Pier 60 Sugar Sand Festival is a 17-day sand sculpting festival that pays tribute to Tampa Bay’s two most valuable assets: our sugar sands and our sunsets! Head to Clearwater Beach to explore the expansive 21,000-square foot structure that encompasses the Sugar Sand Walk Exhibit open Sunday-Thursday 10am-9pm and Friday- Saturday 10am-10pm through April 14.
The showcase of the Sugar Sand Festival is the main attraction – The Sugar Sand Walk Exhibit. This ticketed exhibit can only be seen once a year, and no two years are alike. Stroll through a 21,000 square-foot tent filled with sand sculpted art crafted by world-class sculptors using Clearwater’s internationally famous sugar sand. These aren’t sandcastles – they are premiere works of art. Fourteen world-class artists craft elaborate sand sculptures from Clearwater’s internationally famous sugar sand. More than 1,000 tons of Clearwater sand takes on a new life, bringing visitors on a “sandtastic” adventure.
This year, the festival celebrates its 10-year anniversary and its biggest year yet with the theme, “Sands of Time.” The theme conveys a sense of nostalgia, celebration, and appreciation for the festival’s past, while looking forward to an even more exciting and inspiring future for the festival and the art of sand sculpting. Skip the line and buy online at www.sugarsandfestival.com/p/tickets.
From architectural masterpieces created from Clearwater’s famous sugar sand to concerts, performers and daily entertainment, the Pier 60 Sugar Sand Festival presented by Visit St. Pete Clearwater is an annual event attracting visitors from around the world. This year’s festival will again stretch for 17 days, which allows people more time to attend and gives those visiting for Easter a chance to see this incredible and affordable festival.
There’s more fun to have during the Pier 60 Sugar Sand Festival than grains of sand on Clearwater Beach. Enjoy free activities for all ages, including a children’s play area, street performers, artisans, live entertainment, fireworks, sand sculpting classes, speed sand demonstrations, and the master sand sculpting competition! Additionally, Pier 60 Park features a ferris wheel and amusements for added thrills.
To access a comprehensive list of all festivities, navigate to the activities page located at the top of the website at www.sugarsandfestival.com. SEA you soon!
Exhibit Hours:
- Sunday-Thursday 10am-9pm
- Friday-Saturday 10am-10pm
Activities:
- Frenchy’s Free Beach Concerts
- Street Performances
- White Claw Daytime Stage
- Cornhole Tournament
- Sand Sculpting Classes
- Baystar VIP Lounge Experience
- VSPC Photo Opportunity
- Tropico/Hyatt Sand Bar
- Spectrum Fireworks
- Clearwater Gas Speed Sand Demonstration
- Amusements (water slides, bounce houses, bungee jump, ferris wheel)
- Artisans (handmade treasures by the sea)
- Winter the Dolphin’s Beach Club Interactive Art Installation
- College Wall Art Master Sand Sculpting Competition
- Beachside Hospitality Front Line Fridays
- Parrot Head Beach Cleanup
- Classic VW Car Show
- Pro-Amateur Competition
- Sunset Salsa & Bachata
- Butterfly Exhibit
The closest public parking lot to the event is the Pier 60 lot ($3/hr.) located just southwest of the roundabout, beach side. Street parking can be found both north and south of the roundabout. Two public parking garages are located near the venue on Coronado (Hyatt Regency and Surf Style) and one public parking garage located on north beach in the Pelican Walk Plaza. Full list of parking spots at www.myclearwater.com/Visit-the-Beach/Find-Beach-Parking.
