Sand Sculpture Contests Around the World (updated 6/24/02) Check the year! You will note that some of the contests listed here happened last year or the year before. We keep them up because most contests fall at the same time every year. We will update this list as new info becomes available. Submit Contest Info to sandyfeet If you know of an event not listed here or have updated info on the ones that are, please take the time to fill us in. 2002 CONTESTS January February March April May June July August September October November

Choose a Month... Adobe Systems Inc.

6th Annual Port Aransas Sand Sculpture Contest: April 12-14, 2002

Masters event has over $3,300 in prizes, Amateurs over $800 in prizes (Some lodging and travel money available for a limited number of masters.) Presented by the Port Aransas Community Theatre, a non-profit organization in sunny Port Aransas, Texas. Located on Mustang Island on the Gulf of Mexico, a popular tourist destination, off the coast of Corpus Christi, TX.

Event Site: http://texassandfest.com

Puerto Rico SandCastle Mania 2001. 3rd edition. Carolina Beach, Puerto Rico. May 4 - 6, 2001

Amateurs division and Masters Class Invitational.
For more information please contact us at: redcreativa@netscape.net or
787-292-1214
Or Rich Varano/ Sultans of Sand Email: info@sultansofsand.com (407) 363
S.A.N.D. [7263]
Or see the specifics updated on the events and contests web page at: www.sultansofsand.com as they are made available.

Pensacola Beach, FL - June 9, 2002

This courtesy of Mark flynn: I've confirmed that the Pensacola Beach sculpture contest will be held at 10am on 9 June at the Pavilion. The contact phone number is 850-433-6512 and the email is penbeach@gulfsouth.net. This is usually a 4 or 5 hour contest. The prizes are unpredictable until it gets closer. One year it was a tee-shirt, and the next year (2000) it was $500!? They have Regions Bank as a sponsor which does not mean anything much to me. I missed it last year, but 2000 saw 5-6 good pieces.

Galveston TX, June 2, 2000

AIA's 15th annual competition will be held on June 2, 2001 on East Beach in Galveston, Texas. For more information, please contact Analisa Smith
at 713-579-2081.
Location: East Beach, Galveston Island, Texas
Parking : Parking at East Beach is $5 per car.

see pictures from last year's event

---

AIA Sand Castle Competition in Columbus, OH - June 8-10, 2001

C-Sculptures, Corpus Christi, TX, sponsored by C-101, June 9, 2001

For more information, please contact Paula Newell at 289-0111 and visit the C101 Website.

June 1, 2002 - 38th Annual Cannon Beach Sand Castle Contest

Photos of past contests on the web - http://www.cannon-beach.net/sandcastle.html

Oldest contest in the North West. Usually a big amateur, family and kids contest. Event is sponsored by the Cannon Beach Chamber of Commerce

Alameda Sand Castle Contest, Crown Beach - June 9, 2001

Across the SF Bay from SF, Alameda has a small sand castle contest in the summer.
See: Alameda events [through City of Alameda Recreation & Parks Department, sponsor]
http://www.ci.alameda.ca.us/arpd/

"Happy Daze Are Here Again" Total purse has been increased to $8000 this year. 1st prize - $2000, 2nd - $1500, 3rd - $1000, 4th - $750, 5th - $500, Peoples Choice - $500, Show -up for nonplacing entries $250.
June 18th Group Carve (all entries required to participate ).
June 19th - 21st Solo Competition - Total 23 hours
Transportation , meal, and room conciderations for all, twelve competitors total. Looking for help with the demo starting from the 14th of June contact Greg Grady (603) - 929 - 6301 for more information.

International Competition in Denmark - June 20-30, 2001

Jesolo, Italy's International Sandsculpture Competition, (third weekend in June)

Lots of useful contest info plus photos from this year's event here.

Castelli Di Mare 2001 4th edition Jesolo (Venice) Italy. June 11 - 17, 2001.
Masters Class International Invitational. No Amateur divisions.
Large demo on site beginning June 1, 2001
For more information, contact:

Massimo Ambrosin
Segreteria del Sindaco
Via S. Antonio 14
30016 Jesolo (VE) Italy
tel. 0421.359105
fax. 0421.359134
email: massimo.ambrosin@comune.jesolo.ve.it
OR
Rich Varano/Sultans of Sand
(407) 363 S.A.N.D. [7263]
email: info@sultansofsand.com
See the specifics updated on the as they are made available.

June 28, 29, and 30 with the sand sculpting event on Saturday the 29th.

Team events only - no individual events. Entry fee for Masters is $25 per team member.

Prize money: 1st - $1000, 2nd $500, and 3rd $250

We will be providing motel rooms for the teams, so we would appreciate quick responses.

More information and an online entry form available at : http://www.actcommittee.org

Ventura Sandblast 2002 - Ventura, California June 30, 2002

Pierpont Beach, at the foot of Seaward Ave. Exit the 101 fwy at Seaward Ave. in Ventura, head west toward the beach (one block) and there we are. Sand sculpture Competition and Street Fair
Prize Money in Amateur Divisions (this event hopes to add a masters division in the future.)

There will be street vendors, bands, food, a beer garden and a kids zone. This is an event for the whole family. www.ventura-sandblast.com
e-mail: sandman@ventura-sandblast.com

Castles:
Registration: begins at 8:30am
Registration Fee required: Teams of 5 or less: $5.00 -- Teams of 6 or more: $10.00
Event: begins at 9:00am
Judging: begins at 12:00 noon

Kite Flying:
No registration fee required
9:00 am to 12:00 pm

Concert:
Begins: 7:00 pm at the Campground Amphitheater
No charge

Contact:
Kris Illenberger
(719) 378-2312, ext. 227
fotd@greatsanddunes.org

July 9-11. 1999 - Portland Sand in the City

Not your typical beach contest. Contest is held in downtown Pioneer Courthouse Square, with 270 tons of sand trucked in. The contest is a Company Challenge Contest, teams are made up of local company employees. Each teams pays a hefty entry fee, which goes to a local non-profit (Kids on the Block). Each team receives instruction in sand sculpture technique, and they make VERY impressive sand sculptures. Master sculptors create a large display sculpture for the event sponsors. Kids play area and music. Good sculptures and entertainment for the family.

*For the Sculptors -Contest is not open to the general public. -Entry fee is high. -Teams are treated great, food, access, parking, shuttle busses, T-shirts, lunch, water bottles, coaching, etc. -No cash prizes, but other awards, including FREE hotel rooms to go to the Ocean Shores Contest. - Lot of talent at this contest, look to see teams from Portland going (and winning) other contests.

Info: SandSculpt@transport.com

Norwegian Sand Sculpture Festival

is planned to take place in Mandal, South of Norway in August 2000 most exactly from the 1st to the 15th of August. This festival is the first in Norway.

E-mail: Patricia Helleren, event coordinator

---

9th Annual East Hampton Sandcastle Contest, Amagansett Bay, NY, Aug. 3, 2002

14th Annual Îles-de-la-Madeleine, Québec - August 11-12, 2001

Lots of categories and generous cash prizes at the amateur and serious amateur levels. Fomr more info, visit the contest homepage or e-mail chateaux@ilesdelamadeleine.com

Cervia , Italy - Aug. 12-15, 2002

This is the most important competition for teams in Italy....30 Master sculptors from all the World. For information about "I Campioni del Mondo di Castelli di Sabbia in Italia" visit http://www.worldofsand.net/ or e-mail Leonardo Ugolini at leosand@libero.it

Photos from 2001 here

Expo Cite Quebec, August 16-22, 2002

Master solo Date 16-17-18 ( 22 Hrs )
New 2 men team 20-21-22- ( 22 hrs each )

Big prize money , meals and accommodations and partial réimbursement of transportation costs .
100.00$ fees solo, $150 team (Canadian dollars.)
For more information contact Michel Lepire at Tél: 418-849-3535 or Alain Dubé at Expo Cité
Fax: ( 418 ) 691-7249
Tél: ( 418 ) 691-7793
Or email sculpturemichellepire@qc.aibn.com
Adresse 250 Boul: Wilfred Hamel (Québec ) G1L-5A7

See photos from the 2000 event: solo and team
See photos from the 2001 team event here

Point Reyes National Seashore - September [Sept. 2, 2001 - annual]
See: http://www.nps.gov/pore/events/sand.htm

There is a terrific sand sculpture contest every year on Labor Day weekend (Sunday) at Pt. Reyes / Drakes Beach in Northern California.

The park rangers serve as judges of the event (free for participants and spectators), and take photos of all the sculptures. The photos are kept year-round in a book at the visitors' center. There is also a food concession near the visitors center, and sometimes a barbeque set up with oysters.

Küssnacht am Rigi, Switzerland - Sept. 2, 2000

The contest takes place on Sept 2nd and if rained-out will be rescheduled to the 9th.

"As far as I know, this is the first ever kids contest in Switzerland. Our beach has great sand and we expect a good turn-out. We have great prizes and major events all day. At the beach in Küssnacht Am Rigi !"

Harrison Hot Springs, World Championship, Sept. 3-Oct. 14, 2002

The resort village of Harrison Hot Springs, British Columbia, Canada welcomes the best Master sand sculptors in the world for the eleventh year.  Master Teams and Solos compete for $25,000 in prize money plus travel, meal and accommodation assistance. Master Sculptors and Contest Organizers contact Bob Bell at info@harrisand.org Truly the greatest show in sand. Teams and soloists from around the world (India, Ireland, England, Russia, Japan, USA, Canada, etc.). Many of the sculptors are professionals and this is the only contest they do. Teams get 100 hours over a period of days to complete their sculptures (2 man teams start on Tue, 10 man teams on Sat). Solos get 22 hours over 3 days to complete their sculptures. All sculptures are finished and judges on Sun, 9/10 at 3pm. Sculptures remain on display until Oct. 9th.

*For the Sculptors

-Masters only contest, need to apply to enter. -Very reasonable entry fees. -Help with hotel and travel expenses. -Hosted meals on days your sculpting. -Easy access to your plot, and tools if you flew in. -Water troughs next to your plot. -Prizes for 1st, 2nd & 3rd, solo and team, as well a other categories. -Great chance to meet and learn from the best.

See photos/results of the 2001 doubles contest here

Seal Beach, California, 9/9/00

What: Sand Castle Competition at Sand Castle Festival 2000
Where: Seal Beach, California
When: 9 September 2000
Who: Seal Beach Chamber of Commerce
Tel: (562) 799-0179
Email: sealbeach@sealbeachchamber.com
There will be 35 teams competing. Last years' event was a huge success, this year it will be even better. Last year featured 25 teams competing along with a demonstration sculpture. This year the proceeds will benefit the "Save Our Seals" campaign which is part of an International event with local emphasis to clean our beaches & ocean and preserve our coast.

Pacific Beach, WA , September 14th, 2001 360-276-4525

Nice small contest with good sand. Mostly a Kids and Family contest, with local teams. Some Masters have entered in the past. Can,t beat the natural beauty.

*For the Sculptors

-Contest is held on a beach where a small creek meets the ocean. Sand is fine with a high silt content. -Water access is the creek right there. Tide does affect water level, but it,s never that far away. -Small entry fees. Small cash prizes. -Access to your plot is somewhat strained. Must either carry through the state park, or have 4WD and take a long detour to drive on the beach. -Parking is not far, but not close, and can be crowded.Contact Persons:  Tom and Pam Rassmussen, owners of The Sand Dollar Inn, P.O. Box 206, Pacific Beach, WA  98571, or e-mail sandlrin@techline.com or visit the website at http://www.pacificbeachwa.com/events/castle/sand_rules.html

Seaside Sand Sculpture Spectatular, Sept. 23-24, 2000

Seaside Oregon has decided to have a sand sculpture contest. Seaside is a resort town directly west of Portland OR. The contest will include a 2-day Solo Masters contest.

Solo Masters Contest
Below is information on this years event. This years event will be limited to 5 soloists. We do need to get a solid handle on who will be coming so we can get your rooms reserved.

Hospitality
All Sculptors get a hotel bed (Shared room with another sculptor) for Fri., Sat. & Sun. nights. (If you want a private room you get half off.)
Lunches on Sat & Sun, Dinners Fri & Sat.
There may be more meals, T-shirts, etc., weíre still working on it.

Prizes
1st - $750
2nd -$500
3rd - $400
4th - $300
5th - $300

More Info: e-mail sandsculpt@transport.com

Neptune Festival , Virginia Beach VA, Sept.?

See sandy feet's report from the site of 1999's contest HERE!

Sand Castle Days , at South Padre Island , TX - October 17-19, 2002

SPI has expanded the master's contest to three days and is now offering one of the biggest solo prize purses in the world - $2000 first place!

Click Here for contest web-site

Ft Meyers Beach FL, Oct.31- Nov. 3, 2001

Watch the Chamber web-site for more info.