The Fort Myers Beach 2010 Annual Sandsculpting Championship will be held in front of the Holiday Inn on the Gulf of Mexico Nov 10-14. Tickets are: $5 for adults, $3 for kids and a maximum of $10 for a family. There is no on-site parking but trolly service is available from Lover's Key State Park to the event.
This is the 24th annual edition of this popular event and brings an estimated 50,000 visitors to Fort Myers Beach. Professional competitors enter the 'Masters " category to compete for cash and prizes. The event uses approximately 1500 tons of local beach sand ! Contestants always rate the Fort Myers Beach sand as some of the best in the world due to it's shape. Imagine a grain of sand with rough edges. Those " edges " allow each grain of sand to hold onto others around it and keep the shape better. This allows the sculptors to create larger displays, create more fine detail in the carving and use greater imagination ! Anyone having attended a sandsculpting has seen what happens when the sand suddenly loses it's ability to hold together.
The artists start Day 1 with a pile of Fort Myers Beach sand and " pound " it ( combined with water ) using wooden forms into basic building blocks. This a truly back breaking grunt work and no help is allowed for the competitors.
The sand carvings are limited only by the artist's imagination and the inherent characteristics of the sand. When a final carving is achieved the carver will spray the piece with a solution of water and Elmer's White Glue. This creates a crust on the surface which helps prevent drying out and also a little rigidity.
I will be attending the event, although not as a site manager this year and will bring you updates as things progress. If you are able to attend be sure to bring a camera !
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