SeeCalifornia.com

Each and every year millions of residents and tourists dig California’s sandy beaches in an activity that never ceases to entertain kids especially. Building castles in the sand ranks among the favorite entertainment for youngsters who work tirelessly to make something out of tiny grains, then watch their creations wash away — only start over again. So fascinating and fun is sandcastle building that county fairs have hired professional sand sculptors to make large scale sandcastle structures, which are also quite popular for corporate events and conventions.

For those who want to get in on the action, there are sandcastle festivals and events taking place each year at California’s beach destinations ranging from San Clemente and San Francisco to Alameda and San Diego.

California Sandcastles

• ALAMEDA: Sand Castle and Sand Sculpture Contest June 8, 2019 at Robert Crown Memorial State Beach
• IMPERIAL BEACH: Sun & Sea Festival July 12-13. For those who have longevity among the castle crowd, you may remember Imperial Beach once held the sand sculpting event to end all. It was the biggest sandcastle contest in the nation — the US Open of Sand Castles. The loss of such a mega festival was too much to take, so they came back with some of the best elements of the event on a smaller scale now. Check out Sun & Sea Festival in July.
• SAN CLEMENTE: Ocean Festival July 20-21, include Sunday’s annual sandcastle fun.
• MANHATTAN BEACH: Surf Festival Sand Castle Design Contest August 4
• SAN DIEGO: US Sand Sculpting Challenge and 3D Art Exposition August 31-September 2 is now the biggest such event that we know of in California.
• PACIFICA: Fog Fest September 28-29 is ALL about sand events — the Bay Area’s famous FOG!
• SAN FRANCISCO: LEAP Sandcastle Contest October 26