49th Annual Sand Sculpture Contest
August 8, 2026
Registration begins at 10:30 AM.
Low tide: 1:37pm
Art+,
Family Friendly,
Free/Donations Accepted,
Participation,
Special Event
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49th Annual
Sand Sculpture Contest
Create Anything from Lobsters to Mermaids to Astronauts
Be as creative as you’d like. All ages and skill levels are welcome.
Hosted by Milford Arts Council this event has been a tradition for 48 years, drawing people from up and down the East Coast, and a destination event for vacationing families! Visit the Walnut Beach business district with summer favorites like Scoot & Paddle, Walnut Beach Creamery, Walnut Beach Coffee House, the MAC’s Firehouse Gallery, The Audubon Center is an easy drive or bike ride away!
The event will be held rain or shine – but check the website home page for changes if storms are predicted!
Schedule
- Date: Saturday, August 8, 2026
- Location: Walnut Beach
- Registration: 10:30 AM
- Low Tide: 1:37 PM
- Judging: 2:00 PM
- People’s Choice Voting Cutoff – 2:30 PM
- Awards: 3:00 – 3:30 PM
Contest Categories
- Individual or Group age 9 and under
- Individual age 10 to 15
- Individual age 16 and over
- Friends and Groups
- Family
General Contest Rules
- First, second, third place for each category, and Best in Show will be chosen by a panel of judges.
- This is not a professional or Masters level contest.
- Judging criteria will include creativity, spirit, detail, and originality
- Sculptures must consist of sand only with the exception of wood, rocks, shells, etc., found on the beach and used as decorations only.
- No superstructures or permanent forms of any kind shall be incorporated in your structure. Sand forms smaller than 2 ft X 2 ft X 2 ft (flower pots, milk cartons, buckets, etc.) may be used, but only as forms.
- The use of shovels, hoes, spatulas and other tools (except power tools) are permitted.
Parking
- Free parking is available for Connecticut-registered vehicles at neighboring Silver Sands State Park. A boardwalk connects Silver Sands and Walnut Beach.
- Parking available free to Milford residents with a Beach Sticker.
- Parking along Broadway $5/hr.
- Parking at Walnut Beach for non-residents $40/day.
Winner of the 48th Annual Sand Sculpture Logo Art Contest
Congratulations to artist Jessica Stephen-Kuser, winner of our Sandsculpture Logo Art Contest for 2025! Check out her winning design above.
Thank you to everyone who attended the event and picked up a tumbler! We still have a few left— get your tumbler here to buy yours online and continue supporting local artists in our communities.
(Photo taken by by Erin Eberhardt)
