With no theme this year, sand sculptures ranged wildly in size and story at the 2024 Parksville Beach Festival. The event attracted over 115,000 people. (Alex Rawnsley/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

thousands upon thousands

‘We’re really pleased:’ over 115,000 view Parksville Beach Festival sand sculptures

Aug 19, 2024 | 10:20 AM

PARKSVILLE — A solid stretch of amazing weather contributed to an increase in visitors to the annual Beach Festival.

A total of 115,203 visitors were recorded entering the gates of the Sand Sculpting competition venue throughout the nearly six-week event, which wrapped Sunday, Aug. 18.

Parksville Beach Festival Society president Cheryl Dill told NanaimoNewsNOW the excellent attendance also translated to the main stage performances hosted at the new Outdoor Theatre.

“Our numbers were the strongest so far for the third season in operation, so we’re really pleased with the number of people flocking to Parksville and also the support from local residents.”

Cheryl Dill (middle, with microphone), festival society president, announces the sand sculpting winners during the closing ceremonies on July 14. (Alex Rawnsley/NanaimoNewsNOW)

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The attendance is a six per cent jump on the more than 108,000 people who visited last year and is on par with the figures in 2019 and 2022. (2020 and 2021 events cancelled due to COVID health restrictions)

A record 133,000 people went through the gates in 2016.

Dill highlighted some favourable weather, with just two days of rain through the festival, and the quality of exhibitions as big reasons behind the sheer volume of people visiting.

Entrance to view the sculptures was by a suggested donation of $5, money which not only pays for the festival’s expenses but also is fed back into local community groups.

“We’re so grateful for those donations, it is expensive to put on an event of this nature and we love to give back to the community so we take a portion of the proceeds after all expenses are paid and we give it back to the community.”

In past years, the amount has been between $70,000 and $80,000.

Manuel Campos and his piece ‘The Guardian of Light’ won first prize at the 2024 Parksville Beach Festival Sand Sculpting competition, announced July 14. (Alex Rawnsley/NanaimoNewsNOW)

The 21 ambassador groups who helped run the entrance gate will receive a majority of it, to help fund their projects and services.

Dill is hopeful they’ll be able to give back around $80,000 this year.

“Costs are always increasing for putting on events. We bring sand sculptors from all over the world, we pay their travel, we put them up in our local hotels, we feed them. It’s not reducing in cost every year.”

Awarding of funds is typically done in October.

Around 150 people worked or volunteered their time to put the festival on, with planning for the 2025 event due to begin in September.

Sculptors use a water-wood glue mixture to spray on their creations, helping protect them from the elements. (Alex Rawnsley/NanaimoNewsNOW)

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