Sand Sculpting Festival Returns to Revere Beach:13th Annual Event to Run from July 22-24

By Sue Ellen Woodcock

Sand sculpture afficienados will be in their glory when the 2016 International Sand Sculpting Festival comes to Revere Beach on July 22-24. Sculptor’s from all over the world will compete.

John Hamel, volunteer Chairman of the International Sand Sculpting Festival and board member of the non-profit Revere Beach Partnership stated, “The entire board of the Revere Beach Partnership is excited about this year’s festival which is our marque event and is now in its 13th year.  It attracts about 1 million people from all over New England and features master sand-sculptors from all over the world.  It is truly a world-class event.”

In addition to the singles and doubles sand sculpting competition, there will be live music festival, food truck festival, street performers, exhibitors, and educational activities and events for children, we have a few surprises in store as well.”

“Our fireworks spectacular this year will feature two barges of fireworks coordinated to music which will be played through an innovative mobile app,” Hamel said.  Throughout its history, Revere Beach has served as a nearby retreat for families from all over New England. The mission of the Revere Beach Partnership is to continue this heritage by organizing family-friendly events and making the beach fun and accessible to all.  We are also stewards of the beach and work to advocate for conservation and economic and recreational development.”

The Revere Beach Partnership assists with the logistics and execution of their activities on Revere Beach. This year’s theme is science, technology and innovation.

This year’s  festivities will include the Master Sand Sculpting Festival, a food truck festival, fireworks extravaganza, amusements, a live music festival and more. The festival opens each day at 10 am. On Friday, July 22 live music will be held at the bandstand starting at 2 p.m.

On Saturday, July 23 the Revere Catholic Youth Choir, Decades of Rock, Smokin Joe and the Henchmen will perform. Dalton & the Sheriffs and Overdrive will perform throughout the day. From 2-4 p.m. will be the people’s choice voting on the sand sculptures will be held. The awards ceremony, hosted by Fox25 newcomer and anchor Victoria Welch will follow.

The fireworks extravaganza will be held Saturday night at 9 a.m.

On Sunday there will be an adult amateur sand building competition, a kids competition. Live music will be played throughout the day with District 21 and music from Night Shift closing down the festivities for yet another year.

The 450 tons of sand for this year’s competition will be trucked be in starting this Friday.

The annual festival draws upwards of 900,000 spectators from all over the country who come to watch master sand sculptors compete for first prize in the solo and duo portions of the Master Sand Sculpting Competition. The festival also features gourmet food trucks, live entertainment, local vendors, exhibit booths, children’s sand sculpting lessons, and fireworks over the course of 3 days.

Sand sculptors for the Solo Competition are as follows; Melinage Beaureguard of Montreal, Canada, Guy Oliver-Deveau of Montreal, Canada, Pavel Mylnikov of Moscow, Russia, Benjamin Probanza of Acapulco, Mexico, Kevin Crawford of Perth, Australia, Jonathan ‘Jobi’ Bouchard of Montreal Canada, Jooheng Tan of Singapore, Marielle Hesseles of The Netherlands, Nikolay Torkov of Moscow, Russia, and Leonardo Ugolini of Italy.

Duo Competitors for this year are; David Durcharme of British Columbia with Enguerrand David of Belgium, Steve Topazio of Tiverton, RI with Deborah Barrett/Cutulle of Saugus, MA, David Belcher of St. Louis, MO with Marianne van den Broek of Key West, FL, Paul and Remy Hoggard of Bulgaria, and Abe Waterman of Prince Edward Island with Morgan Rudluff of Santa Cruz, CA.

This year’s festival will run Friday, July 22nd to Sunday, July 24th, 2016 and has a theme of Science, Technology, and Innovation. The event will highlight Massachusetts as a leader in the development and implementation of new and emerging technologies and discoveries by showcasing the innovation that is happening right here.

Revere’s 3-mile crescent beach, America’s first public beach, is a beautiful natural resource located in an urban area. Half a century ago, Revere Beach thrived as a recreational hub. Over the years, people stopped coming to Revere Beach, and the beach slid into decline. Realizing that something must be done to save this precious resource, a Revere Beach Citizens Planning Committee was formed in 2001. From that committee, the Revere Beach Partnership was formed.

Hours for the 2016 Revere Beach International Sand Sculpting Festival on Friday, July 22nd and Saturday, July 23rd are 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., and Sunday, July 24th 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Admission is free and open to the public. It is recommended to use the MBTA and public transportation to and from this event. The MBTA Blue Line can be taken to the Wonderland or Revere Beach stops. Free parking and shuttle service to the T will be available at Suffolk Downs. Parking is also available at the Wonderland Garage.