Rob MacKay of Quality Foods said Sunday morning’s turnout of families and children for the company-sponsored sand castle building contest for kids, was way more than expected.
“The forecast had been for rain, so this is great,” he said, under a sunny morning on the beach in Parksville.
Hundreds of kids and their parents dug deep in the sand on the beach of Parksville Bay, taking part in an annual event that has become synonymous with the community.
The weekend of events kicked off Saturday night with the Quality Foods Festival of Lights fireworks show.
All entries in the children’s sand castle event received goodie bags, and there were some big, colourful prizes for the winners in each age category.
Up on the grassy knoll, community groups, firefighters, clowns, comedians, cooks and service groups provided activities and entertainment for the whole family.
Families even came to town with entertainment of their own. John Buchanan and his son Nick, 11, from Squamish got out their metal detector Sunday and swept the beach. Their best find of the day? A Brazilian coin.
Nick said they found tons of pennies and some nickels, dimes and loonies.
“We can’t retire yet,” said John. “But we’re getting close.”
