Take a drive to Florida and glimpse spectacular sand sculptures fit for a museum

There’s a sand sculpting contest a mere seven hours from Atlanta that will instantly put the sandcastles you built as a child to shame.

In a tribute to the beaches that stretch along Florida's Tampa Bay, the Pier 60 Sugar Sand Festival will feature lots of events, but the 17-day festival's main attraction is the The Sugar Sand Walk Exhibit. During the event happening April 10-26, 14 sculptors from around the globe use 1,000 tons of Clearwater Beach sand to create sand-sculpted art fit for a museum.

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Once a year, guests can stroll through The Sugar Sand Walk Exhibit under a 21,000 square-foot tent. When they do, they’ll see sculptors of everything from Frankenstein to famous figures including Mahatma Gandhi or sand-statues of real-life ones such as the seated Abraham Lincoln figure at the Lincoln Memorial. On opening day, the sculptures are 95% completed, leaving room for attendees to see the images come to life before their eyes.

This year's theme is "SANDimals, an animal adventure" and general admission is $10.

Curious about how the sculptures are created? Sculptors use sugar sand and water and shovel the sand into large wooden forms, packing it down to make a rock-solid surface. Then, sculptors chip away at it using toothpicks and dentistry tools to create their masterpiece in an eco-friendly manner.

When you’re done being amazed by the creations the sculptors have made, the fun keeps going. Activities include street performers, fireworks, a cornhole tournament and a chance for you to hone your own skills as the next master sand sculptor.

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DETAILS
Pier 60 Sugar Sand Festival
10 a.m.- 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 10 a.m. - 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
1 Causeway Blvd. Clearwater Beach, Fla.