Sandblast Features Hero Worship This Year
By Steve Landwehr, The Salem News, Beverly, Mass.
Jul. 29–IPSWICH — The date for one of the most popular summer events on the North Shore is determined by the tides, not the calendar.
The Crane Beach Sandblast competition offers amateur and professional artists the chance to sculpt castles, monsters and, this year, superheroes in the sand. To give them as much time as possible to do that, organizers have to pick a Saturday in August when as much of the popular beach as possible is above water. This year’s event is slated for Aug. 9.
Carvers compete in six divisions, from masters to kids. There’s a division for businesses and organizations, another for families, adults and teens.
The theme of this year’s competition is “Super Heroes Go Green,” as in environmentally friendly. Organizer Nancy Keighly-Petino said sculptures can be adorned only with items found on the beach. You can bring molds, but they must be removed for judging.
Attendance is entirely dependent on weather, and if the forecast is for a beautiful summer day, plan on getting to the beach no later than 10 a.m., or you may find the parking lot full. Gates open at 8 a.m.
A concession stand and toilets are available.
If you go
What: Super Heroes Go Green, sand sculpture competition.
Where: Crane Beach, Ipswich. From all directions, take Route 133, then follow the signs.
When: Saturday, Aug. 9, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Winners announced at 4 p.m. Rain date is Sunday.
Cost: Teams pay $7 each plus the parking fee, $7.50 per car for members of The Trustees of Reservations, $22 for nonmembers. Noncompetitors pay the parking fees only; cyclists and walkers pay $2 each. All proceeds benefit The Trustees of Reservations.
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Copyright (c) 2008, The Salem News, Beverly, Mass.
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