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What You’ll Need for a Sand Sculpture Contest Fundraiser

Aside from a sandy beach to host your sand sculpture contest on, there are a few essentials you’ll need to account for to organize a successful fundraiser:

  • Volunteers. In order to get everything set up for your sculpting teams, including decorations and concession stands, you’ll need to recruit volunteers for your contest.
  • Building tools. Sand sculptures are art. While your artists may opt to bring their own tools, consider having some on hand to assist teams in their sculpting. Assemble items such as buckets, shovels, and gloves to set your sculptors up for success.
  • Snacks and refreshments. For your hard-at-work sculptors, and spectators gathering to enjoy the building, sell concessions such as hot dogs, sandwiches, and water to maximize their experience at your event. You can even invite local vendors (a bakery, for example) to set up stands nearby and contribute a portion of their sales to support your cause.

While preparing for a sand sculpture contest is far from complicated, taking these important considerations into account will ensure that everything goes off without a hitch.

Tips for Hosting a Sand Sculpture Contest

With a well-sculpted event plan and a solid strategy for promoting your contest, your organization can host a sand sculpture contest that generates substantial support for your cause and brings your community closer together.

1. Plan your sand sculpture contest.

Your sand sculpture contest plan will differ depending on your beach location and your organization’s priorities. Before you fully launch into the planning process, ask yourself these following questions:

  • When will we hold our sand sculpture contest? Since your volunteers and event attendees will be out in the sun for most of the event, it’s best to choose a day with pleasant weather and no rain.
  • How long will it run? Depending on your goals and resources, a sand sculpture contest can last a few hours to a few days.
  • What categories should we offer? Your sculpting teams will likely vary in experience, so to keep everyone engaged, offer different categories such as beginner, intermediate, and expert sculptors.
  • How will winners be decided? You can either invite local community leaders or sand sculpture experts to judge each category, or consider charging small fees for spectators to vote on their favorite sculptures.
  • What will the prizes be? There are a variety of prizes you can offer your sand sculpture winners, from branded merchandise to donated items from corporate sponsors.

Remember to factor these considerations into your event plan early on, so you can make sure that everyone is as happy as a clam at your sand sculpture contest.

2. Choose a theme.

Whether you’re intending for your sand sculpture contest to be a one-time fundraiser or a yearly event, deciding on a theme for your sculptures can boost interest and attract more participants. Get creative! Your organization can choose anything from sea creatures to futuristic castles. You can even find a theme that’s related to your cause to increase awareness and encourage additional donations from attendees.

3. Promote your event to participants and spectators.

As with any fundraising event, you’ll need to promote your sand sculpture contest in order to garner interest and secure participants. Use your organization’s website, email newsletter, social media accounts, and printed flyers to relay important information about your upcoming event.

4. Get out in the sun and raise funds!

Once you’ve put in all the hard work, it’s time to get outside and let the sculpting begin! Aside from raising funds with tickets for registration and admission to your event, selling raffles, branded merchandise such as water bottles and t-shirts, and concessions can take your fundraising results to the next level.

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