Hampton Sand Sculpture Event 2010

The fun starts Friday, June 18th when 300 tons of imported sand are dropped on Hampton Beach.

The entire area is illuminated for night viewing through June 30th. Watch Gregory Grady and “The Grady Bunch” build a mammoth Sand Demo Site.

The competition is by invitation only, and the event is funded by the Hampton Beach Village District and Sponsors, in cooperation with The Hampton Area Chamber of Commerce and The NH Division of Parks.

How it Started and Grew:

It all began in 2000 with the New Hampshire Quarter.

Local artist and master sand sculptor Gregory Grady was commissioned by the U.S. Mint to create a larger than life replica of the new edition New Hampshire quarter out of ten tons of sand during the Hampton Beach Children’s Festival. It was part of the statewide celebration held for the release of the coin. It was something Hampton Beach had never seen the likes of before, but would fortunately see again!

The following year, the first annual Hampton Beach Master Sand Sculpture Competition was held. When 220 tons of imported sand were trucked onto the beach, with Gregory Grady and ten world class masters creating their own unique sculptures, a new era was born and sand sculpting had arrived to the northeast. Over the course of the event, nothing but sand, water, and creativity was used to create astonishing works of art out of shapeless heaps of sand. When completed, they are sprayed with windscreen (a solution of school glue and water) to protect them from the elements and remain standing for viewing for weeks, creating a free museum of master pieces on the beach.

Over the last five years, this invitational only event has grown in leaps and bounds making it the largest Masters competition in the Northeast United States. This year Hampton Beach will feature a sponsor site of 200 tons, fifteen world class masters vying for $15,000.

Hampton has attracted the attention of millions of visitors who came to watch something which is part sculpture part performance art. It is something you have to see in person to truly appreciate.

So come watch the fun starting June 18th! You can bet there will be plenty else to do as well, with shop owners getting ready for the crowds…