Beginning as a small local competition in 1997, Texas SandFest has grown into an internationally recognized three-day family event. Each year, renowned sand sculptors and tens of thousands of visitors from around the world make their way to Port Aransas.
You’ll want to plan a trip and stay awhile for this flagship festival, which runs from April 17 – 19 this year. Attendees can stroll through the festival enjoying mind-blowing sand sculptures to the tunes of local live music, all while getting a taste of the coast from local food vendors.
The packed three-day schedule assures adults and kids can have their fill of judged competitions, jaw dropping sculptures and overall fun for the whole family. For the grown-ups, beer gardens open at 10a.m. daily. Explore vendors and sandy creations ranging from amateur to master all on display across the over two mile stretch of SandFest beach. The full sculpture schedule can be found online.
For the kiddos, learn from the sand-sculpting masters at “Lesson Mountain,” or explore the variety of daily activities available at the Kid’s Corner.
The Masters’ Gallery features the main event: the competition sculptures. Magnificent works of art, created over three days out of literal tons of sand, can be found within this area. Sculptors work as solos or as teams of two, most beginning to plan their sculpture weeks, even months, before the event to determine the use of forms and what tools are needed. Other sculptors let the sand speak to them and create their art from the inspiration of the moment. Regardless of the method, watching and interacting with these artists over the course of the festival as they coax beauty from a pile of sand will take your breath away.
Presale ticket sales have closed, but VIP tickets will be available at the gate upon arrival. Check the official SandFest website for the latest and make plans to attend!
