WILDWOOD CREST — Grab your buckets and shovels, head to the beach and get ready for some fun at the fourth annual Wildwood Crest Sand Sculpting Festival, scheduled for Sat., July 9.
Join hundreds of beach lovers at this family friendly event, which includes a free amateur sand sculpting contest, live music, magic show, beach games, an appearance by the Harlem Globetrotters and more.
The event will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. alongside the Wildwood Crest Beach Pier at Heather Road. Registration for the contest is free. The Hocus Pocus It’s Joe Fischer Magic Show will begin the live entertainment at 10:30 a.m., followed by headliners The Mango Men, with their energized and “sand-castle-inspiring” summer- and beach-themed party music.
The contest is organized in conjunction with Can You Dig It Sand Tools and directed by internationally known sand sculptor Matt Long. Long is a regular competitor at master competitions, including the World Championships of Sand Sculpting, and is an original cast member of the Travel Channel Show Sand Masters. Long’s career in sand sculpting began right here in South Jersey at amateur events like this one.
Contest registration for the fourth annual Wildwood Crest Amateur Sand Sculpting Festival will begin onsite at 9 a.m. on the day of the event. Sand pits will be assigned, with carving starting at 10 a.m. sharp. To ensure a level playing field, the contest will have seven separate divisions ranging from youth solo/groups to adult solo and teams. There will also be a pro/am division for more experienced adult sculptors.
Sculptures will be judged on creativity, execution, composition and overall presentation. Prizes and awards will be presented to first through third places in each division. There will also be a People’s Choice award for Best On The Beach, with the winner voted by spectator ballot.
“Wildwood Crest is not just one of the most beautiful beaches I’ve ever been to, but it also has some of the finest beach sand in the world for sculpting,” Long said. “We’re very excited about how this event has grown in popularity over its first three years and we expect an even bigger and better festival on July 9.”
The Wildwood Crest Sand Sculpting Festival has also formed a partnership with the Harlem Globetrotters, who will be appearing at the Wildwoods Convention Center for four games from July 27 through July 30. Globetrotters star Bull Bullard will appear at the festival at 11 a.m. to perform tricks and meet with fans. He will also assist in the judging of the amateur sand sculpting contest. In addition, the festival will feature a custom sand sculpture to celebrate the Globetrotters’ 90th anniversary. For more information on the Harlem Globetrotters, log on to www.harlemglobetrotters.com/wildwood.
Prior to contest day, on Thurs. and Fri., July 7-8, Long will be carving one of his masterful castles at the site, providing an opportunity for those interested to stop by, ask questions and pick up some professional tricks and tips.
New to this year’s festival are two sand sculpting clinics on Wednesday, July 6, during which Long will provide instruction and tips to amateur sand sculptors. The separate clinics will be from 9 to 11 a.m. and 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. The clinic is free and all ages are welcome. To pre-register contact Long via email at matt@canyoudigit.com.
For further information, email Long at matt@canyoudigit.com, log on to visitwildwoodcrest.com or call (609) 523-0202. Information is also available on the Wildwood Crest Amateur Sand Sculpting Contest page on Facebook.
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