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We were visiting Vancouver Island in July and discovered this competition going on just a couple of hours north of where we were. I have always been intrigued by sand sculptures so we made a day trip of it and were not disappointed!. I highly recommend this event if you are looking for a perfect summer day complete with adventure, sun, sand and music in the park!
Wild Things: From Here to the Galapagos…
This was the theme of the 2018 Sand sculpture competition in Parksville on Vancouver Island.I was in awe of how each sculptor was inspired by the theme along with the creativity and details of their entry.
In case you were wondering….(I was curious to know more, so I looked it up) The Galápagos Islands, part of the Republic of Ecuador, a group of 19 Islands is a World Heritage Site situated in the Pacific Ocean approx 1,000 km from the Ecuadorian coast.
It’s immense marine reserve is known as the ‘unique living museum and showcase of evolution’. Its geographic location is at the meeting point of three ocean currents which makes it one of the richest marine ecosystems in the world.
Who knew looking at mounds of sand could be so intriguing!
As we wandered through the beautiful works of art our grandchildren had their favorites and some very good questions…they wanted to know ‘How do they get the sand so high? Why are there wires sticking out the top of them? Is it special sand?
How long will they last?” All good questions, and ones I didn’t know the answers to, so while they played at the sand tables with their mom, I went off in search of some answers.
How long will they last?”
It turns out regular beach sand contains pebbles and bits of seashells causing it to be unstable and may cause it to crumble before the judging or the event is over, so special sand is brought in for sculpting. This years clean silty sand was purchased from a contracting company in Campbell River.
Each competitor receives a 12’x15’ plot with 10 yards of sand and the doubles teams get a 20’x20’ plot with 15 yards of sand. All the sand must be used and nothing can be taken away once the creation is complete.
If you look closely, you’ll see a monkey on the lion’s head, the second picture is the back of the sculpture and the monkey’s tail on the front becomes the girls pony tail on the back of the sculpture.
The sculptors build wooden or plastic forms, pack the sand in them to remove as much air as possible. This makes them more durable, then they stack the forms to get the right height.
Siix hours is the time allotted to complete this part of the competition called the ‘pound up’. Then they start carving from the top and work their way down which they must do within 24 hours over 4 days.
When the sculptures are complete, they are sprayed with a mixture of water and wood glue (environmentally-friendly of course) to prevent damage from the sun, wind and rain – luckily there has been no rain so far….
The sand sculptures can last for months depending on their design and how well they were compacted. The wires sticking out the top deter the birds who may decide they look like a good place to perch.
This year 15 solo and 7 doubles teams were selected from applicants wanting to participate. Participants came from BC and other provinces of Canada, the US, Brussels, the Netherlands and Russia to compete for a share in the $47,700 in prize money.
Last year over 130,000 spectators enjoyed the sand sculptures and probably some of the other amenities this 39 acre community parkhas to offer.
Besides a spectacular beach, some of the warmest waters on the Pacific Coast north of California, a 445 meter waterfront boardwalk, a new splash park and one of the largest playgrounds I’ve ever seen! There is always something going on at the Parksville Beach Festival
With everything from parking, live music, lots of ever changing activities, being free and only a suggested donation of $3 for admission to view the sandcastles, this is a fun affordable way to spend a time with family or friends.
Where there is sand or beaches, there is likely to be a sand sculpting event nearby…just Google sand sculpting events to see just how many there are to choose from! Most events are combined with other festivities, making them a fun filled day or weekend destination with something for everyone!
Here are some good resources
Parksville Beach Festival
https://www.parksvillebeachfest.ca
The 10 Coolest Sand Castle Competitions in the World
https://www.escapehere.com/inspiration/the-10-coolest-sandcastle-competitions-in-the-world/10/
