The 2nd Annual Amateur Sand Sculpting Festival takes place in Wildwood Crest on Saturday, July 12th

PRESS RELEASE

Families, friends and kids of all ages who love playing in the sand should start making plans to attend the second annual Wildwood Crest Amateur Sand Sculpting Contest on Saturday, July 12 from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. on the beach next to the Wildwood Crest Beach Pier at Heather Road. 

Grab your buckets and shovels and get ready to create works of art. Making sand castles at the beach has been a fun summertime family activity since the first shell washed ashore, and now this great American pastime is coming back to the Wildwoods in a big way.

New activities will be featured at this year’s festival including horseshoes, corn hole and other games, as well as live music throughout the day, starting with local band Twelve:01 performing progressive and classic rock; followed by The Mango Men with their energized and ‘sand castle-inspiring’ summer themed party music.

The contest is being organized in conjunction with Can You Dig It Sand Tools and directed by internationally known sand sculptor Matt Long. Long is a regular competitor at master competitions, including the World Championships of Sand Sculpting, and is an original cast member of the Travel Channel Show Sand Masters. Long’s career in sand sculpting began right here in South Jersey at amateur events like this one.

Sculptures will be judged on creativity, execution, composition and overall presentation. Prizes and awards will be presented to the top three winners in each division. There will also be a People’s Choice award for Best on the Beach, where the winner is voted by spectator ballot. To ensure a level playing field, the contest will have seven separate divisions ranging from solo youth and youth groups to solo adult and adult teams.

Registration for the contest is free and will begin at 9 a.m. on Saturday, July 12. Rain date for the event is scheduled for Sunday, July 13.

During the days leading up to the event, Long will be carving one of his masterful castles at the site, providing an opportunity for those interested to stop by, ask questions and pick up some professional tricks and tips. 

For further information, email Matt Long at matt@canyoudigit.com, visit www.visitwildwoodcrest.com  or call 609-523-0202.

For additional information about the Wildwoods, visit www.WildwoodsNJ.com or call 800-992-9732.          

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 About the Greater Wildwoods Tourism Improvement and Development Authority

The Greater Wildwoods Tourism Improvement and Development Authority (GWTIDA) was formed in 1993 to consolidate the tourism economy of its three founding municipalities: Wildwood, Wildwood Crest and North Wildwood. The Tourism Authority operates the Wildwoods Convention Center and acts as the island’s destination marketing organization overseeing the development, research, planning, marketing, advertising, promotion, public and media relations encompassing the tourism, meeting and convention industry in the Wildwoods. Additionally, the Authority funds, assists with and hosts more than 180 annual special events to enhance the visitor experience and extend the tourism season, including the Beach Monster Mash Truck Races, Family Nights On The Boardwalk, Friday Night Fireworks, the New Jersey State Barbeque Championships and Anglesea Blues Festival, Classic Car Shows, the International Kite Festival, Irish and Italian Festivals and the National Marbles Tournament, among others.

The Wildwoods have won numerous travel and tourism awards, heralding the resort for its beaches, boardwalk and attractions. The Wildwoods were named #1 Boardwalk in the nation by FamilyVacationCritic.com in 2014, 2013 and 2012; and the Wildwoods’ Morey’s Amusement Piers were named in 2014 among the Top 10 Piers by Coastal Living Magazine.  In 2013 the Wildwoods were also recognized as one of the Most Awesome Boardwalks in America by BudgetTravel.com; as the Favorite Shore Town by Delaware County Daily Times readers; as the Favorite Beach and Boardwalk by NJ.com readers; the Top Family-Friendly Beach Town by NerdWallet.com; and as One of America’s Top 10 U.S. Tourist Towns by families voting in FamilyFun magazine. They were also named “Best Beaches in New Jersey” in the 2012, 2011, 2010 and 2008 Top Ten New Jersey Beaches public survey, sponsored by the New Jersey Marine Sciences Consortium. Wildwoods’ beaches were also named “Best Beach for Family Vacations,” “Best Beach for Tourism,” “Best Beach for Events,” “Best Beach for Eco-Tourism” and “Best Beach for Day Trips” in the same surveys. The Wildwoods were named #1 Boardwalk in the nation by FamilyVacationCritic.com in 2012; and Smarter Travel also named the Wildwoods Boardwalk, one of “Americas Best Boardwalks.” The 2012 list of “15 Destinations on the Rise” for TripAdvisor included the Wildwoods, and Home.com voted the Wildwoods one of “Americas Top 10 Scenic Seasides of the Summer.” In addition, the Wildwoods were voted “Best Town” in the 2009 and 2011 PHL-17 Philly Hot List, Jersey Shore Edition contest; and were one of Sherman’s Travel’s “Top Ten American Boardwalks” for two years in a row.

For more information about the Wildwoods, contact the GWTIDA at 800-WW-By-Sea (800-992-9732) or visit its web site, www.WildwoodsNJ.com.