The Parksville Beach Festival Society

Parksville Beach Festival promises fun in the sun at the Parksville Community Park located alongside Parksville’s famous beach. Starting with the worldrenowned, signature event, the Quality Foods Sand Sculpting Competition, opening weekend is July 14-16 with the sculpture exhibition open until August 20. This popular event features a 30-hour competition between twenty-nine international master sculptors. Working with this year’s sculpting theme “Wonders of the World,” sculptors begin by pounding sand on Thursday, July 13 to create the sculpting base that is essential to a successful sculpture.

Public entry to the Competition begins at 2pm Friday, July 14. Sculpting is complete by 2:45pm on Sunday, July 16, at which time the judging begins. Awards and cash prizes are presented to the top 3 doubles and the top 5 soloists, in addition to peer-selected awards and people’s choice prizes.

The sculptures are available for viewing from July 17 through to August 20 from 9:30am8:30pm daily. Admission is by suggested donation of $5 per person. Since 1999, the Parksville Beach Festival Society has donated close to $1 Million from the gate proceeds to non-profit organizations and community projects.

Parksville Beach Festival brings you the Wonders of the World…

Some of the other family-friendly activities to enjoy during the festival include:

• Parksville Canadian Tire Sculpting Lessons & Demonstrations 10am–5pm

July 15 & 16

Inspired by our sculptures? The public will have an opportunity to learn sand sculpting techniques used by the professionals. Parksville Canadian Tire has sponsored two professional sculptors to teach anyone who wishes to learn how to create a ‘proper’ sand sculpture from scratch. All ages welcome!

Start planning your summer today at parksvillebeachfest.ca and see you at the beach!

• Art in the Park July 22 (10am-6pm) & 23 (10am to 4pm)

A two-day arts and craft fair taking place in the gardens around the tennis courts in the park. Paintings, sculptures, jewelry, pottery, photography, art cards, children’s clothing, art glass and more will be available.

• Coastal Community Credit Union Sculpture Light Up!

August 18 & 19 parksvillebeachfest.ca/event/ summer-concert-series/

For two nights only the Sand Sculpture Exhibition will be illuminated and open after dark. This event lets you experience our sculptures in a unique and wonderfully different way. Gate stays open until 11pm each evening.

With the addition of the Parksville Outdoor Theatre in the Community Park, Parksville Beach Festival offers a variety of entertainment options throughout the 5-week event. Locals and visitors can look forward to the return of the popular free Tim Hortons Summer Concert Series Friday and Saturday evenings from 6:30pm-8:30pm. Concert dates are July 21, 22, 28 & 29 and August 4, 5, 18 & 19. Don’t forget to bring your lawn chair or blanket and be prepared to dance!

Last year Parksville Beach Festival partnered with Mid Island Co-op and introduced a three-day music festival called Rock the Park. It was such a success that it will be returning August 11-13. Featured tribute bands for 2023 will perform the music of: ABBA, Bob Seger, David Bowie, Eagles, Elvis, Fleetwood Mac, Joe Cocker, John Fogerty/ CCR, Neil Diamond, Santana as well as returning favourites Big Awesome and Rock of Ages and breakout country artist Garrett Gregory. Tickets on sale now at shop.mcmillanartscentre.com/ collections/box-office