Amazing Art: Ultimate New Hampshire Sand Sculpting Contest Returns to Hampton Beach

Hazy skies be darned; the true sign of summer on the Seacoast can be found in the sand. As longtime Hampton Beach-lover John Cena might say: “The time is now…for the Hampton Beach Master Sand Sculpting Classic.”

The event will take place from Thursday, June 15, through Saturday, June 17. 200 tons of sand will be dropped on Hampton Beach, and from there, the competition begins.

Sand artists from all around will take turns sculpting everything from mermaids to dragons to cartoon characters, with the best sculpture netting a $6,000 prize. Second place will receive $4,000, third $3,000, fourth $2,000, and the “People’s Choice” $1,000.

Voting for the People’s Choice will take place on Saturday, June 17, followed by an awards ceremony on the Sea Shell Stage and a fireworks display. And if you’re not around, s’all good: the area will remain illuminated through June 26.

The event began back in 2000, when sculptor Greg Grandy was asked to make a replica of the New Hampshire state quarter, according to the event’s official website (where you can also find information about entering). Nothing but sand and water is used to create the sculptures.

If you head down to the beach right now, you can see the trucks loading everything in.

Hampton Beach was also in the news recently, for being named one of the best boardwalks for nostalgia in all of the U.S. This came after a fire wiped out much of the beach’s iconic strip in 2010, but left several notable landmarks, including the famed Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom.

And if you miss out on the sand sculptures, bring your shovel to a nearby beach and see if you can dig up a legendary shipwreck.