Family Day & Music Festival on the schedule
By Barb Pert Templeton
The 11th Annual Blue Water SandFest is set for the first weekend in August with a packed three-day schedule filled with competitions, hands on lessons, food, music and plenty of family fun.
The SandFest will be held on Saturday, Aug. 1 and 2 from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sunday, Aug. 3 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Fort Gratiot Light Station County Park. Tickets are $7 per person, online and at the door. Children 4 and younger can attend at no cost. Attendees can also purchase a two-day pass for $12 or a three-day pass for $18.
Blue Water Healthy Living caught up with SandFest Chairman David Brooks via email to pose a few questions about this year’s event.
Blue Water Healthy Living: How did the idea to host a SandFest come about in Port Huron 11 years ago?
The 11th Annual Blue Water SandFest will be hosted at Fort Gratiot Light Station County Park the first weekend in August.
Chairman, Blue Water SandFest David Brooks: In the summer of 2012, a group of three Friends of the Fort Gratiot Light volunteers got together at The Vintage Tavern to brainstorm ways to raise money to support the restoration of the historic buildings and grounds of the Fort Gratiot Light Station County Park. Over a glass of wine, ideas started to flow and one of the friends mentioned she and her husband had gone to a sand sculpting competition while vacationing in Florida. Well, we figured we had beach sand right at the park, so the idea was pursued. Little did we know that Michigan beach sand does not sculpt well and typically tends to be lower sculptures. We kept looking at options and were fortunate to contact The Sand Lovers who became our event managers.
BWHL: Where do you get the sand for the event? Is it hauled away afterwards?
Brooks: Our sand has always been generously donated by MidMichigan Materials in Jeddo, Michigan. The first year we used 150 tons and this year we’ll be using 540 tons. The day after SandFest closes, all the sand is removed from the park and is typically taken to the Fort Gratiot County Park to replenish sand there. Interestingly, a few people who compete in our Amateur Competition have realized this and go to the re practice their sculpting before the competition.
BWHL: Who are the competitors at the event and are they from across the country?
A variety of sand sculptors from across the country will compete at the Blue Water SandFest event on Aug. 1, 2 and 3.
Brooks: This year we have 12 solo sculptors and 4 doubles sculptors, so 20 altogether, from across the U.S. and Canada.
BWHL: Was attendance at the first few events small compared to the last few years?
Brooks: Our attendance was larger in the first couple of years, I think due to the novelty of the event primarily.
BWHL: What’s new on this year’s schedule?
Brooks: Saturday is “Family Fun Day”. We’ll have the Y on the Fly Van, the Library Bookmobile, and a face painter at SandFest from 11:00am to 3:00pm.
BWHL: What are some of the special events/competitions planned for 2025?
Brooks: Saturday is our Amateur Competition, where anyone can register and compete. Sculpting is from 10:00am to 3:00pm with an Awards Ceremony at 5:00pm. Cost is $10.00 per person but includes admission. Go to our website to register or learn more.
BWHL: What’s on the schedule for kids at this year’s SandFest?
Everyone can get in on the action at the Blue Water SandFest on Saturday, Aug. 2 during an Amateur Sand Sculpting Contest.
Brook: We have free sand sculpting lessons in our Kid’s Zone. Four per day and requires signup in the Kid’s Zone to reserve a spot. We also have huge piles of sand and toys for the kids to play with in the Kid’s Zone.
BWHL: How many people normally attend this event? Has that increased year after year?
Brook: Our average attendance is normally 7,500 people per year. It does fluctuate depending on the weather.
BWHL: Are their vendors so visitors can grab a snack or meal during the festival? Who’s coming this year?
Brooks: We do have food and drink vendors on-site. This year they include: Liquid Gold; Deer Camp Traveling Café; Luv’s Lemonade, Roasted Nuts & Soft Pretzels; The Sip Shop; Blue Water Snowie; and Tracy B’s Fully Loaded Food Truck.
BWHL: What happens if it rains during SandFest – is it closed for the day or no?
Brooks: SandFest is a rain or shine event. The one thing we cannot control is our wonderful Michigan weather, and we have had rain in the past. Fortunately, the rain doesn’t hurt the sculptures unless it’s a hard driving rain, which can impact the finer details on a sand sculpture. These are repairable. To a point, the rain helps, as the sculptures are made up of compacted sand and water. Actually, wind is more detrimental to the sculptures as it tends to dry them out. If it does rain, we have several large tents where visitors can shelter, so I would encourage people to attend even if rain is forecasted.
Fort Gratiot Light Station County Park is located at 2802 Omar Street in Port Huron.
