The Quality Foods Sand Sculpting Competition and Exhibition welcomed more than 108,000 visitors over the past five and a half weeks.
It was bittersweet for Parksville Beach Festival’s staff and volunteers to see the sculptures come down, but it was a successful summer, according to a news release by the Parksville Beach Festival Society.
“Despite the challenges of heat, summer fires and ferry schedules, attendance remains high”, said Cheryl Dill, president of Parksville Beach Festival Society, in the release.
“The positive feedback from local residents and visitors supports our hard-working volunteers and staff.”
Parksville Beach Festival’s new Rock the Park music festival saw a significant increase in attendance in its second year, bringing in more than 3,200 people.
The three-day event wrapped up Aug. 13 after featuring top notch tribute bands who covered everything from Elvis to David Bowie to the Eagles.
New to the festival this year was Parksville’s first ever Symphony by the Sea event on Aug. 20, which was attended by close to 1,000 people.
“The feedback from audience members and performers regarding the quality of sound and performances at the theatre has been tremendous,” said Lloyd Derry, festival director of entertainment.
During the festival, visitors had the opportunity to select their favourite sculptures. More than 100,000 votes were recorded, according to a news release.
The artists behind the two most popular sculptures will be presented with The People’s Choice awards.
“These are highly-coveted awards amongst the master sculptors in our competition,” said Dill. “People had many favourites but the winners were clear.”
Peter Vogelaar, from B.C. was chosen in the solo category for his sculpture ‘Age of Wonder’.
For doubles David Ducharme (B.C.) and Susanne Ruseler (Netherlands) won People’s Choice with ‘A World of Wonder’.
The festival is a major fundraiser which helps keep the operating and tickets costs affordable at the new Parksville Outdoor Theatre, owned by the City of Parksville and managed by the society.
The Parksville Beach Festival is a significant economic driver for the region. A 2015 sport tourism economic assessment measurement (STEAM) study found BeachFest, as it is known to locals, was responsible for $18 million in the Parksville area. The festival partnered with PQB Tourism Association to conduct the study.
Information is being collected from the sand sculpting exhibition and Rock the Park gates to help organizers formulate a new assessment.
Visitors to the festival can scan a QR code with their smartphone’s camera to complete a short survey which asks how long they will be in the area, where they are from, their method of transportation, why they chose the Parksville area and where they are staying.
That information will help organizers make some assumptions about how tourists are spending their money and formulate an estimate of the festival’s economic impact.
READ MORE: Winners declared at Parksville international sand sculpting competition
Parksville’s mayor is excited to see so many people visiting the community park this summer and is optimistic that young people will be inspired to relocate to the city.
“It’s attracting more families,” said Mayor Doug O’Brien. “A lot of people talk to me and have said, ‘we’re really liking it here’ and then they ask the really important questions, like ‘where are the schools?’ and other things and I’m happy to oblige and let them know.”
O’Brien said he has also been impressed with the festival’s expansion to include Rock the Park, which brought in approximately 3,200.
“It’s bringing people to Parksville and not just to see the sand sculptures but to enjoy this new performing arts theatre we have out there which is incredible and full credit to Lloyd Derry (festival director of entertainment),” said O’Brien. “He’s just got a wealth of talent and he knows a lot of very good and talented musicians.”
Between 125 and 150 people volunteer each year to staff the gates, greet people, take donations and provide information about the sand sculptures, according to Dill.
Volunteers to help set up and take down fencing for music events are always appreciated. The best way to get in touch is to email info@parksvillebeachfest.ca.
Dill expects the new STEAM study will find this year’s festival cruises past the 2015 results, especially since the multi-day Rock the Park event encourages people to spend a few nights in the area.
“There’s lots of reasons to have them stay in Parksville and not just stop for the day and continue on,” she said.
The results of the study are expected some time this fall.
Since 1999, the Parksville Beach Festival Society has donated close to $1 million to non-profit organizations and community projects, which include construction of the park gazebo, community signs and the new outdoor theatre.
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