Morgan M. Hurley | Downtown Editor
The second annual US Sand Sculpting and 3D Art Expo is open to the public from Friday, Aug. 30 through Monday, Sept. 2 on the B Street Pier, located along the Embarcadero, Downtown.
Operating hours are 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., daily.
Aside from a wide range of professional sand sculpting art to view in various stages of completion, there will also be live entertainment, food trucks, a kid’s playground with rides and a sandbox, and a 3D artist exhibitor area.
The entertainment stage will offer live music every day from 11 a.m. – 7 p.m. and the lineup consists of the following acts: Jay and Janet, The Little Kings, Bill Caballero, Black Market 3, South Bay Jazz Ramblers, the Kohl Trio, and various DJs. Circus performers will also be milling about the grounds and prizes will be given away throughout the day.
Bruce Phillips – a World Master sand sculptor from Carlsbad – will match his skills against 10 other World Masters coming in from the U.S., Canada and Europe. Others from stateside include two more from California, Rusty Croft from Carmel and Kirk Rademaker from Stinson Beach, and Sue McGrew from Seattle, Wa.
The international competitors include Helena Bangert from the Netherlands, Melineige Beauregard from Canada, Michela Ciappini from Italy, and Joris Kivits also from the Netherlands. The final two are a mixed bag, John Gowdy from New Jersey who currently lives in Italy, and Latvian Sandis Kondrats who resides in Washington.
World Masters will have grand-, second- and third-place awards along with a people’s choice and a sculptor’s choice. Awards will be presented on Saturday from 5 – 7 p.m.
Also on Saturday, starting at 9 a.m., the three teams who have placed first in the last 10 U.S. Open Sandcastle competitions previously held in Imperial Beach will face off against each other in the I.B. Challenge, named in honor of the former event. Those competing are I.B. Posse and Sand Squirrels, both from Imperial Beach, and Archisand from Orange County. Teams will compete for a grand prize and a people’s choice award.
Finally, the California Cool Carvers will offer yet a third class of competition starting on Saturday, and consist of nine, two-person sand sculpting teams. Cool Carvers will compete for a grand prize, and second and third place awards.
All sand sculpting winners will receive cash prizes as well as trophies. Awards for I.B. Challenge and Cool Carvers will be presented on Sunday from 6 – 7 p.m.
The exhibitor area will have 3D artwork for sale from 32 different artists, offering a wide array of dimensional art, from pottery and hand-painted glassware to succulent arrangements, and from handcrafted metal jewelry and steel sculptures to recycled home décor. The 3D artists will also be competing for first, second and third place trophies.
For more information, visit ussandsculpting.com.
*** US Sand Sculpting & 3D Art Expo Schedule of Events ***
Open 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily
B Street Pier, Embarcadero
Every Day:
- Gourmet Food Trucks
- 32 different 3D artists selling their wares
- Circus performers and prize giveaways
- Kids’ sandbox and rides
- Live entertainment stage from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Friday, August 30
World Masters, who began base work on Wednesday, start third day of sculpting, opening their real detail work to public.
Pros teach kids sandcastle building at Ocean Potion exhibit
Live Music Stage
- 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. Jay and Janet
- 1 – 2 p.m. DJ
- 2 – 4 p.m. Bill Caballero
- 4 – 5 p.m. DJ
- 5 – 7 p.m. Black Market 3
Saturday, August 31
World Masters start final day of sculpting
The I.B Challenge competition begins
Cool California Carvers competition begins
Live Music Stage
- 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. The Little Kings
- 1 – 2 p.m. DJ
- 2 – 4 p.m. Bill Caballero
- 4- 5 p.m. DJ
- 5 p.m. World Masters Awards
Sunday, Sept. 1
I.B. Challenge and Cool Carvers begin second day
Live Music Stage
- 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. The Little Kings
- 1 – 2 p.m. DJ
- 2 – 4 p.m. Kohl Trio
- 4- 5 p.m. DJ
- 5 p.m. I.B. Challenge, Cool Carvers and 3D Expo Awards
Monday, Labor Day, September 2
All professional and semi-pro sand sculptures will be on full display with winners identified.
Live Music Stage
- 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. South Bay Jazz Ramblers
- 1 – 2 p.m. DJ
- 2 – 4 p.m. Jay and Janet
- 4 – 5 p.m. DJ
- 5 – 7 p.m. Kohl Trio
