Just over 115,000 people went through the gates of the Parksville Beach Festival from mid July through August 21. (Alex Rawnsley/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Ian Holmes

strong interest

Parksville Beach Festival & sand sculpting competition attendance tops 115,000

Aug 22, 2022 | 2:14 PM

PARKSVILLE — People clearly had a strong appetite to view world-class sand sculptures following a two year absence of the Parksville Beach Festival.

Strong attendance totals of 115,217 people were recorded at the sand sculpture venue at Parksville Community Park during the five-and-a-half week event, which officially closed on Sunday, Aug. 21.

Cheryl Dill, president of the Parksville Beach Festival Society, said organizers are pleased with how many people showed up, which she said are slightly lower than the average over the previous several years.

“We are coming back from a major pandemic, we’re just happy to have recovered well and to have received such positive feedback,” Dill told NanaimoNewsNOW.

The attendance figure topped the previous event occurring in 2019 by 99 people.

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Staging such a major pandemic-era event was no easy feat, Dill said. Logistical concerns primarily around travel arrangements for their international competitors required a lot of attention.

“We were very resourceful, our sculptors were incredibly pleased to come back to Parksville where they love it, it’s near and dear to their hearts and we always welcome them back.”

Sculptors worked over several days to complete their pieces, which were then preserved by being sprayed with a mixture of wood glue and water. (Alex Rawnsley/NanaimoNewsNOW)

The Sand Sculpting Competition and Exhibition saw entry fees from the general public go toward prize money for participants, as well as to fund dozens of non-profit organizations throughout the Parksville-Qualicum area.

Dill hoped this year’s total will eclipse the $68,000 set aside for philanthropic causes in 2019.

She emphasized the importance of their volunteers for continually pulling off such quality events.

“That community pride of all of the volunteers is so important to this event, thank you to everyone who contributed their time and also their funds to make this happen.”

People’s choice awards for this year’s sculptors saw Guy-Oliver Deveau of Quebec win the solo division for his entry titled: Algorithm.

The Doubles category winners were Guy and Seveline Beauregard, also of Quebec, with their entry titled: I Gotta See a Man about a Dog.”

The Parksville Beach Festival debuted in 1982.

The theme for this year’s festival was ‘Roaring 20’s, held over from the 2020 festival which was canceled. (Alex Rawnsley/NanaimoNewsNOW)

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ian@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @reporterholmes