Late September Events on Vancouver Island: VIEx, K'omoks Fusion Fest and More
Published September 19, 2026 · Covers events from September 24 to September 30, 2026
By Magnus Reaper
Late September brings a busy mix of fairs, Indigenous arts, multicultural celebrations, harvest activities and community gatherings to Vancouver Island.
This guide focuses on events taking place from September 24 through September 30, 2026. Dates and times were checked against official event pages and recent local coverage, but schedules can change. Check the linked organiser pages before travelling.
Vancouver Island Exhibition: Nanaimo
September 25 to 27
Beban Park, 2300 Bowen Road, Nanaimo
Official VIEx website · Nanaimo News Bulletin coverage
The 132nd annual Vancouver Island Exhibition, known locally as the VIEx, returns to Beban Park from Friday, September 25, through Sunday, September 27.
The three-day country fair combines agricultural exhibits and competitions with midway rides, live entertainment, family attractions, food vendors and community displays. The official 2026 theme is “From the Ground Up,” highlighting the farmers, growers, makers, performers and volunteers who help sustain the exhibition.
Fair hours are listed as:
- Friday, September 25: noon to 11 p.m.
- Saturday, September 26: 10 a.m. to 11 p.m.
- Sunday, September 27: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
The programme includes mainstage entertainment, SuperDogs, the West Coast Lumberjack Show, Vancouver Island Pro Wrestling, agricultural exhibits and a children’s area. The full artist lineup and programme are available through the official site.
General admission is listed at $15 for adults, $10 for seniors and youth, and $5 for children aged seven to 12. Children six and under enter free. Ride wristbands are sold separately.
Parking at Beban Park is limited and first come, first served. The organisers also list a free shuttle between the fairgrounds and Nanaimo North Town Centre, which may be useful during the busier evening periods.
K'omoks Fusion Fest: Comox
September 25 to 27
Filberg Heritage Lodge and Park, 61 Filberg Road, Comox
Official K'omoks Fusion Fest page
The K'omoks Fusion Arts Festival, presented by the Queneesh Indigenous Community Society, runs throughout the same weekend at Filberg Park.
The festival brings together First Nations, Métis and Inuit artists, artisans, makers, performers and knowledge holders. The official page describes a market of approximately 40 Indigenous artists and artisans, alongside workshops, cultural performances, music and food.
The current schedule lists:
- Friday, September 25: noon to 6 p.m.
- Saturday, September 26: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Sunday, September 27: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Admission is by donation. The event is scheduled to run rain or shine.
Visitors can browse the X ux aum Market, attend demonstrations through the Master Artists’ Circle and take part in selected workshops. Workshop registration is recommended, as places may be limited. The weekend also includes a youth zone, a wellness and health circle, traditional foods and a First Credit Union music stage.
The organisers have listed cultural dance, singing and drumming, as well as performances by artists including Greg Wells, Tara Williamson and the James Vickers Band. Individual timings may change, so consult the festival schedule before setting out.
ISSAMBA Culture Days Festival: Victoria
September 26 and 27
Ship Point, Pik-Nik area, Inner Harbour, Victoria
Official ISSAMBA event page · ISSAMBA upcoming events
ISSAMBA’s Culture Days Festival takes over Ship Point on the Victoria Inner Harbour waterfront on Saturday, September 26, and Sunday, September 27.
The free festival is organised by the AACCCS–ISSAMBA Centre and celebrates African, Caribbean, Black and multicultural communities through live music, dance, DJs, cultural performances, food and craft vendors.
The official listing gives festival hours of approximately 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on both days. It describes the event as a family-friendly gathering with artisans, cultural foods and activities for children.
Because Ship Point is a central waterfront location, visitors may want to consider walking, cycling or public transit rather than driving directly to the harbour. The festival is free to attend, although food, crafts and other items from vendors will be sold separately.
Cider Harvest Festival: Cobble Hill
September 27, 1 to 4 p.m.
Merridale Cidery and Distillery, Cobble Hill
Official Cider Harvest Festival page
For a Cowichan Valley harvest outing, Merridale’s 8th Annual Cider Harvest Festival offers an afternoon focused on British Columbia’s craft cider industry.
The event includes cider samples from participating producers, live music, orchard access and farm-crafted food. Merridale lists general admission at $64, with a souvenir tasting glass and transportation included for standard festival tickets. Cider tasting tokens are extra and can be purchased during checkout or at the festival.
The official page also lists bus pick-up options from Victoria, the West Shore, Nanaimo and Duncan. A limited number of self-drive tickets are available for guests who prefer to make their own arrangements.
The festival’s food service will include farm-crafted items and a dedicated snack area. Since this is a cider tasting event, visitors should plan a safe way home and review the transportation information before buying tickets.
South Island Powwow: Victoria
September 30
Royal Athletic Park, 1014 Caledonia Avenue, Victoria
Official South Island Powwow page
The 5th Annual South Island Powwow takes place at Royal Athletic Park on Wednesday, September 30.
The event is held on the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and is an opportunity to recognise Survivors and their families while celebrating Indigenous cultures and resiliency through song and dance.
Gates open at 10 a.m., with Grand Entry scheduled for noon. Admission is free and everyone is welcome.
The organisers ask visitors to approach the day respectfully and follow directions from the powwow committee. The official page provides contact information, media details and registration information for drum groups.
Just wrapping up: Nanaimo’s Mid-Autumn Festival
September 18 and 19
Maffeo Sutton Park, Nanaimo
Tourism Nanaimo event listing · Nanaimo NewsNow coverage
Nanaimo’s free Mid-Autumn Festival takes place this weekend, September 18 and 19, so it falls just outside the main September 24–30 window of this guide.
Saturday, September 19, is scheduled to include lanterns, cultural performances, food vendors, family activities and fireworks. The event is presented by the Nanaimo Chinese Cultural Society at Maffeo Sutton Park.
If you are reading this on publication day, check the organiser’s updates for final information about timings, weather and the fireworks schedule.
New Chemainus installation honours Japanese Canadian history
A new public art installation is also being unveiled in Chemainus on September 19.
“Remembering and Honouring Japanese Canadians in Chemainus” is a large mural installation on Croft Street, between Mill Street and Alder Street, below Waterwheel Park. The work uses historical images to recognise Japanese Canadians’ contributions to the fishing industry, forestry and community life.
The project is led by the Chemainus Festival of Murals Society with support from the Japanese Canadian Legacies Society. The Japanese Canadian Legacies project listing describes the installation and its September 19 opening date. The Vancouver Island Free Daily also previewed the project on September 17.
The installation complements the “None Came Back” exhibition at the Chemainus Valley Museum, which explores the history of the town’s Japanese Canadian community, including wartime displacement and dispossession. The museum exhibit is scheduled to remain open through November 2026.
Planning a late-September outing
The final week of September offers several ways to explore different parts of the Island. Nanaimo has the VIEx, Comox has K'omoks Fusion Fest, Victoria has ISSAMBA and the South Island Powwow, and the Cowichan Valley has Merridale’s cider celebration.
Before leaving, confirm event hours, ticket availability, parking arrangements and weather policies with each organiser. For more local coverage, visit the Roaring Coast blog.