About - Maple Sugar Festival

The Maple Sugar Festival is a community festival celebrating francophone culture in Nanaimo. Local, inclusive, francophone, fun, and for everyone!

A festival born from a sweet craving

The Maple Sugar Festival was created 25 years ago by a group of Québécois who deeply missed their “belle province“. What began as a way to reconnect with home has grown, over the years, into a vibrant celebration of francophone cultures.

Today, under the guidance of the Association des francophones de Nanaimo, this francophone community festival has become a three-day gathering that celebrates the richness and diversity of francophone cultures from here and around the world.

Photograph of a snow bank with maple syrup poured on top to make maple toffee.

Photograph of a captivated crowd watching the stage at Nanaimo Beban Park during the community Maple Sugar Festival.

Photograph of dancers on the dancefloor during the 2025 Maple Sugar Festival. A community francophone festival in Nanaimo.

Everyone’s invited (yes, really)

We believe culture should be shared, celebrated, and lived together.

The Maple Sugar Festival is a local, welcoming, and inclusive event. Everyone is welcome: francophones and non-francophones alike, no matter who you are or where you come from!

The festival takes place at Beban Park Social Centre, a fully accessible venue, because accessibility matters to us.

Above all, this is a community festival. We invite everyone to take part, get involved, and help shape the festival, whether as a volunteer, artist, partner, or participant!

Get involved!

Big fun, small prices

We believe culture should be accessible to everyone, not a luxury.

As a non-profit community festival, we work hard to keep our prices affordable and offer high-quality programming. Our goal is simple: allow you to enjoy great food, music, and experiences without worrying about your wallet.

Photograph of musicians performing on stage at Maple Sugar Festival in Nanaimo, with a violin in the foreground.

Photograph of people learning to play drums during a workshop at the 2025 Maple Sugar Festival.

Photograph of a child painting in the Creative Room during the Maple Sugar Festival, enjoying a calm, creative moment.

Everyone’s kind of festival

The Maple Sugar Festival truly offers something for all ages and interests:

For families: a welcoming space with many activities for children, including several free options.
For food lovers: a unique opportunity to explore francophone cuisine.
For music lovers: a diverse lineup of talented artists from near and far.
For the curious: hands-on workshops to dance, learn, create, and discover new traditions.

Whether you come for an hour or for the whole weekend, there’s always something to enjoy!

Rooted in Nanaimo, open to the world

While celebrating francophone cultures, the Maple Sugar Festival proudly remains a local festival at heart.

Each year, we highlight local talent, support small businesses through our market, and collaborate with community organizations. Two full days of children’s programming are created and delivered by local artists and associations, strengthening community ties.

Here, it’s not just francophonie that shines: it’s the vitality of Nanaimo itself.