Your guide to Port Aransas' Texas SandFest
Get ready to see creative artwork from sand at the annual Texas SandFest in Port Aransas.
The 27-year-old festival returns Friday through Sunday.
The largest beach sand sculpture competition brings thousands of people to the Coastal Bend every year to watch sculptors work their magic.
Tickets can be purchased online at portaransas.org/texas-sandfest or at the event.
SandFest will be moving down the Port Aransas Beach to Markers 13 through 17. There are two parking lots on the beach next to SandFest — one at the North entrance at Marker 9 (exits at Avenue G/Marker 0), and one at the South entrance at Marker 19 (exits at 17.5).
Schedule
Friday:
9 a.m.: Gates open
10 a.m.: Quick Carve Competition; Celebrity Sand Sculpture demonstrations by Amazin' Water; Sand sculpting lessons for children 5 to 12
Noon: Sand sculpting lessons for children 5 to 12
12:30 p.m.: Rich Lockhart performs
2 p.m.: Sand sculpting lessons for children 5 to 12
2:15 p.m.: Quick Carve Competition
3 p.m.: Sarah Hobbs performs; Kids Activity Tent opens for children 3 to 12 (must be accompanied by a parent/guardian)
4 p.m.: Sand sculpting lessons for children 5 to 12
5:30 p.m.: Bri Bagwell performs
6 p.m.: Lesson Mountain closes
6:30 p.m. Kids Activity Tent closes
7 p.m.: Beer & Wine Tent closes
Saturday:
8:30 a.m.: Adult and Teen Amateur contests
9 a.m.: Gates open; Kids Activity Tent opens for children 3 to 12 (must be accompanied by a parent/guardian); Guppy & Youth Amateur contests
10 a.m.: Lesson Mountain/Face Painting opens; Coastal Benders perform; Celebrity Sand Sculpture demonstrations by Amazin' Water; Sand sculpting lessons for children 5 to 12
11:45 a.m.: Quick Carve Competition
Noon: Sand sculpting lessons for children 5 to 12
12:15 p.m.: Guppy & Youth Amateur awards
12:30 p.m.: SA Lights performs
2 p.m.: Sand sculpting lessons for children 5 to 12
2:15 p.m.: Quick Carve Competition
3 p.m.: Squeeze Box Bandits performs
4 p.m.: Sand sculpting lessons for children 5 to 12
5:15 p.m.: Amateur Contest winners announced
6 p.m.: Mickey and the Motor Cars performs
6:30 p.m.: Kids Activity Tent closes
7:30 p.m.: Beer & Wine Tent closes
Sunday:
9 a.m.: Gates open
10 a.m.: Lesson Mountain/Face Painting opens; The Dunbillies performs; Celebrity Sand Sculpture demonstrations by Amazin' Water; Sand sculpting lessons for children 5 to 12
11:45 a.m.: Quick Carve Competition
Noon: Sand sculpting lessons for children 5 to 12
1 p.m.: The Selfless Lovers performs
2 p.m.: Sand sculpting lessons for children 5 to 12
2:45 p.m.: Quick Carve Competiton
3 p.m.: Golf Cart Raffle Drawing
3:15 p.m.: John Elijah Band performs
4 p.m.: Sand sculpting lessons for children 5 to 12
5:15 p.m.: Master & Semi-Master Pro awards announced
6 p.m.: The Spazmatics performs
6:30 p.m.: Kids Activity Tent closes
7:30 p.m.: Event ends
Parking and shuttles
The most important change in the 2024 Texas SandFest is there will be no designated parking lot for RVs.
Parking is free at the parking lots mentioned earlier; however, a city beach parking permit is required.?
Permits, which are $12, can be purchased at the following locations:
Entrances of North and South parking lots from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The Port Aransas Tourism Bureau & Chamber of Commerce Welcome Center at 403 W. Cotter Ave.
The IGA Family Center at 418 S. Alister St.
Stripes convenience stores
The Regional Transportation Authority will provide free bus shuttle transportation from the following locations to the beach at the end of Access Road 1-A from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.:
Roberts Point Park (near the ferry landing)
Port Aransas Community Park at 700 Clark Parkway
A free golf cart shuttle will also be available to transport guests to the North entrance and back. The last golf cart shuttle is at 7:30 p.m.
Only official SandFest golf carts are allowed inside the SandFest gates. You may park your personal or rental golf cart in the parking lots on the beach.
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John Oliva covers entertainment and community news in South Texas. Contact him at [email protected] or X @johnpoliva.
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This article originally appeared on Corpus Christi Caller Times: Texas SandFest: Your guide to the Port Aransas Beach event