Bringing the beach to Ocala
The May 16 Sand & Sun Festival will feature a sand sculpture competition and more.
[Shutterstock]
The city of Ocala Cultural Arts Division is bringing a bit of beach vibe to downtown.
The inaugural Sand & Sun Festival on May 16 will be highlighted by a professional sand sculpture competition featuring six nationally recognized artists creating large-scale works of art.
The event will take place from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Citizens’ Circle, 151 SE Osceola Ave. A panel of judges will award first and second place, with winners announced at 4:30 p.m., while attendees can vote for their favorite sculpture for the Fan Favorite Award.
Participating sand sculptors include:
- Amanda Bolduc: Master sand sculptor and former U.S. Army officer with national and international recognition.
- Andy Daily: Master sculptor and sand manager of the Siesta Key Crystal Classic, known for education and community programs.
- Mitch Guerrero: Florida-based sculptor known for award-winning work and innovative techniques.
- Josh Jakubowski: Emerging artist with experience in ice, snow and sand sculptures.
- Bruce Peck: Master sculptor recognized for detailed and expressive designs.
- Mark Wilson: Award-winning Florida sculptor active since 2011.
Guests also can take advantage of a hands-on sandcastle play area for children, artisan vendors, local organizations and a variety of food trucks.
There will be performances by Dance by Sheila, Fort King Middle School’s Falcon Band, Legacy In Motion Dance Center and the Mary Sue Rich Community Center Line Dance Group.
The festival will also feature live music throughout the day, including the Julie Black Duo, Luis Alfredo Garcia Duo, Ocala Steel Orchestra and headliner The Caribbean Chillers, a Jimmy Buffett tribute band.
In the event of inclement weather, the festival will be rescheduled for May 23. Updates will be shared on Instagram at @OcalaCulturalArts.
The event is free to attend. It is sponsored by Big Hammock, Fun4Ocala Kids, Great American Self Storage of Ocala, the “Ocala Gazette,” Pointe Grand Apartments, Renewal by Andersen, Renuity, Sipping Grounds Midtown, T-Fiber, The Marion Mosaic and TJM Promotions.
For more information, visit ocalafl.gov/sandandsun or contact [email protected] or (352) 629-8447.
Support community journalism
The first goal of the Ocala Gazette is to deliver trustworthy local journalism so corruption, misinformation and abuse are not hidden from the public or unchallenged.
