December 14, 2004 Nanaimo, BC Join us in Nanaimo as Vancouver Island celebrates this New Year's Eve at the Harbour Front Plaza for the biggest party on the Island. This year's headline act is Canada's own Loverboy! Other acts include Canadian Radio Music Award nominees Stabilo and Juno nominee Maren Ord. This free event held in the heart of historic downtown Nanaimo is the only live broadcast countdown on Vancouver Island . Each year the bash has drawn over 5,000 attendees, with over one million viewers watching from home. The concert begins at 10:30 pm and the live broadcast begins at 11:00pm on the New VI Cable 12.

With this many people heading downtown you'll want to be there early, so why not go for dinner at one of Nanaimo's great restaurants? Choose a waterfront dining room or a hip café. Nanaimo's popular Acme Restaurant is now taking New Year's reservations for three seatings, beginning at 5pm at two hour intervals. You will enjoy a three course meal for only $25.00. The menu will feature a choice from four items for each course along with the full sushi menu. After dinner stroll down the block and you'll find yourself in the middle of the party (just follow the crowd!).

The Buccaneer Inn is helping you end the year on a good note. Start your festive evening by checking into one of their award-winning One Bedroom Kitchen Suites. Enjoy a meal at a local neighborhood restaurant. Then take a leisurely stroll along the Harbourside Walkway to downtown and get ready for the biggest party in town with Loverboy! Remember to take the party pack we put together for you! The next morning you can relax, sleep in and enjoy a leisurely coffee before braving the new day as we've extended our check out time until 1 pm on January 1st. You can enjoy all of this for our rainy season rate of $79.95 plus taxes per night based on double occupancy. This applies to new reservations only and is only valid on December 31st, 2004. To take advantage of this offer book online through our secure reservations page. Type ‘New Years Eve!' in the comments section at www.buccaneerinn.com.

The Painted Turtle Guesthouse in the heart of downtown is also getting into the action with the following offer. Reserve for New Year's Eve at the Guesthouse and receive 50% off for a second night. Your hosts at the Painted Turtle know that you'll probably need a bit more rest after your late night, so they have extended check out to noon. Rates begin at $24.00 with the option adding a continental breakfast for $6.00/person. You can also purchase tickets in advance for celebrations taking place at Acme Restaurant (while they last!). Check them out online at www.paintedturtle.ca or call (250) 753-4432 to make reservations.

Nanaimo is located on the east coast of Vancouver Island approximately 111 kilometers north of the provincial capital city of Victoria. The harbour city is accessible by HarbourLynx and BC Ferries from Vancouver, as well as by air from Vancouver and Seattle. VIA Rail offers service from Victoria daily. For more information about holiday season events and packages, please visit www.tourismnanaimo.com or call Tourism Nanaimo at 1-800-663-7337.

Tourism Vancouver Island is one of six regional destination marketing organizations in British Columbia that administers co-operative marketing and advertising projects for its stakeholders throughout the region. To access information about Tourism Vancouver Island and marketing initiatives, please visit www.islands.bc.ca