For three weeks every year, Parksville's beachfront becomes a display of world-class sand-sculpting. Artists from all over North America come to participate in the Canadian Open Sand Sculpting Championship in both solo and team categories each year.
The event is sponsored by many local organizations including The News and Oceanside's Quality Foods, which has a chain of fine grocery stores on the Island.
After a weekend of sculpting (this year, Aug. 10 to 12) the finished pieces are left standing for weeks so visitors can see the amazing work.
The entire Beach Festival runs Aug. 10 to Sept. 3 in 2007.
Each year, in the range of more than a quarter-million people take advantage of the opportunity to come to Parksville to the BeachFest.
Once here, visitors enjoy the sand sculptures, children's events and musical entertainment which occur as separate events, but over the length of the Beach Festival run.
For more information on Parksville's Beach Festival, visit www.parksvillebeachfest.ca.