Over the weekend, a series of massive artistic sand sculptures appeared on Granada Beach in Belmont Shore. One depicted a giant sperm whale dragging a bearded Captain Ahab. Another was of a giant mechanical animal dubbed “The Steampunk Bison.” And the largest and most detailed one, built in honor of the event’s community sponsor Kool-Aid, showed the company’s mascot pitcher busting out of a brick wall with a speech bubble saying, “Oh yeaahh!”

For the 81st year, the Great Sand Sculpture Contest took over Long Beach shores, this year combining a professional and community competition with a mini beachside festival that included arts and crafts, a kid’s zone and vendors from many local organizations. 

The theme of “Sculpting Literacy in Your Community” was also realized both through the many community sand sculpture entries and the presence of a tented “reading zone,” provided by the Long Beach Public Library. 

Nearly 40 community teams competed in the public competition, with all proceeds being donated to the Long Beach Public Library Foundation, which promotes childhood and adult literacy throughout the city. 

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