Billions of grains of sand make up our California Beaches. Nearly every day of the year on some beach in California people are making sandcastles. Nature's perfect sculpting material requires a few simple tools -- even your hands will do! A bit of water to moisten the sand and a creative mind can make the time pass, spark the imagination into new ideas, theories and possibilities, and create a concrete object that you and others can look at and enjoy. Limited only by your mind, California beaches provide a playground for humans as the participate in sandcastle building.
 
Sandcastle - Sand Castle Festivals 2012 

---

ALAMEDA Sand Castle and Sand Sculpture Contest June 9, 2012, 9 a.m.

Robert Crown Memorial State Beach
Westline and Otis Drive
Alameda, CA
cityofalamedaca.gov/Recreation/Sand-Castle

46th Annual Sand Castle and Sand Sculpture Contest Saturday, June 9, 2012, 9 a.m.  Co-sponsored by the Alameda Recreation and Park Department, East Bay Regional Park District, Bayview Women's Club and Alameda Youth Committee. Registration is from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. that morning at Robert Crown Beach. Viewing and judging of the masterpieces begin at 12 noon. Awards presented at 1 p.m. Categories for Sand Castle and Sand Sculpture include:
Ages 12 and Under
Ages 13 and Over
Family

BALBOA ISLAND Sand Castle Contest August 4, 2012

Ruby Beach
North Bay Front
Balboa Island, CA
balboa-island.org

Time: 9 - 10 a.m. Cost: Free.  Held at Ruby Beach on Balboa Island, Newport Beach, this event is small (as are its beaches) but mighty in fun. Kids are constantly building sandcastles on Balboa Island beaches so this special event offers an opportunity to let them compete. Bringing the Island community together, this event invites spectators and participants to enjoy a festive morning.

CARLSBAD Beach Fest Sand Sculpture June 9, 2012

Carlsbad Beach Fest
Tamarack Beach
carlsbadbeachfest.com

NOTE: This is not a sandcastle contest! Art Seaside: U.S. Open Champion Archisand continues to be the event’s featured artisan group, returning to create another gigantic sand sculpture to reflect the day’s theme. Other artists, from painters to authors, will display and demonstrate their works in support of the mission.
 

CARMEL  52nd Annual Sandcastle  Sunday,  September 9, 2012
 
Carmel Beach
Scenic, south of 10th
Carmel-by-the-Sea, California
(831) 620-2020
ci.carmel.ca.us.com

Annual Sandcastle contest held on Carmel Beach, Scenic south of 10th. Building starts at 8 a.m. Judging from 12 Noon to 2 p.m. Monterey Bay Chapter of the AIA is also involved,  aiamontereybay.org

CORONA DEL MAR Sandcastle Contest  51st annual October 7, 2012

Sandcastle Contest  involves sandcastle building taken to a new level at the annual Corona del Mar Sandcastle Contest, where "seashore sculptors" have turned grains of wet sand into elaborate works of art for over 50 years. Thousands of sightseers descend on Corona del Mar State Beach to watch participants - ranging from novice to expert - construct more than 30 entries. View these creations for free as a spectator, or consider making your own for a minimal entrance fee.  Join thousands of spectators as the Commodores Club of the Newport Beach Chamber of Commerce hosts its annual Sandcastle Contest on the beach. Participants' skill levels range in a wide variety--from children to professional architects. Talented groups will compete for the winning title.  Register online...fees are as little as $30 for the team, and winning teams will receive prizes. 45 teams of 8 individuals is the maximum allowed to compete.

HUNTINGTON BEACH Sand Sculpture Contest September 15-16, 2012
Family Activities, Sporting Challenges and Competitive Events that include a Sand Sculpture Contest. hbdowntown.com


LONG BEACH  Great Sand Sculpture Contest August 11 -12, 2012

Granada Beach
1 Granada Ave.,
Long Beach, CA 
lbsandcastle.com

80th Great Sand Sculpture Contest on Saturday, August 11th and Sunday, August 12th! You can build your own sculp­ture or just see the ones built by pro­fes­sion­als as well as cor­po­rate and com­mu­nity teams. There will be arts and crafts ven­dors, live music, and food on both days!

PACIFICA Fog Fest Sand Sculpture Contest September 29-30, 2012

Palmetto at Highway 1
Pacifica, CA
(650) 355-8200
samuelcasillas@hotmail.com
pacificcoastfogfest.com

Annual Sand Castle and Sand Sculpture Contest is a chance for your business, family, group or organization to use your creativity, have fun, enjoy the sun and build the sand castle of your dreams during the Pacific Coast Fog Fest. No experience is necessary and amateur teams are welcome. Family and friend teams, community organizations and school groups can enter the contest for a $25 donation. Business entries and sponsorships are $250 to $500 which will go to cover event expenses.  The number of Entries will be restricted. Entries will be considered on a first come basis once your entry form has been received and if you are a business once your fee is received. The contest starts at 11 am on Saturday and the structures must be finished by 5 p.m. that day. Winners are announced Sunday at 12pm Noon. The public can view the entries as they are being built and until the Fog Fest ends at 6 p.m. on Sunday when children are encouraged to take down the castles!


POINT REYES Sand Sculpture Contest at Drakes Beach September 2, 2012

Drakes Beach
Ken Patrick Visitor Center
Point Reyes National Seashore, CA
(415) 464-5140
nps.gov
 
31st Annual Sand Sculpture Contest at Drakes Beach on the Sunday of Labor Day Weekend goes from 9 a.m. to  3:30 p.m.  This  family event invites the public to bring a picnic and spend the day!  Prizes awarded in each of several age and group categories. Free to participants and spectators.  Registration begins at 9  a.m. at the Ken Patrick Visitor Center. Judging begins at 12 Noon.  Prizes awarded at 3:30 p.m. All ages at this free community event located at Drakes Beach. Categories include: Children (14 and under), Families, Adult Individuals, and Adult Groups. Three prizes will be awarded in each of those categories, along with prizes for the sculpture with the most recycled plastic included.  Prizes donated by the Point Reyes National Seashore Association. Dogs are NOT allowed on this designated swimming beach, and there is NO lifeguard on duty.

REDONDO BEACH Surf Festival Sandcastle Contest

International Surf Festival is held at multi-sites along the coast of the three Beach Cities the weekend of July 31- August 5, 2012. Activities will include the L.A. County Lifeguard Championship, the International Bodysurfing Championship, a beach run, a volleyball tournament, a sandcastle building contest, the Fishing Derby and more. Contact the Redondo Beach, Hermosa Beach and Manhattan Beach Chambers of Commerce. surffestival.org

SAN CLEMENTE Ocean Festival Sand Sculpting Contest July 22, 2012 (festival held July 21-22, 2012)

San Clemente Pier
Avenida del Mar
San Clemente, CA
oceanfestival.org

Teams of up to 10 people each (20 spaces available) can compete in the following categories: Castles and Things, Creatures, Family or Open on Sunday. Grab your friends, family, co-workers & club members and come to the beach on Sunday. 

SAN FRANCISCO Ocean Beach LEAP Sandcastle Contest October 2, 2012

Ocean Beach
San Francisco, CA
(415) 512-1899 or
julie@leaparts.org
leaparts.org

LEAP 29th Annual Sandcastle Contest  2012 Leap Year (things that jump)  Saturday, October 20, 2012, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Teams of architects, engineers, contractors, designers, corporations and local elementary school students work together to build giant sand sculptures. The funds raised by teams and sponsors make it possible for Leap to continue to provide arts programs to Bay Area schoolchildren. Thousands of people attend Leap’s annual Sandcastle Contest, which is free to the community. Celebrity judges evaluate the works of art.  More than 20 schools and 300 sponsors and advertisers participate. LEAP was created  in response to severe budget cuts in arts programs in California schools. Programs place professional teaching artists in classrooms to work with grades K-8. Every year, these educational programs--in music, dance, theatre, creative writing, visual arts, and architecture serve thousands of students in   elementary and middle schools throughout the Bay Area.
 
SAN PEDRO Family Sandcastle Building Day July 14, 2012

3720 Stephen M. White Drive
San Pedro, CA
(310) 548-7562
cabrillomarineaquarium.org

Family Sandcastle Building Day Saturday, July 14, 2012 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.  Pile some sand, add some water, do a little shaping and presto! Your very own sandcastle. Bring your little shovel, a bucket and come on down for some sand fun. This is a free event open to everyone.  Just bring a bucket, a shovel and your imagination. Water is provide.

---

There is never a bad time for a Sandcastle Contest in California -- except after a rain, and since rain is not common along the south coast, you'll find the premier sandcastle competition hosted in Imperial Beach, San Diego County. This U.S. Open of Sandcastles in July attracts over 300,000 people annually.

NEWS: The Biggest Sandcastle Contest in U.S. calls it quits! In 2011 the U.S. Open of Sandcastles competition in Imperial Beach disbanded. Formed in 1980 as an all volunteer organization, it leaves a void in the sandcastle scene.1

The U.S. Open draws tourists and professional sandcastle builders from around the nation to create fabulous sculptures made out of nothing but sand. While this big event includes concerts, games, food vendors, crafts and booths and fun entertainment throughout, this is not the only sandcastle event in California.

City	Contest	web / contact
Imperial Beach	Sand Castle US Open	usopensandcastle.com
Alameda	Sand Castle Contest	cityofalameda.gov

Many sandcastle festivals we remember that have come and gone included a huge event in Seal Beach. During its operations, it was garnered national press and included massive sculptures made by pros. That event disbanded around 2004.  Seal Beach was ideal as Sandcastle headquarters when a professional sand sculptor declared the sand in Seal Beach was the best in the nation for created sculptures.

Contests do come and go, so there are no real guarantees that any of the events listed with continue through time but as of this writing, Corona del Mar, San Clemente, Carmel by the Sea and Bodega Bay all have sandcastle contests.

 Sandcastle building is a great activity for kids on vacation. Most beaches with concessions sell sandcastle building toys made out of brightly colored molded plastic. The kits usually include a small shovel and rake, and several molded shapes that look like castles. Other tools that builders use include a bucket of water, straws and fine carving knives. 

Sandcastle Tips

 Build a sandcastle near the water, but not too close. The waves will destroy your castle as the tides rise.

Dig a hole to the water where you'll find the sand is dark and moist.

Scoop wet sand onto the center of the area where you're building your castle. Work fast so the sand stays wet.

Build towers by forming and stacking sand patties about the size and shape of thick pancakes.

Place larger patties on the bottom, and gently shake the patties from side to side as you pile them so that the sand settles.

Seal your towers by gently pouring water over them or spraying with a spray bottle filled with water.  Wet sand is easiest to work with.

 

City Event -Alameda Sand Castle & Sculpture Contest - June ci.alameda.ca.us  Carmel Great Sandcastle Contest - September carmelcalifornia.com Corona del Mar Annual Sand Castle Contest - October newportbeach.com Long Beach Great Sand Sculpture Contest - August alfredosbeachclub.com Redondo Beach Sand Sculpting Contest - June rbmarina.com San Clemente Sand Sculpture Contest oceanfestival.org San Francisco Sandcastle Classic / Ocean Beach - October leap4kids.org Santa Barbara Santa Barbara Sand Castle Festival - Sept. sbsandcastlefestival.com