The final weekend of Parksville Beach Festival is coming up, with several events in store to keep the festival momentum going right until the end.
Coast Capital Savings sponsors the annual light up of the sand sculptures at the beach festival.
For two nights on Friday Aug. 16 and Saturday Aug. 17., the exhibition will be open after dark and illuminated with multi-coloured lights.
The lights are done professionally and Dill says the effect is quite astounding.
“All the nooks and crannies that get lit up, and you can see the level of detail that the sculptors did that you never saw previously in the daylight. Because things get a bit washed out, depending on the amount of light in the day,” said Dill.
On those evenings, the Sand Sculpture Exhibition will be open until 11 p.m. Dill says that around 8 p.m. is a good time to come to see the effects.
Saturday Aug. 17 is also the Quality Foods Festival of Lights Fireworks. The fireworks happen at dusk.
Dill is also excited for the final concerts in the Tim Hortons Outdoor Summer Concerts Series that take place on Fridays and Saturdays in the picnic shelter of the Parksville Community Park during Beach Festival.
The final weekend will see Celtic and English folk group Knackers Yard from Victoria playing on Friday Aug. 16.
“They’re going to be high energy, so lots of great dancing. So if you have a kilt, come on out - if you don’t, that’s okay too,” said Dill.
The final evening in the concert series is a double-header, kicking off with Vancouver blues/rock/R&B group The Mojo Stars taking the stage at 6 p.m. After that, Creedence Clearwater Revival tribute band Completely Creedence will play from 8 p.m. until 9:45 or 10 p.m. when the fireworks start.
Dill says the events have been a big hit this year, and encourages people to get to the final shows early.
“We encourage people to get onto that field by 6 at the latest, and get your spot. There’s always lots of room to dance - it’s going to be a fun night,” said Dill.
Anyone looking for more information can head to www.parksvillebeachfest.ca.