Overview Texas SandFest is a three-day sand sculpting competition on the open beach at Port Aransas, where master sculptors get 36 hours over five days and up to 24 cubic yards of local sand to build a single piece, judged by the other sculptors. It began in 1997 as a small local contest and bills itself as the largest beach sand sculpting competition in the USA. Sculptors compete as Master Solo, Master Duo, Semi-Pro and amateurs for more than $22,000 in prize money. The festival is a 501(c)(3) run by a board of directors, and its money goes to local charities and to scholarships for Port Aransas high school students. On site The festival grounds run about half a mile of beach between Markers 13 and 17, with a gate at each end. The Master's Gallery is where the competition pieces go up in front of the crowd, sprayed with a biodegradable bonding agent to hold their detail. A live music tent sits on the sand beside the main beer tent, smaller beer tents stand at each gate, and Kids' Corner at the south end runs face painting and Lesson Mountain, where children learn to sculpt. Food vendors sell funnel cakes and corn dogs, and craft vendors sell jewelry, apparel and beach souvenirs. One wristband covers all three days, and rain does not cancel the festival. Audience It is a family beach day: wagons for small children are allowed, and school and tour buses have their own lot. Umbrellas and shade structures are banned on the grounds, so the shade is where the festival puts it - at the main beer tent, the music tent, Logo Mountain by the north gate and Kids' Corner at the south. The FAQ tells visitors to expect to walk the half mile several times. Talent and Influencers Master sculptors are a small field - the festival counts fewer than 500 professional sand sculptors worldwide, and about 10 years of work to reach Master. In 2026 Ilya Filimontsev won Master Solo and the sculptors' choice award, Greg Grady and Abe Waterman won Master Duo, Chris Guinto and Melineigh Beauregard took second in Duo with sculptors' choice, and Dean Murray won Semi-Pro and the People's Choice. Track record In 2024 SandFest gave $408,500 to local nonprofits, $269,500 of it to the Port Aransas school district for scholarships. From 2012 through 2024 its donations passed $2 million. Brand presence Sponsor tiers are named for sea creatures, from Flounder and Trout up through Marlin, Shark and Megalodon to the Kraken presenting sponsor. Tier sets the size of the booth on the beach, up to 30 by 30 feet, and where the logo sits on Logo Mountain at the north gate. A company can also host a sculptor and put its logo in front of that sculptor's piece in the gallery; spots are limited to the number of sculptors. Beginning in 2025, sponsors were also recognized in the Texas SandFest Magazine.