2021 Parksville Beach Festival cancelled due to C0VID-19

The pandemic has rained on Parksville Beach Festival for yet another year. At a recent board meeting, the Society’s directors made the decision to cancel Parksville Beach Festival for 2021. This cancellation includes, the Quality Foods Sand Sculpting Competition and Exhibition, Tim Hortons Summer Concert Series, Art in the Park, Quality Foods Lunch with the Castles, Canadian Tire Sculpt like the Pros and the Coast Capital Savings Light-up! Show.

Beachfest’s 2021 events were to take place mid-July to mid-August, featuring international artists sculpting sand alongside Parksville’s coveted beach in the community park. With an average of 122,000 annual event visitors over the past five years and the need for international travel, Board President Cheryl Dill said it was an obvious decision given the persistence of the pandemic. “Event planning begins well in advance and the rules around travel, gatherings and social distancing have not yet changed. The schedule for immunizations will not reach end goals until well after our event schedule for 2021”, commented Dill.

The board is saddened that this hallmark event will not contribute to social and economic growth for the area for the second year in a row; however, Dill said that board members are actively involved in final design and construction planning with the City of Parksville for the Outdoor Performance Theatre, scheduled for construction this year. “A beautiful functional performance stage in Parksville Community Park will be a wonderful asset for our region. This has been our Society’s vision for many years”, says Dill. The Beach Festival Society and the City of Parksville have been able to raise funds through grants and donations for the theatre’s construction.

Dill says the board is optimistic about returning to their regular events in 2022 and will begin planning this fall.