There are several annual Sand Castle Competitions in the U.S.
- The American Institute of Architects Sandcastle Competition
- The Sun & Sea Festival
- Blue Water SandFest
- Hampton Beach Sand Sculpting Classic
From the sand mandalas of eastern Asia to the construction of miniature castles at seaside resorts, sand has always been a medium for expression and art. Today, sandy sculptures dot just about every beach and shore. What was once just a hobby for many has become an insanely competitive sport, and dozens—if not hundreds—of competitions take place every year across the globe with lavish prizes. So, whether for business or pleasure, check out some of the United States’ top sand castle events.
Competitions in the USA
The American Institute of Architects Sandcastle Competition
One of Texas’s most iconic cities, Galveston also hosts The American Institute of Architects Sandcastle Competition. With multiple themes and categories, more than 60 teams from the greater south Texas and Houston areas vie for the enviable Golden Bucket — a lustrous pail to catch any beachgoer’s eye. The competition is one of the most ruthless due to what the name suggests: architects. While the event may feature several architects and architectural firms, the event is open to the public and highlights artists, engineers, and sculptors. As their website says, submissions are judged on their “concept, artistic execution, technical difficulty, carving technique, and utilization of the site.” Competitors are given five hours to design, construct, and perfect their submissions before judgment by a panel. The competition takes place at East Beach on 1923 Boddeker Road.
The Sun & Sea Festival
Just south of San Diego, California, the Sun & Sea Festival in Imperial Beach is an annual competition for local and national sandcastle builders. The family-friendly event is, since 2013, usually held in mid-July at Pier Plaza along Seacoast Drive and includes three placement winners and one “People’s Choice” winner. The Sun & Sea Festival seems like a staple today, but it is the legacy of the U.S. Open Sandcastle Competition. Established in 1981, the U.S. Open Sandcastle Competition attracted hundreds of thousands of spectators with its spectacular sculptures, street fairs, and activities. This public and free event ran until 2011 until rebranding in 2013. One holdover from the original competition is Kidz-N-Kastles, a sand sculpture contest for kids with categories for best sculpture and best sea creature.
Hampton Beach Sand Sculpting Classic
With the Atlantic Ocean as a backdrop, the Hampton Beach Sand Sculpting Classic is the American northeast’s premier sand sculpture contest. This event occurs in mid-June at 180 Ocean Boulevard at Hampton State Beach. Unlike many other sandcastle-building events, the Hampton Beach Sand Sculpting Classic is a solo competition. Winners receive cash prizes from a total pot of $25,000, with a grand prize of $6,000. Podium placements include 1st–4th place and People’s Choice, which all receive monetary rewards. There is an additional non-monetary “Sculptor’s Choice Award” that is voted on by all competing participants. The judging panel announces the winners at the Sea Shell Stage, and the night closes with a fabulous fireworks display.
World Record Holder
But one cannot talk about sand castles without mentioning the record holder. The largest, tallest sand castle towers at an impressive 21.16 meters (69.4 feet), and no sand sculptor surpasses the current record holder: Wilfred Stijger. Offering a masterclass in sand artistry, the Dutch-born Stijger, along with his team, built the just-under 5,000-tonne sand castle in Blockhus, Denmark. The triangular shape reinforces the structure, and the sand’s makeup is one-tenth clay. To ensure that the sculpture stood firm, it was blanketed with glue afterward to maintain the shape—it stood for several months!
When looking at the piece, the castle has the usual makings—parapets, towers, landings, arrow slits, and a keep—but features a hidden story: the global coronavirus pandemic. Stijger’s palace describes a world ruled by COVID-19. At the base of the sculpture sits a guarding dragon wielding a model of the virus, where it battles attempts to keep it at bay, and basreliefs show images of life before the pandemic, such as children riding on bikes. A crowned virus rests atop it all, overseeing the new world order. While Stigjer wanted to show people just how much it consumed the world, he also wished to display human hope and the struggle to overcome. Throughout the castle, people climb toward the top in an attempt to overthrow the tyrant, and a person with a COVID-19 vaccine sits exhausted on a landing.
Although academics will debate the spelling of sandcastles, sandcastles have, and will continue to, captivate the imagination of creatives, young and old. So whether on this list or not, there are bound to be sandcastle events near you.