CLEARWATER, Fla. — It is a fine time to see the sands of Clearwater Beach come to life – in the form of sculpted works of art.
Pier 60’s Sugar Sand Festival is here to present everything from classic video game characters to well-known figures throughout American cinematic history, for 17 days starting this weekend.
Here is a guide for what to look forward to:
When is it?
The festival runs from March 29 through April 14. Here are its exhibit hours:
- 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sundays through Thursdays
- 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays
What is it?
The festival is a beach-wide celebration of Clearwater Beach featuring more than 14 sand sculptors who create and present their artwork to over 200,000 visitors per year. The sculptors collectively use 1,000 tons of sand from the beach to help raise money for community causes and educational initiatives for Pier 60’s daily sunset festival, according to the festival’s website.
What can I expect?
You can walk through 21,000 square-foot tents and admire a line of professionally made sand sculptures as part of the festival’s main attraction, the Sugar Sand Walk Exhibit. If you come early, you will see live performances of sculptures being made right in front of your eyes.
How much does a ticket cost, and where can I buy them?
One-day general admission tickets are $14 per person and are free for children under 3 years old.
Discounted tickets for frontline workers including military personnel, police officers, firefighters, teachers and healthcare workers are $10 a pop and are only available every Friday until April 12.
Tickets for seniors 60 or older are $12 and are only available every Tuesday until April 9.
You can only purchase discounted tickets at the gate with proper identification.
General admission tickets, which come with a Fast Lane pass, and BayStar VIP Lounge tickets can be purchased in advance online here.
Or you can buy tickets in person at the exhibit’s tent.
What can I bring?
While the festival’s organizers highly encourage cameras to take pictures, here’s a list of items you can and can’t bring, according to its website.
Permitted:
- Blankets
- Low-lying beach chairs
Not Permitted:
- Pets – only service animals are permitted
- Grills, hibachis, or open flames of any kind
- Glass containers or bottles
- Unauthorized vendors or solicitors
- Tents, canopies or umbrellas
- Firearms, unless otherwise permitted by Florida Statute, Chapter 790 (2011)
- Knives or weapons of any kind
- Fireworks or laser pointers
Additional Information
- The exhibit will be rain or shine unless there are heavy winds that can heavily impact visitors and sculptures.
- Two complimentary “sand wheelchairs” and four motorized wheelchairs are available for guests on a first-come, first-served basis. They can only be used at the Sugar Sand Walk Exhibit.
- Parking for oversized vehicles such as RVs, buses, motor homes or other vehicles will be located on Mandalay Avenue and Juanita Way (located between Mandalay and Poinsettia Avenues). Specific parking restrictions for these types of vehicles are available on the festival’s website.