The Parksville Beach Festival, headlined by the annual sand sculpture competition, will return in 2022 after a two-year hiatus. (Ian Holmes/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Alex Rawnsley

sandsational

Parksville Beach Festival ‘roaring’ back as summer event staple

Feb 24, 2022 | 3:48 PM

PARKSVILLE — One of the largest events on the summer calendar is returning after a two year pause.

The Parksville Beach Festival, highlighted by the world famous sand sculpture competition, will attract tens of thousands of people to the Oceanside area for five weeks, beginning July 15.

Festival society president Cheryl Dill told NanaimoNewsNOW event staff, volunteers and corporate sponsors are chomping at the bit to get going.

“The last two years have been unprecedented for us, we have not cancelled an event or postponed since 1998, so we’re incredibly excited. Already we’ve had incredible amount of sponsorship come through, we’ve got the support from municipalities.”

The City of Parksville contributed $5,000 during their meeting on Wednesday, Feb. 24.

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While countless events make up the festival, its crown jewel is the sand sculpture competition, run at the Community Park on Parksville’s waterfront.

It features between 25 to 29 sculptors from around the world with Dill expecting a similar compliment this year.

“We have begun recruiting, I know sculptors are looking to make their arrangements. We haven’t received any major concerns in their ability to get here so far.”

They’ll compete under the theme of “Roaring 20s” which won a public vote in early 2020, before the pandemic took hold and that year’s event was cancelled.

“Let’s face it, the last couple of years were roaring and we want to roar on a positive note,” Dill added. “We think that theme and the sculptors are behind it as well and we think that’s going to be a widely accepted and theme to build upon.”

Complementing the competition will be several side events including a light up show, artisan market and a free concert series over the five weeks.

New for 2022 will be a three day rock and roll festival to help christen the new amphitheatre being built at the park.

“Construction is underway, it’s anticipated to be completed by the end of May and we’re excited to see the tangible stage coming out of the ground. We’re excited to ensure the stage is utilized as much as possible.”

The Parksville Beach Festival is a major economic and tourism driver in the region.

A 2016 study of the event estimated its direct economic impact was around $18 million, with 100,000 visitors making their way through the gates.

“We’re seeing a 25 per cent increase in the gate attendance so you could probably add 25 per cent to that and it’s over $20 million in terms of economic impact in the direct area,” Dill said. “Also from a social enjoyment and cohesion point of view, this event has huge impact.”

Money from the event is also funneled to local non-profit and philanthropic groups, with Dill calling the festival society a “pay it forward’ organization.

More than $700,000 has been donated to Oceanside area non-profit organizations and community projects since 1999 from revenue generated through admission donations to view the sand sculptures.

The Parksville Beach Festival runs July 15 to Aug. 21. More information on the event is available on their website.

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alex@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @alexrawnsley