Register for the Amateur Competition

One-Day Amateur Competition: Saturday, April 20, 2024.
Two-Day Open Competition: Friday & Saturday, April 19 & 20, 2024.

• Guppies & Youth: Saturday, 9 a.m. to noon
• Teen & Adult: Saturday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
• Two Day Open Solo & Teams:
  • Friday, noon to 5:30 p.m.
  • Saturday, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

You will receive your packets and wristbands at check-in.

Check-in Times:
Early Check-In: Friday, April 19, 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. at the Volunteer Tent (Located at the South entrance to SandFest)/
Saturday, April 20, 7:30 to 8:20 a.m. (South entrance to SandFest).

The competition is limited to a total of 75 plots.

Guppy: 5'x5'
Youth: 5'x5'
Teen & Adult Solo: 8'x8'
Teen & Adult Teams: 12'x12'

Water will be provided on a limited basis through tankards and troughs in the event area. Contestants are encouraged to bring barrels and buckets to gather water from these sources, as needed.

Family, Teen and Adult category competitors will be permitted to bring in chairs and tents to set up in a designated area next to their plots.
Youth and Guppy category competitors are permitted to bring chairs and small shade items, such as umbrellas, to set up in the general parent sitting area.
All competitors will be provided a Cooler Pass. Competitors may bring snacks, food, and beverages in their coolers. 

Amateur Contest Rules

1. All participants must check in prior to the contest time.
2. All work must be done within your designated plot.
3. Only sand from within designated plot may be used.
4. Decorative materials may be used, but all non-biodegradable items must be removed immediately after judging.
5. Nothing may be added to the sand except water (no paint, flour, sugar, cement, clay or adhesives, etc.).
6. Only registered participants are allowed inside plots.
7. No power tools may be used inside the plots.
8. Holes must be filled. Trash and equipment must be removed before the judging.
9. All forms must be removed after the contest is over. There will be a $200 clean-up fee assessed for non-removal.

Decisions of the judges are final.

Judging is based on:

• Originality and imagination.
• Degree of technical difficulty.
• Artistic merit.

Winners will be announced at 5 p.m. Saturday in the Entertainment Tent. Time is subject to change.
Guppy and Youth competitors will have awards announced 15 minutes after competition in the Guppy and Youth area. 

Texas SandFest is an outdoor event, located physically on the beach, and will happen rain or shine. There will be no refunds given because of inclement weather.