“The show goes on rain or shine,” says Parksville Beach Festival Society president Cheryl Dill.
“The sand sculptors are used to getting wet and muddy,” she said of weather worries for the big summer event starting this weekend, and said in some ways — the sculptors at least — would almost prefer rain over working in the blazing hot sun.
Though Dill said they also want to get as many spectators out enjoying the beach and event as possible, which rain would obviously hurt.
For the pound-up on Friday the sculptors mix the sand with lots of water and rain can actually help that process.
On Saturday and Sunday for the sculpting they’d prefer it wasn’t raining, but she said a bit of rain wouldn’t hurt.
If it’s raining Saturday night, when the sculptures are half finished they may have to put tarps over them since they will be vulnerable, but once the carving is complete they spray them with three layers of glue which make them almost as strong as concrete and able to withstand a month of weather throughout the viewing period.
No glue can be used until after the judging is done Sunday afternoon.
“The event will not be impacted in terms of the sculpting,” she said and just encouraged spectators to dress for the weather, “bring umbrellas and rain coats and come on down and enjoy some world class sand sculpting.”
“We certainly hope the weather’s not terrible,” she said, adding that people could keep their fingers crossed for them.
The 2011 Quality Foods Canadian Open Sand Sculpting Competition and Exhibition takes place this weekend in Parksville’s Community Park and the gated exhibition remains open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily until August 14.
Most activities are free but they ask for a suggested donation of $2.50 per person to help keep the event running.