The International Sand Sculpting Festival made a triumphant return over the weekend with a fun-filled event on Revere Beach.
Event Chair John Hamel was pleased with the large turnout at the Festival and the manner in which visitors followed social distancing guidelines.
Hundreds of thousands of people filled the Boulevard this past weekend to attend the Annual International Sand Sculpting Festival. This year’s theme was Revere Beach itself with the sculptures taking us on a brief stroll through a timeline of Revere Beach.
Sculpture #1 depicts Revere Beach the year it opened in 1896.
Violet Richardson from Boston shows off her festive beverage as she enjoys looking at Sculpture #1.
A detail from Sculpture #1 shows the faces of those first visitors to Revere Beach in 1896
Hamel said the organizing committee intentionally spaced out the seven sand sculptures over a much wider exhibition area to lessen the concentration of visitors in front of each sculpture.
“It was a well-attended event, but there wasn’t crowding,†said Hamel. “We had designed the event so there wouldn’t be any crowding around any stage because we didn’t have any live music, and there wouldn’t be any crowding around any major sculptures, because we didn’t have a centerpiece sculpture and we spread the sculptures further apart.â€
A detail from Sculpture #2 showing the enterance to the original Wonderland, an amusement park that inspired Walt Disney
Saturday night’s fireworks was spectacular and remains a crowd favorite, especially with Hamel himself.
“People that know me know that the fireworks show is the highlight of the event for me,†said Hamel. “Every year I get a little nervous as Saturday night approaches, and I keep an eye on the weather. This year, the clouds remained high, and the wind was blowing out to sea, and it was a beautiful night for fireworks. I think everyone enjoyed it.â€
Sculpture #2 depicts Revere Beach in the 1920sSculpture #3 depicts Revere Beach in the 1970sA detail of Sculpture#3 shows a beachgoer in a bikini from the 1950s
Mayor Brian Arrigo and his wife, Daveen Arrigo, joined a large contingent of state and city officials at the Festival. The Mayor was interviewed by Boston television stations, who did remote broadcasts during the international event.
Each sculpture on the beach has a hidden detail, in Sculpture #3 it’s a mischevous elf
Hamel thanked Revere Beach Partnership President Rosette Cataldo for her leadership of the organization that brought the internationally acclaimed event to the City.
A detail of Sculpture #4 showing people having fun togetherSculpture #4 depicts Revere Beach in the present, a place that brings people from all walks of life together to celebrate and enjoySculpture #5 shows Revere Beach in the future with many possibilities for the generations aheadSculpture #6 advertised the Netflix show Gabby’s Dollhouse
“We love Rosette – she’s our president and she did a great job,†lauded Hamel. “Our plan is to be back in full force and we’re going to start soon on planning another tremendous event for next year.â€
Sculpture artist Brian Turnbough from Chicago works on a detail on Sculture #3, depicting Revere Beach in the 1950sSpectaors take pictures of the sand sculpturesSue McGrew from Tacoma Washington stands in front of here Sculpture #4 depicting Revere Beach in the present, a place for many to enjoy togetherA sculpture depicting 500 Ocean Avenue greets visitors as they exit from Wonderland StationTech crew assistant and supervisor Sue and Mark Price worked hard to makes sure the scultures stayed in good shape for all to seeThe hidden detail in Sculpture #4 was of a rhinocerous, it looks like he’s having fun at the grandstand party as wellA woman in a bikini typical of the 1970s stands as if she was real and enjoying the beautiful Summer dayVendor Alan Bartis from Providence offered many fun balloons and gagets for kids of all agesAmazon was representedArnold, Arnoldo, and Leslie Trejo from Maine took in the sand sculpturesBeach sceneVietnam veteran Eddie Nadeau made his way down Revere Beach BlvdChris and Krista Jones from Boston do a selfie in front of a Sculpture #6 advertising the Netflix series Gabby’s DollhouseEast Boston Neighborhood Health Center was on hand to offer free hydration, bananas, and hand sanitizer as well as encouraging those who haven’t yet to get the Covid VaccineErin Lynch, Erin Conry, and Zoe Leven from Revere Beach Partnership, the organization that puts on this esteemed festival each yearFestival SceneFranshelly Alcantara and Kiara Peralta from Providence have some fun with the balloons they boughtFrozen Hoagies offered some frozen treats to help the sand scupture lovers cool down on the Summer dayGeico’s famous Gecco was out on the boulevardKowloon sent their food truck out to help serve the crowd that came to enjoy the beachMany vendors were on hand to help feed the crowd that came for the FestivalMila from Everett was looking her best for the beachMiss North Shore Katrina Kinkaid made an appearance to check out the sand sculpturesRosanna Mana from Springfield (right) dances to the rhythms of David BowdreSand sculptor Matt Deibert from Smithville New Jersey shows his daredevil side as he lies in the path of a Blue Line train in Sculpture #3Sand sculptor Matt Deibert from Smithville New Jersey stands in front of one of the sculptures he created, RRevere Beach in the 1970s
