American Sand Sculpting Championship returns to Fort Myers Beach Thursday – FORT MYERS

The colossal sand sculptures are returning to the beach this week with their creative masters for what is expected to be one of the great renditions of the American Sand Sculpting Championship.

The 35th American Sand Sculpting Championship, one of the most eye-catching annual events on Fort Myers Beach, returns Thursday to the DiamondHead Beach Resort. This year’s event will run through Monday featuring 27 artists, including 21 who will be competing.

This week’s event will feature the nation’s top master and advanced amateur sand sculptors as well as other sculptors from 10 countries.

“They do this all over the world and we are so blessed to have them here,” Fort Myers Beach Chamber of Commerce President and co-organizer Jacki Liszak said.

The American Sand Sculpting Championship moved to the DiamondHead Beach Resort last year after going on hiatus from Fort Myers Beach for two years due to Hurricane Ian and the loss of the Wyndham Garden Hotel.

Last year’s event was a huge success, “surpassing attendance expectations,” DiamondHead Beach Resort General Manager Neil Hopgood said.

“We have doubled the space this year to allow for more sculptors and vendors on site, and doubled the size of our demonstration, presentation and entertainment tent,” Hopgood said.

The expanded space for the event this year was achieved through combining the beach area behind the DiamondHead Beach Resort with the beach on the property of the neighboring Estero Island Beach Club.

The sculpting championship begins on Thursday and will run from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday’s admission is free through the sponsorship of Gavin’s Ace Hardware, Liszak said. Thursday’s event is the first day of the sculpting contest, when the sculptures are just beginning to be built. Afterwards, the DiamondHead Beach Resort will be hosting free live music at Cabanas on the ground floor through 10 p.m.

Admission on Friday through Monday will be $5 per person. Groups of six can purchase tickets for $25.

The event will get an early start on Friday at 9 a.m. and then follows the sculpting competition schedule of 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday with the live entertainment following until 10 p.m.

On Sunday, the competition begins at 10 a.m., with a demonstration and hands-on lessons at 1 p.m. The awards will be given out for the master sculpting championship at 4:30 p.m. Music from the band High Voltage will follow at Cabanas at the DiamondHead Beach Resort through 10 p.m.

In a new twist, there will be an extra day to enjoy the sculptures the following day on Monday. There will be “People’s Choice” voting all day. There will be live music from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. before the event closes at 5 p.m.

Another new feature for this year’s sculpting championship is that the sculptures will be lit up at night for viewing from the DiamondHead Beach Resort’s Coste Island Cuisine restaurant.

“The return of this beloved signature event to Fort Myers Beach is a testament to the resilience and perseverance of this small island community,” Liszak said. “The Fort Myers Beach community is ready to welcome back its most devoted fans.”

Liszak said the American Sand Sculpting Championship is an opportunity for the public “to witness breathtaking sand sculptures and experience the vibrant atmosphere that defines Fort Myers Beach. With limited hotel rooms and vacation rentals available, early reservations are highly recommended.” Liszak said those visiting the island should make sure to check out the “stay and play” deals at local resorts. 

The chamber is partnering with nonprofits to run nearby parking lots. The nonprofits will keep the revenue from the parking as “another way to spread the love of the event across the island,” Liszak said.

Seminole Casino will be running shuttles from downtown parking lots to the DiamondHead Beach Resort at 2000 Estero Boulevard.

“You don’t have to drive your car right up to the event area,” Liszak said.

LeeTran’s tram will be running a shuttle from Bowditch Point Regional Park to the Fort Myers Beach Library.

LeeTran’s trolley will also be running stops along Fort Myers Beach. Visitors looking to pick up the trolley off island can either pick up the trolley at the Pine Ridge Road station or at the Main Street and San Carlos Boulevard stop.

There will be approximately 70 vendors at the event, with jewelry, clothing and tables from nonprofit groups.

For children, there will be sand piles and demonstrations, as well as painters on site.

“This is a community event,” Liszak said. “We’re hoping for some Chamber of Commerce weather. It looks pretty good.”

Liszak said the event could still use some volunteers for Sunday and Monday to handle tickets, wristbands and other duties. “We have lots of open jobs,” Liszak said.

Volunteers get a free T-shit, free entry, a free lunch and will get an invite to a group casino night at Seminole Casino where they will get a free play and free food to reward volunteers.

For more information on volunteering, email events@fmbchamber.com.

“It’s a great weekend. You see so many families and friends having a good time together,” Liszak said.

The American Sand Sculpting Championship is presented by the Fort Myers Beach Chamber of Commerce, in collaboration with The Sand Lovers, LLC, and DiamondHead Beach Resort.

For a complete schedule of the event, visit https://www.fmbsandsculpting.com/event-schedule/.

The DiamondHead Beach Resort will have live music under the big tent each night featuring Flora on Thursday, Gashouse Gorillas on Friday night, Chasing Denver on Saturday night and High Voltage on Sunday night.

The DiamondHead Beach Resort has some availability during the event.

“We still have beachfront one-bedroom suites overlooking the event area available to rent and both Coste Island Cuisine and Cabanas Beach Bar will be open through the duration of the event. We are excited to invite everyone back for our second year of hosting this incredible event,” Hopgood said.

Reservations at the DiamondHead Beach Resort can be made at www.diamondheadfl.com.

The Pink Shell Beach Resort will hold a meet and greet with the sculptors that is being organized by the Fort Myers Beach Commerce for Wednesday. The meet and greet will take place from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.To register for that event, visit www.fmbsandsculpting.com.

For more information on the sand sculpting championship and a list of events, visit www.fmbsandsculpting.com.

Tickets and info can be found through the following link: https://www.fortmyersbeach.org/sandsculpting-championship/