Parksville council increased its yearly funding to the Parksville Beach Festival from $5,000 to $7,500, and approved 'in principle' an expansion and relocation of the festival to elsewhere in the community park.
The expansion comes with an estimated cost of $150,000, with an assumed contribution of $50,000 from the Parksville Beach Festival Society, according to director of finance Jedha Holmes.
The rest could be covered by suggested funding sources of the Canada Community Building Fund (formerly known as the Gas Tax) or the Growing Communities Fund, Holmes added.
The move is part of the long-term vision for the community park and would allow BeachFest to expand "significantly", according to chief administrative officer Keeva Kehler.
“In the area they are now, there is no ability for expansion,” Kehler added.
Parksville Beach Festival Society president Cheryl Dill made a presentation to council last year, and at the time said adding more competitors and improved accessibility were reasons for the request.
“In order to have that international competition they have to have more competitors," Kehler said during council's Nov. 18 meeting. "And there is just a physical constraint in that space.”
Another benefit of relocating to the other side of the park is the possibility of designated parking, she added, as well as no longer having the Gathering Place blocked for the festival's duration.
“The Gathering Place isn’t being used to its full potential, I would suggest," Kehler said.
Once Beachfest relocates, its former site could be used for events such as youth volleyball, she added.
Council voted to increase the funding and also to approve the expansion and location in principle.
Parksville Beach Festival will kick off for another year in July 2025.
