If you saw a group of people racing motorized bathtubs through Nanaimo Harbour, you’d probably look twice. On July 26, the shores of Nanaimo will once again be packed with people doing exactly that!
Nanaimo’s beloved Bathtub Race returns this summer, and is a must-see for locals and visitors alike.
Every year since 1967, the people of Nanaimo have hosted an epic ocean race known as the World Championship Bathtub Race.
With a mix of determination, luck and hard work dozens of teams from Vancouver Island and beyond compete each year for the glory of winning in their class.
Now, the Bathtub Race festivities expand across three days with vendors, food trucks, free concerts, beverage gardens, and more. The race highlights a massive celebration of community spirit, engineering ingenuity, and slightly crazy water sports that draws thousands to Nanaimo each year.
Where to Watch
Every year people on beaches, bluffs, boats & balconies watch Bathtub Raceboats scream by.
Sunday, 11:00am start
Most of the race happens out in the Salish Sea (Strait of Georgia) but there’s a few checkpoints that bring the boats and their support vessels near enough for a good look.
- Maffeo Suttan Park
- Gallows Point, Protection Island
- Orlebar Point, Gabriola
- Sebastion Beach, Lantzville
- Neck Point Park, Nanaimo
- Pipers Lagoon Park, Nanaimo
- Maffeo Suttan Park
From the confusion of the first race in 1967, the “Great” International World Championship Bathtub Race & 3 day 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 year, for the first time, the course will be altered slightly so that all bathtubs end up in Downtown Nanaimo, at the base of the Frank Ney statue in Maffeo Sutton Park. The length of the course remains unchanged, the route itself is just modified slightly. This historic change makes sense for many reasons and will help ensure the sustainability of this wacky sport and the Marine Festival that has grown around it.
Fri 1pm-10pm
Vendors, Food Trucks, Kids Zone,
5pm – 10pm Concert (Licensed)(TBA)
Sat 10-10
Vendors, Food Trucks, Kids Zone
Parade along Commercial Street 10:30am
Free Concerts all day (TBA)
Beverage Garden 2-10
Sun 10-5
Vendors, Food Trucks, Kids Zone,
Great International World Championship Bathtub Race at 11am
Beverage Garden 1-6
Click here for the calendar of events.
Photo credit: Willow Friday of Iron Oxide Art Supplies