Day Two of sand sculpting sees more group carving and set-up work

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BECKY BODNAR Chamber of Commerce members Ellis Etter, Andrew Cochrane and Suzanne Bartels work to prepare the site for the sand sculpting festival.

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BECKY BODNAR "Amazin" Walter McDonald, perhaps the oldest practicing sand sculptor, is known for his castles and arches.

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BECKY BODNAR Artists work on the corporate logo sculpture of festival sponsors.

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BECKY BODNAR Sculptors are hard at work on the group carving.

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BECKY BODNAR A workman is setting up a vendor's canopy, securely anchoring it to withstand strong winds.

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Day two of the 2010 American Sand Sculpting Championship Festival saw completion of the Group Sculpture Carving (a logo-sponsored sculpture) at the Holiday Inn site by the Masters Sculptors, Florida State and amateur carvers. The five-day event has seen cool, but sunny weather with temperatures reaching the 80’s by the afternoon.

The sculptors will begin carving their individual pieces today. They will continue shaping their sculptures all weekend long before adding final touches Sunday when the judging takes center stage. The winner will automatically qualify for the 2011 World Championships next September in Federal Way, Wash.

On the competition days (Friday through Saturday), festival attendees can purchase a Master’s View pass for a fenced-off viewing of the Master Sculptors work. The daily rates are children and seniors for $3 each; adults for $5 each; and a family package (parent(s) with children) for $10 per day. The fee structure is also for attendance inventory (helpful for future use in getting sponsorships and Tourist Development Council dollars) and to make sure that the high level of competition continues.