Parksville is a city on Vancouver Island, in British Columbia, Canada. Dubbed by some the Jewel of Vancouver Island, it is on Highway 19A, 37 kilometres north-west of Nanaimo, 48 kilometres east of Port Alberni and 7 kilometres south-east of Qualicum Beach, between Englishman River and French Creek. As of the 2006 Census, Parksville's population was 10,993 and is the 15th largest municipality on Vancouver Island in terms of population. Parksville is best known for its large sandy beaches at Parksville Bay and Craig Bay. The City's best-known annual event, since 1982, is a sandcastle-building competition in the summer, dubbed "Parksville Beachfest". Beachfest is a World Championship Sand Sculpting official qualification event.