Another amazing year for the Parksville Beach Festival has led to a third consecutive record for donations back into the community. (Alex Rawnsley/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Alex Rawnsley

community give back

Banner year as Parksville Beach Festival sees record donations to local non-profits

Oct 8, 2025 | 2:33 PM

PARKSVILLE — It’s the most money ever donated back into the community in the history of an Oceanside showcase event.

The Parksville Beach Festival Society officially donated a combined $88,201 to 24 Oceanside-based non-profit groups on Tuesday, Oct. 7, representing 25 per cent of donations at the gate from this year’s festival and sand sculpting exhibition.

Society president Cheryl Dill told NanaimoNewsNOW they work with 20 to 25 organizations every year to help staff the front gate of the exhibition, greeting visitors and answering questions.

“They do incredible work in our surrounding communities in the central Vancouver Island region. Whether that’s making quilts for those with cancer, or whether it’s Bowser Senior Society or the Lions or the Eagles, there’s so many groups that benefit from these funds.”

Representatives from the organizations who helped work the gate at the summer Parksville Beach Festival, celebrated a record windfall on Tuesday, Oct. 7. (submitted photo)

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The Society has set new records each of the last three years, with just under $81,000 awarded in 2024 and $79,800 the year prior.

Since 1999, the festival has funnelled $1.2 million back into the local economy directly from its donations to non-profit groups.

Included in this year’s recipient list are the Deep Bay Fire/Rescue Society, Mid Van Isle Habitat Enhancement Society, the Oceanside Hospice Society, Parksville Curling Club and Oceanside Stroke Recovery Society.

Money received from the Society helps fund smaller, but critical, projects throughout Oceanside, while the Society itself works directly with the City and other stakeholders on more community-transforming initiatives.

Recent additions include the outdoor theatre at Parksville Community Park, while the Society was also involved in signage at Exit 46 into Parksville.

“We open up applications for volunteer not-for-profit groups to help us out as a society through our summer exhibition. Every March, we take applications according to a set of criteria, and if you’re a not-for-profit group and you have lots of volunteers and you want to have some fun in the summer, this is a great event to get involved with.”

This year’s five-week festival saw just over 119,000 visitors through the gates, as it shifted to a new location in the park.

Florida’s Thomas Koet won the singles division, while a new pairing of Jakub Zimacek and Fred Dobbs took the doubles title.

Over 20 sand sculptures were carved at a frantic pace, ahead of a five-week stint overlooking the Parksville waterfront. (Alex Rawnsley/NanaimoNewsNOW)

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