One of the Long Beach Sea Festival's longest running and festive events takes place on Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 10-11, with the 81st Annual Sand Sculpture Contest.
This year's them of "Sculpting Literacy In Your Community" will draw thousands to Granada Beach. The free event also features arts and crafts, live music and charity fundraising.
New to this year’s contest, Rotaract welcomes seven top professional sculptors from around the nation. On August 10th, Professional sculptors will go head-to-head, sculpting artwork depicting this year’s theme of “Literacy in your Community.” Prize money is put up by the Sea Festival and the Port of Long Beach.
On Sunday, August 11th, the community competition takes place. It's sponsored by iconic drink-brand Koolaid. Winning teams are awarded prizes sponsored by local business owners. .
Proceeds from the Great Sand Sculpture Contest benefit the Long Beach Library Foundation, a non-profit charitable organization raising donations to support the programs, collections, services and programs of Long Beach Public Library.
Rotaract Long Beach, which is organizing the event, is asking all event participants and attendees to contribute either a monetary donation or one used or new book to support the LBPLF.
The Great Sand Sculpture Contest is a Long Beach tradition and one of the city’s most popular summer events. Last year, more than 10,000 people attended the contest, which raised has more than $4,000 in prior years for Miller Children’s Hospital of Long Beach and LINC Housing.