Delayne Corbett (left) and Maxim Gazendam took home top honors in the 2019 American Sand Sculpture Championship doubles competition for their “A Grand Adventure into the Landscape of the Imagination.” Fort Myers Beach Observer photo by NATHAN MAYBERG

It’s almost hard to believe it’s been five years since thousands of visitors were on Fort Myers Beach admiring the out-of-this world sand sculptures at the ever-popular American Sand Sculpture Championship.

It’s an event where sand is turned into castles, cars, Disney characters, rabbits and giants.

While covid and a hurricane may have put those sands of time on hold, the good times will be returning with a blast this Thursday at a new home on the island for the four-day championship at the DiamondHead Beach Resort.

Fort Myers Beach Chamber of Commerce President Jacki Liszak is predicting a “triumphant return” for the championship sculpting event. The championship events will be open to the public Thursday, Nov. 21 through Sunday. Nov. 24 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the DiamondHead Beach Resort. Eight master sculptors and 10 advanced amateur sculptors from 10 countries will be competing.

The DiamondHead Beach Resort, which underwent its own private beach restoration effort earlier this year, had its beach recently reinforced with 18 dump trucks of sand for the championship event according to Liszak.

The other side of first-place winner “A Grand Adventure into the Landscape of the Imagination” at the 2019 Sand Sculpting Championship on Fort Myers Beach - the last time the championship was held on the island. File photo by NATHAN MAYBERG

Liszak, who helped organize the event and brought back the championship to the island, said “the impact of this event is not only an economic one, it is emotional and spiritual, and we are being told that it is breathing renewed life back into the community.”

Liszak called the return of the championship a “huge win for the entire Southwest Florida community.”

While in years past, vendors would be gathered around the sculpting championship on the spacious beach of the Wyndham Garden Inn (which was destroyed by Hurricane Ian), space considerations necessitated the vendor space being moved to Bayside Veterans Park. Vendors will be situated at the town park off Old San Carlos Boulevard from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday through Sunday. There will be free live music on those dates at the park from noon until 7 p.m.

“The return of this beloved event is a testament to the strength and resilience of our community, which has risen above the challenges of Hurricane Ian, Hurricane Helene, and Hurricane Milton,” Liszak said. “We can’t wait to celebrate with our fans, create magical works of art, and share unforgettable memories.”

The cost to attend the championship is $5. There will be trolley service along Estero Boulevard to the resort. Lee County’s free Leetran tram is also expected to be up and running trips from the Fort Myers Beach Public Library to Bowditch Point Regional Park.

The awards ceremony will be held on Sunday at 3 p.m.

Liszak said the return of the championship to Fort Myers Beach is “It is a testament that you can bend this incredible community, but we cannot be broken.”

For more information about tickets, event packages and accommodations, visit fmbsandsculpting.com.

A meet-and-greet with the sculptors will be held Wednesday night from at the Pink Shell Beach Resort and Marina from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. To RSVP, contact the chamber by email at events@fmbchamber.com or by calling 239-454-7500.