American’s First Beach is an appropriate landing pad for the 2019 Revere Beach Partnership’s 16th International Sand Sculpting Festival with an overall theme of the 50th landing on the moon by Apollo 11.
“This year’s theme is the 50th anniversary of the moon landing. I can’t wait to see what our master sculptors come up with,†said John Hamel, a director on the Revere Beach Partnership Board. “This year we also have a drone show planned for the opening ceremony on July 26.â€
There will also be food trucks, live entertainment, local vendors and exhibitors, fireworks and much more. The fireworks are planned for Saturday night after 9 p.m.
This year’s festival will also feature an opportunity for 30 amateur sculpting teams to try their hand at some serious sand sculpting. Each team will have three hours, starting at 11 a.m. to sculpt their masterpiece. Before the competition starts there will be a live demonstration from a master sculptor who will also offer tips as the competition goes on. The top three teams take home part of a pool prize valued at up to $2,000.
“The amateur competition allows for a more community inclusive portion of our three-day extravaganza,†Hamel said. “Amateur teams get a chance to showcase their talents and receive some great tips from master sculptors.â€
For more information on the amateur competition or to sign up please visit:
The sculpting sand arrives at 8 a.m. on July 18 courtesy of Brox Industries.
Last year’s master sculpture who took the top prize was Pavel Mylnikov of Moscow. He is slated to return along with competitors:
Helena Bangert, Netherlands
Dan Belcher, St. Louis
Deborah Barrett Cutulle, Saugus
Melineige Beauregard, Quebec
Jobi Bouchard, Montreal
Enguerrand David, Belgium
Ilya Filmonstev, Russia
Remy Hoggard, England
Maxim Gazendam, Netherlands
Paul Hoggard, Bulgaria
Sudarsan Pattniak, India
Sue McGrew, Tacoma, Wash.,
Fergus Mulvany, Ireland
Rachel Stubbs, England
Steve Topazio, Tiverton, R.I.
Abe Waterman, PEI, Canada
Morgan Rudluff, California
Benoit Dutherage, France
Kuba Zimacel, Czech Republic
Aleksei Rybak, Russia
The festival is open on Revere Beach July 26 and 27 from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. and July 28, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Fireworks will be Saturday night 9 p.m.
Sand Sculpture Traffic Advisory
Police Chief James Guido encourages people planning to go to the Sand Sculpting Festival to take public transportation since there is no designated parking area for the festival. There will be no parking at Suffolk Downs or at Wonderland and no shuttle busses bringing spectators to the beach.
“I expect huge traffic delays on North Shore Road. Revere Beach Boulevard will be partially closed,†Guido said.
He advises people to take public transportation, Uber, Lyft or have a friend drop you off at the beach.
Guido reminds drivers not to block intersections near the beach and Bell Circle will be used to keep traffic moving north. Traffic flow is expected to be heavy.
“My goal is to keep traffic moving,†Guido said.
