Carmel Beach Sandcastle Contest

63rd Annual Great Sandcastle Contest

Carmel's Annual Great Sandcastle Contest is one of the most quintessential local events of the year! Building begins at 7:00am with judging commencing at 11:00am, and awards are presented around noon with the coveted Golden Shovel as the top award. The contest is held on Carmel Beach down from Scenic Road between 10th & 12th.

Everyone who would like to build a castle can enter the contest, and judges bestow awards for multiple categories, from the coveted Golden Shovel, to the tongue-in-cheek Sour Grapes. And because bribery (non-monetary) is encouraged, it's not unusual to see platters of food, bottles of wine, chair massages and other indulgences being offered to the people in charge.

This year's theme is TIME TRAVEL -- create a sand sculpture, architectural or otherwise, from any era in Carmel Beach's past (historic or prehistoric -- think deep sea creatures).

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