The Parksville Beach Festival is already known for its stunning sand sculptures and family-focused activities, but this year, things are really going to rock!
A brand new addition to the 5 1/2-week beach festival, is a three-day ticketed event, Aug. 5 to 7, that features both world-class tribute bands and performances by perennial Island favourites!
鈥淭here鈥檚 really something for everyone in ,鈥� says Lloyd Derry, Entertainment Director for the Parksville Beach Fest Society.
The tribute lineup showcases everyone from the Triple Shot of Classic Rock (Heart, Bad Company & Pat Benatar), to the Linda Ronstadt Tribute, the Joe Cocker Experience, the Fab Fourever Beatles Tribute, the Eagles Eyes Eagles Tribute and Zach Stevenso鈥檚 Buddy Holly Tribute. 鈥淗e鈥檚 performed Buddy Holly more than Buddy Holly did,鈥� Derry says.
Also on stage will be Island rock-and-rollers including Kenny and the Cruisers, The Timebenders, The Apollos, Johnny Inappropriate, Time Well-Wasted and Younger than Yesterday.
The music festival is part of the , with more than five weeks of family-friendly activities on and around Parksville鈥檚 vast sandy beach, where the Quality Foods Sand Sculpting Competition welcomes professional sculptors from all over the world crafting their designs July 14 to 17. The finished sculptures remain on exhibit through Aug. 21.
Beyond the outstanding music line-up, Rock the Park will also be the inaugural festival for the brand new . Located in Parksville Community Park, the outdoor theatre is a modern, accessible outdoor theatre, designed to accommodate a wide range of uses, from small musical groups to symphony orchestras, dance troupes, stage plays, musical theatre, cultural presentations and community celebrations.
鈥淭he outdoor theatre has been a dream of the Parksville Beach Fest Society for many years 鈥� they want it to be a legacy for Vancouver Island, and the community of Parksville,鈥� Derry says.
With its stellar setting and exceptional acoustics, 鈥渨e believe the stage will be the premiere outdoor entertainment facility on Vancouver Island,鈥� adds Derry, a life-long musician.
Plan your Rock the Park visit:
Tickets are or in-person at McMillan Arts Centre, 133 McMillan St., Parksville, Tuesday thru Sunday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Pick up your three-day pass, including VIP seating with chair for $85. General admission is $60 for a three-day pass or $30 for a single day. Students aged 13 to 18 years are $10 and children 12 and younger are free with a parent.
Aug. 5 鈥� Gates open at 1:15 p.m., with music from 2:45 to 8:15 p.m.
Aug. 6 鈥� Gates open at 10:30 a.m., with music from noon to 9:15 p.m.
Aug. 7 鈥� Gates open at 10:30 a.m., with music from noon to 7:30 p.m.
Guests will receive wristbands, letting them come and go throughout the festival, and food trucks will also be on-site