Village doors will open offering a multitude of festivities until 9pm and continuing non-stop throughout Saturday, from 9am to 9pm, and Sunday, from 9am to 4pm. This year, the festival celebrates BC150 Years Anniversary and the Aboriginal People. The AFN is honoured to hold its Festival in the traditional territory of the Snuneymuxw First Nation.
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