There is always something magical when you’re young, for one thing no bills so that money stays in the piggy bank! Just getting up and going to school and all that homework, ah life was so glorious back then when a juice box and a Saturday morning cartoon could solve almost everything, but chores!
Then Summer came about, and the real fun could begin, no school no homework, it was beach season. Oh, the smell of the Ocean and its vast mysteries for me to explore with my snorkel and being 10 feet from shore where I’m definitely going to find that undiscovered sea creature and be famous. Or that crisp freshness from a beautiful green mountain feed lake that gives off that inviting cool blue hue, or the raging river enticing bears to look for a meal. Being near the water was a magical time. But if you were lucky at the beach you got to witness a gravity defying spectacle that made your child imagination run wild! The glorious Sandcastle!
This summer you’re in for a treat! The world-renowned Quality Foods Sand Sculpting Competition, opening weekend is July 11-13 with the sculpture exhibition open until August 17. The Parksville Community Park is located alongside Parksville’s glorious beach and is hosted by Parksville Beach Festival.
This ever-popular event dates to 1982 where a total of 100 excited people attended the first event and for the past 40 years continues to captivate visitors from all around the world attracting over 100,000 people annually. This event has grown into a world class Master Sculptor competition. The event features a 30-hour competition between twenty-nine international master sculptors.
Public entry to the Competition begins at 2pm Friday, July 11. Sculpting is complete by 2:45pm on Sunday, July 13, at which time the judging begins. Awards and cash prizes will be presented to the top 5 soloists and top 3 doubles, in addition to people’s choice prizes and peer-selected awards at approx. 5:30pm.
You can view the sculptures from July 14-August 17 from 9:30am-8:30pm daily. Admission is by suggested donation of $5 per person.
Since 1999, the Parksville Beach Festival Society allocates 25% of the gate proceeds annually to community development initiatives and has donated over $1 Million from the gate proceeds to non-profit organizations, community projects, and philanthropic groups who serve as volunteer gate ambassadors. Over 150 volunteers’ welcome visitors through the gate at the sand sculpting site each year, contributing 3000 person hours to the Parksville Beach Festival.
Make you way this summer to the event and be inspired to create your own sandy creation the next time you are at the beach!
Brian Smith
bsmith288@my.bcit.ca