Don't miss the 22nd Annual AIA Sandcastle Competition Saturday, May 31st at East Beach.
For two decades, Houston area architects, designers, engineers and contractors have taken their tools to East Beach in Galveston for what is considered one of the world's largest sandcastle competitions. The Houston Chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) sponsors this annual contest where some 80 teams have their eyes (and shovels) set on winning the prestigious "Golden Bucket" award.
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Firms begin months in advance generating ideas, developing designs, and assigning duties.
On the day of the event, the teams stretch along the beach meticulously sculpting their sand piles and working non-stop for five hours.
Many of the designs are so intricate and complicated that some teams use large formwork systems, mechanized tampers, and water pumping systems.
The judging of the sandcastles is rated on originality of concept, artistic execution of the concept, technical difficulty, carving technique, and utilization of the site. |
At the end of the day, everyone goes home with memories of a great day on the beach filled with fun, sun, sand, and sea.
For more information regarding the Sandcastle Competition, please contact the AIA Houston office at 713-520-0155.
About East Beach:
Galveston's East Beach is the coolest and biggest beach in Texas.
Famous for its great beach parties, East Beach has major outdoor concerts, special events, promotions, bikini contests, live bands, and other activities that are described in the Galveston Beach Parks calendar of events. |
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Starting across the street from
Emerald By The Sea and continuing past
Palisade Palms on to the South Jetty is the area most Galvestonians consider to be East Beach. Palisade Palms has just announced the planned construction of a third tower and
Alice Donahue Real Estate has some pre-construction deals you may wish to check out while visiting the sandcastle competition.
Facilities on east beach include an outdoor pavilion with a snack bar, gift shop, showers, game room, and volleyball courts. Chairs and umbrellas are available for rent on weekends May thru August. East Beach is "Houston's Playground," located just 45 minutes south of the fourth largest city in America. So come get down, get funky and get loose on Galveston Island's East Beach. Mingle with the crowd or slip away to a quiet spot and chill out.
East Beach holds about 7,000 cars on a huge wide open beach and is a perfect setting for ticketed outdoor concerts and festivals. East Beach welcomes national and local promoters, advertisers and beach enthusiasts. Hope to see you all there. Kids just love this competition, even the great big ones.
How to get to Galveston's East Beach click here for map
FROM HOUSTON: Travel Interstate 45 South to The Galveston Causeway. Upon entering Galveston, Interstate 45 becomes Broadway. Continue down Broadway til you reach Seawall Boulevard. Turn left onto Seawall. Continue down Seawall until it ends, then turn right on Boddeker Drive. Follow the signs to East Beach!
ALTERNATE (FASTEST) ROUTE FROM HOUSTON: During events like the TEXAS BEACH PARTY and SPLASH DAY, the traffic becomes ridiculously slow on Broadway (I-45 that goes through the City of Galveston), so we suggest that you use the fastest way to EAST BEACH! Please take I-45 South and stay in your right lane as you cross the Galveston Causeway (The big bridge that comes into Galveston). Immediately after you drive to the bottom of the bridge, take the exit ramp that is called the "Harborside Drive & Teichman Road." This will lead you to a stop sign where you need to take a left to Harborside Drive and follow it all the way to Ferry Road. At Ferry Road, take a right that will take you up to the Seawall. When you reach the Seawall, take a left on Seawall and follow the signs to East Beach. This is normally clean sailing to East Beach and can also be used to avoid all of the traffic heading back to Houston!
FROM BOLIVAR PENINSULA: Take Hwy 87 to the Ferry Crossing and Turn left onto Seawall. Continue down Seawall until it ends, then turn right on Boddeker Drive. Follow the signs to East Beach!