Sandcastle Competition
ABOUT THE 2024 EVENT
The American Institute of Architects and La Izquierda Fest partner to enrich the annual AIA Sandcastle Competition with music, vendors, and family-friendly activities at East Beach – presented by 811 Call or Click Before You Dig!
Competing teams have their eyes and shovels set on winning the prestigious Gold Bucket Award. Firms begin months in advance generating ideas, developing designs, and assigning duties. On the day of the event, the teams – stretched along the beach front – meticulously sculpt their piles of sand and work non-stop for five hours.
The judging of the sculptures is rated on the originality of concept, artistic execution, technical difficulty, carving technique, and utilization of the site. At the end of the day, everyone goes home with memories of a great day at the beach filled with fun, sand, and sun.
THE SAND SCULPTURES
Please respect the hard work of our participants by not touching any of the sand sculptures even after the event.
Many spectators visit the beach the next day, on Sunday, to view and enjoy the sculptures.
Presenting Sponsor
sponsors
Presenting
Platinum Bucket Sponsor
Gold Bucket Sponsors
Silver Shovel Sponsor - Beer Tents
Silver Shovel Sponsors
Bronze Shovel Sponsors
Schedule & Tickets
Event Schedule:
EVENT DAY
6:30am Beach opens for teams and sponsors
10:00am Public is encouraged to begin to arrive to watch the competition
10:00am – 3:00pm Teams compete and build
10:00pm – 4:00pm Castle Creation Kid Zone
10:00pm – 4:00pm Solar Cooking Demonstration
11:00am | 1:00pm | 3:00pm Sandcastle Building Lessons from a Pro
1:00pm – 3:30pm Public favorite voting
3:00 – 4:30pm Judging
5:00pm Awards
ACCESSIBILITY
Free beach wheelchairs are available at East Beach on a first come first serve basis and cannot be reserved. They glide through the sand with ease and float in the water, but they are not self-propelled and therefore require assistance to push the wheelchair.
How to get: Please let the gate attendant know you would like a beach wheelchair and meet a staff member on the east side of the pavilion.
Stay Tuned for 2025 Tickets!
Team and Sponsor Information
2024 TIMELINE
APRIL 15 | TEAM REGISTRATION BEGINS
Team Registration is open to firms that meet the following eligibility requirements: Architecture, design and engineering firms must have at least one AIA Architect or Assoc. Architect on their team, or be an AIA Affiliate Member/Firm, in order to enter as a team. Accredited Architecture, Design and Engineering Universities are allowed to participate in the competition.
The fee includes t-shirts and event wristbands (which allow access to sponsor tents and their giveaways) for up to 10 team members.
There is a fee of $20 for each additional t-shirt/ event wristband beyond the 10 that are included with your team registration fee.
NOTE: our website does not process Discover Credit cards
JUNE 24 | TEAM REGISTRATION ENDS
Team Registration ends at 5:00pm
AUGUST 16 | LAST CALL TO PRE-ORDER TSHIRTS / WRISTBANDS – LAST CALL TO PRE-ORDER ICE – THEME & CATEGORY FORM DUE!
Last call to modify or pre-order additional shirts. Orders are due by 5:00pm
On a first-come, first-served basis, teams and sponsors can purchase additional shirts at the T-Shirt Distribution Party or the AIA tent on event day.
NOTE: our website does not process Discover Credit cards
AUGUST 23 | FREE TEAM SIGN ARTWORK DUE
Please provide a print-ready, 24″ x 36″ file with a 5″ white bar on the bottom of your design
Illustrator • Print Ready PDF • TIFF • EPS
Signs will be printed exclusively on our direct-to-substrate printer on 3/16” Gator Board* and will be ready for pickup the week of the event.
Printing sponsored by ARC Riot
SEPTEMBER 18 | T-SHIRT DISTRIBUTION PARY (5:30-8:30pm)
Teams & Sponsor groups must send at least one representative to pick up t-shirts, vehicle beach pass and event participant wristbands. Teams & Sponsor groups are also limited to max attendees no matter how many companies comprise the SC Team or Sponsor. RSVP required to attend. Complimentary food and drink for attendees.
Location: Workplace Solutions (2800 Kirby Dr b200, Houston, TX 77098).
SEPTEMBER 21 | SANDCASTLE EVENT DAY!
No vehicles permitted on beach before 6:30am or after 9:00am
6:30am — 9:00am With official vehicle pass, beach front opens for delivery of equipment & supplies to the Sandcastle sites.
10:00am — 3:00pm Sandcastle Competition
3:00—4:30pm Sandcastle Judging
+/- 5:00pm Awards Ceremony
TBD Vehicle access to the beach after the police and parks board determine safe access
*Please note: Team members with wristbands wishing to access beer MUST provide ID*
AWARDS
Each team is automatically entered in each of the Overall Categories listed below:
- Gold Bucket (1st Place)
- Silver Shovel 2nd Place)
- Bronze Shovel ( 3rd Place )
- AIA College Challenge (Awarded only to university student teams)
- Team Signage
- Team T-Shirt
- Sydney Lenoir Public Favorite
- 811 Presents: Most SustainableTeam
- All teams will receive a sustainable rating from a team of judges rating everything from water delivery systems to recycling efforts and formwork.
- The team with the highest score will receive an award.
THEME BASED CATEGORIES
Each Team is permitted to enter only ONE of the Theme Based Categories listed below:
- Best Architecture Icon
- Best Traditional Castle
- NEW!! Mythology
- NEW!! Kidtastic: Saturday Morning Cartoons
- NEW!! Pop Culture: Music /Song Lyrics
- NEW!! Nature / Floral / Botanicals
REGISTRATION LINKS
Links will be activated as they become available
