Directions & Parking

The VIEx is Located at:

#4 - 2300 Bowen Road
Nanaimo, BC  V9T 3K7

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Special Announcement Regarding Access & Parking:

In the last few years, due to the growth of our annual event, the traffic pattern surrounding the fairgrounds has had to be altered to accomodate the increasing amount of traffic on fair weekend.  In consultation with the City of Nanaimo, and the RCMP, a new Traffic and Parking Plan has been established.  The basic plan is:

• There will be no VIEx public parking access from Bowen Road.  All VIEx parking will be accessed from Labieux Road.
• The south entrance to Beban Park from Bowen Road will be restricted to Emergency Response, drop-offs and deliveries to Gate #1, Tourist Bureau visitors, golfers and tennis players.
• The north entrance to Beban Park from Bowen Road will be closed to traffic.  This driveway will be ONE-WAY OUT ONLY.  The southbound left-turn lane from Bowen Road will be blocked off.
• The north entrance to Beban Park from Labieux will be ONE-WAY IN.  The right lane will be dedicated to $2.00 pay parking in the paved lots near the Main Entrance (Gate #2).  The left lane will be dedicated to drop-offs, Vendor & Home Show deliveries, Parks & Rec staff and Office, Altrusa Playgrounds and VIP access. 
• The BMX Track entrance to Beban Park from Labieux Road will be restricted to Volunteer parking and Emergency Response Vehicles Only unless previous authorization has been given. No Public Parking!
• The south entrance to Beban Park from Labieux Road (Beban Off-Lease Park) will be restricted to Exhibitors, Concession/Vendors, participants, livestock deliveries, Campground access and livestock trailer parking ONLY.  No Public Parking!

Hopefully, this plan will reduce the traffic and parking waiting times and everyone will have more time available to enjoy the Fair.  Thanks for your cooperation and patience in helping us work out the details.

General Parking Rules:

A. No general admission gate will permit vehicular traffic to proceed through the gate, without entry fee being paid. All vehicles must enter and exit the fairgrounds through the livestock gate. All persons entering in vehicles will be subject to the admission policy stated in item#19 of Rules and Regulations (i.e. all persons entering grounds must pay gate admission or be in possession of a valid pass.)

B. Parking passes will be issued, upon request, to those exhibitors who wish to park inside the fairgrounds. All inside parking is located adjacent to the Agriplex ONLY. Vehicles MAY NOT be parked along barns or adjacent to stalls, except as noted in item "E". Passes must be displayed and entries paid or will be removed.

C. Under no circumstances will vehicles (except ambulances, police, fire) be permitted to move within the fair grounds between the hours of 9:00 AM and 10:00 PM on Friday or Saturday and between the hours of 9:00 AM and 5:00 PM Sunday. This rule is for the safety of the public, exhibitors and animals. Exhibitors who violate this rule may be disqualified or barred from entering in subsequent years as deemed appropriate by the Directors.

D. No parking will be permitted on the fairgrounds in any area except the inside parking area. Limited space is available for trailers, campers and motor homes along the fence line behind the barns and adjacent to the Agriplex. These vehicles will be parked in designated, prearranged spaces and must have a valid, numbered parking pass, which will be obtainable at the show office at $10.00 per unit, per day and will be checked on a daily basis by a VIEx official. Permission to park campers and motor homes will only be granted to exhibitors who will remain in the space for the entire duration of the fair (9:00 AM Friday to 5:00 PM Sunday of Fair week.)

E. All areas, with the exception of the inside parking area and the designated camper spaces, are considered Loading/Unloading zones. Livestock exhibitors are permitted to park in these areas while loading/unloading animals and equipment ONLY. Maximum duration of parking in these areas is 20 minutes and must be prior to 9:00 AM and after 10:00 PM during the fair. Any vehicle parked in the loading/unloading areas (adjacent to barns, etc) after 9:00 AM and prior to 10:00PM will be towed at the owner’s expense.

F. Any exceptions of the above rules must be PREAPPROVED by the VIEx board member on duty in the show office located in the center of the grounds beside the RED BARN and will only be granted in the event of an emergency such as an animal illness or injury, etc.

2009 Site Map - 2010 to be posted in July 2010

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