Parksville Beach Festival Society Shares Record-Breaking $89,270 with Community Volunteer Groups
Annual donations recognize the hundreds of volunteers who help make one of Vancouver Island’s signature summer events possible
PARKSVILLE, BC – October 9, 2026 – The Parksville Beach Festival Society is celebrating more than another successful summer of events. It’s celebrating the generosity, dedication and community spirit of the volunteers who help make it all happen.
Just ahead of the Thanksgiving weekend, the Society’s Board of Directors gathered at City Hall to present donation cheques totalling a record-breaking $89,270.00 to the organizations whose volunteers served as Gate Ambassadors at the 2026 Quality Foods Sand Sculpting Competition and Exhibition.
For these local organizations, the donations provide valuable support for their own programs and community initiatives. For the Society, they represent something equally important: an opportunity to share the success of the festival with the community that helps bring it to life.
“One of the most rewarding parts of the festival is sharing its success with the community. We’re proud to support these organizations and deeply grateful to the volunteers whose time and dedication help make our festival a success and our community a better place to live, work and visit,” said Cheryl Dill, President of the Parksville Beach Festival Society.
Gate Ambassadors play an essential role in creating a welcoming experience for visitors. They greet guests, count attendance, answer questions and gather feedback, helping ensure the exhibition runs smoothly while providing a friendly first point of contact for the thousands of people who visit each summer.
The 2026 exhibition welcomed more than 119,480 visitors, who came to admire 23 remarkable sand sculptures created by Canadian and international artists. Behind the scenes, volunteers contributed nearly 3,200 hours of their time to help make the event a success.
The following organizations and community partners volunteered at the 2026 exhibition:
- Arrowsmith Care Home Society
- CatSpan Ferals Registered Society
- Christ’s Church Oceanside
- Deep Bay Fire/Rescue Society
- Flowerstone Health Society
- Forward House Community Society
- Fraternal Order of Eagles
- Knights of Columbus
- Knox United Church Parksville
- Mid Vancouver Island Habitat Enhancement Society
- Oceanside Community Arts Council
- Oceanside Community Safety Volunteers
- Oceanside Hospice Society
- Oceanside Stroke Recovery Society
- Parksville Curling Club
- Parksville Lions Club
- Parksville Museum & Historical Society
- Parksville Quilt House Quilters’ Guild
- Parksville-Qualicum Adult Literacy Society
- PQB Fruit Tree Project
- Qualicum & District Curling Club
- Rotary Club of Qualicum Beach
- Royal Canadian Legion Ladies Auxiliary
- HUB International
The Parksville Beach Festival Society’s mandate is to create fun, family-friendly events that enhance the summer experience along Parksville’s waterfront while contributing to community development. Sharing the proceeds of the sand sculpting exhibition with local organizations is an important part of that commitment.
The Society allocates 25% of gate donations to local non-profit organizations and community projects. It also reinvests in Parksville’s Community Park, supporting improvements that benefit residents and visitors alike. Past contributions have helped fund the Parksville Outdoor Theatre, community signage and a park gazebo.
Since 1999, the Parksville Beach Festival Society has donated more than $1.2 million to non-profit organizations and community initiatives. The Society also sets aside funds each year to help sustain its events and ensure the festival can continue bringing people together for summers to come.
As the Society looks ahead to future festivals, it remains grateful to the volunteers, community organizations, sponsors and supporters whose contributions make these events possible. Together, they help create not just memorable summer experiences, but lasting benefits for the Oceanside community.
About the Parksville Beach Festival Society
The Parksville Beach Festival Society is a community-focused, not-for-profit organization dedicated to presenting family-friendly summer events, including the annual sand sculpting competition and exhibition and free summer concerts. Through its events and community contributions, the Society works to enhance Parksville’s waterfront experience and support the community it calls home.
Media Contact:
Cheryl Dill, President, Parksville Beach Festival Society [email protected] 250.954.8262
Put your business in the spotlight and reach over 100,000 potential customers. There are many ways to participate! If you don’t find the right fit for your business and budget, we would be happy to customize a benefit package to suit your needs. Contact us at [email protected].
Master sculptors from all around the world apply to participate in Parksville’s annual competition each year.