By Daryl Major

Travel website tabs Bathtubs, BeachFest as must-see events in 2017

Mar 4, 2017 | 5:38 AM

PARKSVILLE – Two local attractions have hit the big time. Both the Parksville Beach Festival and Nanaimo Bathtub Festival are included in Expedia.ca’s list of must-see Canadian festivals in 2017.

Blain Sepos, executive director with Parksville-Qualicum Beach Tourism says it’s more proof Oceanside is a good destination.

“It really just builds the awareness of the destination across North America,” he said.

Since 2012, Parksville’s Beach Festival has attracted massive crowds, drawing more than 500,000 people to the event. More than 133,000 crossed through the gate in 2016 alone, a new record.

Two months into 2017, Sepos said more people than expected have visited Parksville and Oceanside. “If we keep on this pace we’re certainly going to be seeing another year as good or maybe even better than 2016.”

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Last year, accommodation revenue in Oceanside was up 15.2 per cent, which is the fourth highest increase in all of B.C. and five points higher than the provincial average.

After 51 years in Nanaimo, former race commodore John Ruttan said it was delightful to see anticipation about the Bathtub Festival still at fever-peak.

“It’s amazing the commitment people have made over the years,” he said. “We have folks who have taken part ever since the first tub hit the water. Recognition of this sort certainly doesn’t happen by luck.”

He said while most festivals lose momentum after so many years, or become taken for granted, this year’s festival looks to be one of their biggest.

Daryl.major@jpbg.ca