The fun starts Wednesday, June 20th, 2012 when 300 tons of imported sand is dropped on Hampton Beach and the "Grady Bunch" starts pounding up the sponsor site. The entire area is illuminated for night viewing through July 8th. Watch Gregory Grady and "The Grady Bunch" build a mammoth Sand Demo Site. View all entries on line at this website. The competition is by invitation only. Interested Master Sand Sculptors may contact event co-organizer: www.GregGrady.com 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.

Interested sponsors or volunteers should contact us at hamptonbeachinfo@comcast.net or fill out our VOLUNTEER FORM to sign up!

Check out our past Sand Sculpting Sponsors!

Download the 2012 Sand Sculpting sponsorship information.

How it Started - How its Grown

It all began in 2000 with twenty-five cents. One quarter. The New Hampshire Quarter to be precise.

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 tail side edition New Hampshire quarter out of ten tons of sand during the Hampton Beach Children's Festival. At the time, it was just a part if the statewide celebration held for the release of that coin. It was something Hampton Beach had never seen the likes of before!

Fortunately, it was something Hampton Beach would see again. The following year, the first annual Hampton Beach Master Sand Sculpture Competition was held. When 220 tons of imported sand was trucked into the beach with Gregory Grady and his 'bunch' laboring for five days on the sponsor site followed by a three day competition of ten world class masters creating their own unique sculpture, a new era was born and sand sculpture had arrived to the northeast. Over the course of the event nothing but sand, water, and a bit of their own creativity is 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 $15,000.00 in purse and entry awards, free lessons and will be illuminated at night for viewing and much much more. 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 believe.

Because Hampton has great world class sand sculpting and a whole lot more!

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2011 Sand Sculpting Winners Announced

June 25, 2011 - For Immediate Release
Contact: John Kane
(603) 918-0847
Hampton Beach Village District

HAMPTON BEACH, NH - June 25, 2011 -- The 11th Annual Master Sand Sculpting Competition in Hampton Beach, NH concluded its competition on Saturday. The first place winner was Marc Lepire from Charlesbourg, Quebec, Canada with a sculpture titled "Phase Shifter." Lepire wins a cash prize of $3,000 and a trip to the World Solo Championships in Fort Myers Beach, FL.

Karen Fralich from Burlington, Ontario, Canada took second place with the sculpture, "There Was an Old Woman Who Sends Her Kids to Summer Camp." Third place went to Justin Gordon from Groveland, Massachusetts, for his sculpture "And they Ride Among Us." Fourth place was the sculpture "Morphobia" made by Guy-Olivier Deveau of Quebec City, Canada. And fifth place went to Carl Jara of Lyndhurst, Ohio with the sculpture "Lamb."

The "People's Choice" Award was given to Michel Lepire from Charlesbourg, Quebec, Canada for the intricately-designed sculpture, "Prestine Nature."

The "Sculptor's Choice" Award was given to Marc Lepire for his piece, "Phase Shifter."

The sculptures this year ranged from a heartwarming set of hands holding baby's feet to a depiction of the Old Woman in the Shoe to a nod to Boston Bruins' with a sculpture of M.V.P. Tim Thomas.

The sculptors carved over three days, from June 23-25, to complete their own private sculpture using 10 tons of sand. Voting took place and awards were given out on Saturday, June 25 and the Awards Presentation took place at 8 p.m. on the Sea Shell Stage. The band the Continentals provided musical entertainment.

The sculptures will remain on display through June 29th, and will be lit for night viewing.

For photos of the winning sculptures, please visit www.hamptonbeach.org.