Dispersed Sand Sculpture Festival Launch Party, July 9th
FRIENDS OF THE DUNES, P.O.BOX 186, ARCATA, CA 95518
CONTACT: Daisy Ambriz Phone: (707) 444-1397
Email: [email protected]
Join Friends of the Dunes on Saturday, July 9th from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. as we launch the month-long Dispersed Sand Sculpture Festival with a live, in-person sand sculpting demonstration and celebration of creativity on the coast! The July 9th event will take place on the beach just to the west of the Humboldt Coastal Nature Center. Bring your sunglasses and hats to view this year’s selected sculpting groups. This summer event will launch an entire month during which you and your team of sand-sculpting superstars can compete in the 27th Annual Sand Sculpture Festival as a dispersed event, up and down the Humboldt coast.
To attend the live Sand Sculpture Festival Launch Party, plan to visit the Humboldt Coastal Nature Center anytime between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. and take a short walk through the dunes to the beach where you can learn sculpting tips and admire the creation of impressive sculpting teams. Families and friends are welcome to picnic at the beach while they wait for the demonstration teams’ sandy masterpieces to take shape over the course of the afternoon. Sculptors will begin around 9 a.m. and finish around 2 p.m. The best time to view finished sculptures will be from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Friends of the Dunes asks spectators to observe all current public health guidelines to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and pack out their own trash. Fireworks are strictly prohibited at this event and throughout the Humboldt Coastal Nature Center property. Canine friends are welcome but must be on leash on the trails and around the sculptures.
For the remainder of July, the 27th Annual Sand Sculpture Festival can take place at any beach that sculptors choose. Humboldt beaches offer gorgeous scenery, an ample supply of sand, and plenty of space for a team’s inner Michelangelo to shine! Friends of the Dunes is asking for teams of sculptors to practice COVID and beach safety, whether forming teams with friends or within households. It is very important to check tides, keep an eye out for dangerous waves, and never turn your back to the ocean. Please avoid beaches with a steep drop-off, such as Big Lagoon and Black Sands Beach, as these beaches are more likely to have large and dangerous sneaker waves.
Our annual sculpting competition might be dispersed this year, but it will be as spectacular as ever! Grab your buckets and shovels, pack your picnic, and let the summer festivities begin. For information on the Sand Sculpture Festival competition friendsofthedunes.org/
Photo Captions: Dog Daze by Team Humble Pups. 2021 Staff Pick Winner
Little River Stronghold by Team Maximum Wattage, representing Pure Water Spas. 2021 People’s Choice, Best of Show, and Golden Shovel Award Winner.