The Parksville Beach Festival, including the world famous sand sculpture competition, will be cancelled for the second year in a row due to the COVID-19 pandemic. (Ian Holmes/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

sand castles

Parksville Beach Festival cancelled due to ongoing international travel restrictions

Feb 19, 2021 | 9:35 AM

PARKSVILLE — Continuing COVID-19 restrictions has cancelled another staple event for the mid-Island.

The Parksville Beach Festival, including the sand sculpting competition slated for July and August, was cancelled on Friday, Feb. 19.

Cheryl Dill, festival president, told NanaimoNewsNOW current restrictions on international travel were a significant hurdle they couldn’t overcome.

“At this time of the year is when we’re communicating with the sculptors internationally, making arranging for their travel…this is the eleventh hour to make decisions on things like that.”

Dill said social responsibility and community safety is top of mind when organizing the event each year.

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The festival brings 122,000 visitors on average from across B.C., Canada and the world each year.

A 2015 study estimated the five-week event pumps $18 million into the local economy annually.

The 2020 iteration of the event was cancelled in April as the reality of the COVID-19 pandemic took hold and mass gatherings were whittled down to 250, then eventually 50.

Dill said the second consecutive cancellation only re-energizes organizers to put on a bigger event in 2022.

“We wanted to continue running our event in the future in the way it has run where people can come together face to face and appreciate artistry that arises from the sand from these international sculptors.”

Focus for the organizing committee is turning to development and construction of an outdoor theatre space at Parksville Community Park.

The theatre is projected to be a central piece to future Parksville Beach Festivals.

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