The giant Sand Safari sculptures will return to the Gold Coast waterfront in March 2023 under a new name. Beyond the Sand Art Festival will go one step further, showcasing artistic talent with live music and circus performances.
This year will see some changes to our favourite sand sculpture event, with the new name of Sand Safari and its extension to Beyond the Sand Art Festival.
If you're looking for something fun and free to do this summer in Surfers Paradise, then this is it! For nine days, from 13 to 21 March, local and national artists will create an extravaganza of fun and creativity.
The theme for 2021 is CIRCUS CARNIVAL and I can't wait to see what the artists do with it. There will be giant sand sculptures created along the front against a backdrop of waves and golden sand, but there's more on the way. We'll be treated to regular daily circus shows and an exciting range of live music. Best of all, for local families, the event is free and has a COVID safety plan, so make sure you have this one on the calendar.
Details are still being finalised, but as artists are confirmed and the schedule is finalised, you'll see those details here.
The event has had various themes over its ten year history, with recent years focusing on cartoons including Disney Magical Friendships and Dreamworks Heros. The CIRCUS theme will take things in a different direction and we can't wait to see where it goes.
One thing that has been consistent is that the artwork has been really incredible. These 'sandcastle' monsters are no lightweight, 10-25 tonnes of sand are packed and then sculpted to create each one. They are made entirely of sand and water, but a waterproof sealant is applied to the finished sculpture to make it a little more resistant to the elements.
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We understand that the event will expand on the layout of previous years which featured a giant interactive sculpture section in the middle of the exhibition area and this is an opportunity to watch a sculpture being created and chat to some of the artists.
The compact sand is packed in several layers to keep it firmly packed. Sections are removed one at a time and the design is cut from top to bottom. It's pretty amazing to see the design reveal itself from the wet sand pieces, the artists will be working on the design between 9.30am and 6pm each day. Once finished, you can have your photo taken with the screen.
Our favourite sand sculptures from previous years
Winnie the Pooh
Jino Van Bruinessen lives in the Blue Mountains and has been sculpting in sand since 1992. He attends over 20 major sculpture events a year, creating incredible works like this one. He won first place in the Sand Safari 2015 competition with his creation 100 Acre Wood.
The Lion King
Dae Young Ji (Louis) studied sculpture at university and works in a variety of mediums, including sand, rock and snow. Louis won second place in the Gold Coast competition with his Lion King-inspired creation.
Ratatouille
Third place went to Leo Vamvalis for this image of Ratatouille. Leo started sculpting sand on the beaches of Rye in 2000 and has travelled to competitions in Denmark, Belgium and Singapore. The chiselled cuts on this piece make it particularly impressive.
Surfers Paradise is an ideal destination for a day out, but even better when an event like the Beyond the Sand Art Festival is taking place. The beach offers a wide expanse of soft white sand and sparkling waters, there are surfer-supervised swimming areas, then just across the road are AMAZING cafes.
There's always something going on here, from impromptu beach volleyball games to Friday night markets. If you haven't been to Surfers Paradise in a while, this is the perfect excuse to return.
Admission to Beyond the Sand is free, so why not spend a day relaxing on the golden sands of Surfers Paradise or perhaps continue exploring the less populated beaches further south on the Gold Coast.
Have you had a chance to see Beyond the Sand or any of the many sand sculpture festivals on beaches around the world? Let me know which ones you think are the best in the comments below.
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