World renowned sculptors will have a new location to showcase their work beginning this summer at the Parksville Beach Festival. (File photo/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Alex Rawnsley

new sandbox

Sand sculptures on the move for Parksville Beach Festival

Feb 20, 2025 | 3:46 PM

PARKSVILLE — A larger, more accessible space has organizers for the annual Parksville Beach Festival, and associated sand sculpting competition, excited for the future.

City Councillors recently approved $150,000 to top-up $50,000 in Society funds to move the sand sculpting competition away from its long-time home next to the Gathering Place Plaza and gazebo to just north of the Parksville Curling Club.

Society president Cheryl Dill told NanaimoNewsNOW the larger space presents a lot of opportunities.

“There’s the volleyball court, and then there’s going to be our site, where we’ll have a fenced in area to protect the sculptures, but it will be along a packed gravel path that extends directly from a parking lot, so it will be easier to see it if you’re in that parking lot easier to access.”

The new home of the sand sculpting competition at Parksville Beach Festival, after the City and organizers teamed up to shuffle the park’s layout during the five week event. (Google Maps)

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Some early pedestrian concerns have been identified with the location switch, but Dill said they and the City are working together to ensure the safety of the over 100,000 people who visit the sand sculptures annually.

She added the move came about after some mutual goals were identified, including a desire to expand the sand sculpting competition, while the City wanted to open up the area around the boardwalk.

“We had spoken to the City previously about expanding, and what the opportunities were, so we both had needs to look at things a little differently for the sand sculpting site. While we’re going to miss our beloved circle of sand, we are excited about the opportunity of expansion and making things more accessible in the future.”

Expansion plans will begin to take effect in 2026.

Dill said because their 2025 festival plans are largely locked in, the larger space will be filled by the same number of sculptors this summer, before are invited for following years.

“This popular Parksville event has outgrown the existing small sand site near the waterfront walkway,” the City said in a release. “The new rectangular site will facilitate better use of space for the sculptures and improve accessibility within the site.”

This year’s competition will take place under the theme of “Circus by the Sea”, after last year’s competition was not defined by a specific theme.

The 2025 Parksville Beach Festival begins runs from July 10 to Aug. 17 at Parksville Community Park.

The sand sculpting competition is one of the highlights of the expansive five and a half week festival running largely at Parksville Community Park. (File photo/NanaimoNewsNOW)

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