Nearly 120K visitors flocked to Parksville Beach Festival this summer

Despite beginning with a troubling act of vandalism, the 2026 Parksville Beach Festival went on to welcome nearly 120,000 visitors during its five-and-a-half-week run.

Festival organizers announced that 119,480 people visited the Quality Foods Sand Sculpting Exhibition at Parksville Community Park this summer.

Visitors also cast 95,367 People’s Choice votes to select their favourite creations from this year’s international field of sand sculptors.

This year’s exhibition opened on July 13th and continued through August 16th under the theme “Beauties & Beasts.”

Taking first place in the solo category was Free Hugs by BC artist Damon Langlois.

The doubles People’s Choice award went to Finding Beauty, created by Edith van de Wetering and Wilfred Stijger of the Netherlands.

The successful conclusion followed a difficult start for organizers and artists after several sculptures were damaged by vandals⁠ shortly before the exhibition opened.

The vandalism forced sculptors to spend valuable time repairing their creations. Organizers called on the public to support the artists by visiting the exhibition and celebrating their work.

Vancouver Islanders answered that call in a big way.

The festival will also continue to make an impact after the final sculptures disappear.

Proceeds from this year’s event will support 24 local not-for-profit organizations and community initiatives. Since 1999, the Parksville Beach Festival Society has contributed more than $1.2 million to the community.

Organizers credited the festival’s artists, volunteers, staff, sponsors, community partners, residents and visitors for making this year’s event possible.

The sculptures are now being carefully dismantled, with the sand stored for use at future festivals.

While the artwork may have only lasted for the summer, its impact will continue to be felt across the Parksville community long after the final grains of sand are cleared away.

Beyond the sand sculpting exhibition, Parksville Community Park remained busy throughout the summer with performances by April Wine, the Tim Hortons Summer Concert Series, daily buskers, Sand & Sounds and Beachfest ROCKS!