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Home > SPECIAL EVENTS > 25th Annual AIA Houston Sandcastle Competition

25th Annual AIA Houston Sandcastle Competition

Presented by American Institute of Architects (AIA Houston)/Architecture Center Houston at Galveston East Beach

June 4, 2011

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American Institute of Architects (AIA Houston)/Architecture Center Houston presents the 25th Annual AIA Houston Sandcastle Competition - celebrating 25 years of having fun in the sand, Saturday, June 4, 10am – 5:30pm on Galveston’s East Beach. We would like to invite you to come see how piles of sand magically transform into imaginative sculptures.

For over two decades on the first Saturday of June,...

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For over two decades on the first Saturday of June, teams of architects, designers, and engineers have taken their tools to East Beach in Galveston for what is considered one of the world’s largest sandcastle competitions. The Houston Chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) has been organizing this competition every year since 1986.

This year over 60 teams have their eyes and shovels set on winning the prestigious Gold Bucket Award. Firms begin months in advance generating ideas, developing designs, and assigning duties. On the day of the event the teams, stretched along the beach front, meticulously sculpt their piles of sand and work non-stop for five hours. The judging of all sculptures is rated on originality of concept, artistic execution of the concept, technical difficulty, carving technique, and utilization of the site. In addition to the Gold Bucket, best team t-shirt design, best team signage, best costume, and public favorite.

Awards are given in 8 different themed categories:
1. That’s Entertainment (Best theme with movies, TV, commercials, etc.)
2. Let the Games Begin (Best theme with a sport or sporting event)
3. Stars and Stripes (Most Patriotic theme)
4. Most Complex (Most attention to detail and artistry)
5. Best Traditional (The most traditional sandcastle)
6. Best Architectural (Best sculpture relating to architecture)
7. Most Hilarious (The funniest, most comical)
8. Most Lifelike / Realistic (Most realistic rendition of a person, plant, animal, mineral, or object)

At the end of the day, everyone goes home with memories of a great day at the beach filled with fun, sun, sand, and sea.

The AIA SandCastle Competition is a fund-raising event for the AIA Houston Office, Grants, and the ArCH Foundation it is also one of the top five revenue generating events for the City of Galveston.

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Galveston East Beach

1923 Boddeker Dr.
Galveston, TX 77550

Full map and directions

Tickets:

The event is free and open to the public. (For team sandcastle participation, please visit the AIA website).

Parking
There is a "special event" cash only $10.00 parking fee per vehicle collected by the Galveston Parks Board. (There is no ATM close by so please be prepared). There are a few parking spaces that are free and available to the public but they fill up very early in the morning. Besides the parking cost, there is no entrance fee to the actual event. The AIA SandCastle Competition is open to the public for families, friends, and neighbors to enjoy the sand sculptures.

Transportation:
Unfortunately there is no Metro bus service, train line, or rapid transit to Galveston. That being said please try your best to carpool with friends and family. Arrive early to avoid traffic which can be difficult a little after lunch. Visit the Teams page to take a look at our Environmental Responsibility efforts.

Picnic:
Feel free to bring your own picnic: be sure to mind the City of Galveston's rules and regulations governing East Beach. Visit www.galveston.com/beachparks or call 1.409.762.EAST for more information. Private team and sponsor tents are not open to the public.

Pets:
Please contact East Beach 1.409.762.EAST or visit www.galveston.com/beachparks with questions about beach rules regarding pets.

Beach Map
The site map that indicates a general layout of teams, sponsors, public areas, the stage, first aid, port o lets, and parking is available on the AIA Houston Sandcastle website.

Times:

Schedule of Events:
Saturday, June 4th, 2011
8:30 - 10:00 AM Watch how the pros prepare and set up in order to build large sand sculptures. Feel free to ask them questions.
10:00 - 3:00 PM SandCastle Building, live music, and refreshments. Public Favorite voting: be sure to vote for your favorite sand sculptures.
3:00 - 4:30 PM SandCastle Judging
4:30 - 5:00 PM Awards Ceremony

Please respect the hard work of our participants by not touching any of the sand sculptures even after the event. Many spectators visit the beach the next day, on Sunday, to view and enjoy the sculptures.

Phone: (713) 520-0155

Parking: Directions from Houston: Travel Interstate 45 South to The Galveston Causeway. Upon entering Galveston, Interstate 45 becomes Broadway. Continue down Broadway til you reach Seawall Boulevard. Turn left onto Seawall. Continue down Seawall until it ends, then turn right on Boddeker Drive. Follow the signs to East Beach!

East Beach holds about 7,000 cars on a huge wide open beach and is a perfect setting for ticketed outdoor concerts and festivals. East Beach welcomes national and local promoters, advertisers and beach enthusiasts.

Accessibility Info: Currently, no accessibility information is available for this event.

Official Website