Sand sculpting competition expected to bring thousands to Misquamicut Beach

WESTERLY, R.I. (WLNE) — The second annual Atlantis Rising International Sand Sculpting competition is expected to bring tens of thousands of worldwide visitors to Westerly shores from Friday to Monday.

With tons of sand being shipped in from Rhode Island refineries, artists competing in this year’s Atlantis Rising international Sand Sculpture competition will be building much more than castles.

Event organizer and judge Greg Grady said they import 300 tons of high quality sand from Rhode Island and New Hampshire quarries to allow sculptors to create spectacular works of art.

“What the sculptors prefer, so they can do the best job they can, is a really fine silty sand,” Grady said. “In our lesson piles we have something that comes from Rhode Island which is cleaner. The sculptures will be fantastic because of the quality of the sand.”

Sculptors like John Gowdy get 15 tons each to create a masterpiece. The secret to success, Gowdy said, is in the process.

“We get a pile of sand and a hose. We get all this wood in boxes that we put together, and we fill it with wet sand, and we pack it,” he said. “That’s really the secret, is compaction.”

Gowdy started his work called “Don’t Look” well in advance in order to have it fully sculpted in time for the big event.

While the monetary prize is a motivating factor, he says, he’s most inspired by the attendees.

“I like to please the people,” Gowdy said. “It’s a performance art. We wouldn’t be here without the people coming to this event, so I like making them cry, like make them laugh, I love getting emotion out of the crowd.”

Artists and attendees will visit from every corner of the globe, as South County Tourism Council creative director Faye Patazopolous points out.

“We are looking forward to you even more attendance this year than last year,” she said. “We had 26,000 people come through last year. We are bringing in artists from all over the world, from as far as South Korea, the Netherlands, Lithuania, Canada, and they’re all competing over four days to see who will win the cash prize.”

It’s one of the last big booms for tourism before cold weather sets in.

“It is a great shoulder season event as we say in the travel industry,” Panazopolous said. “This is not our peak season, this is a way for us to bring visitors to South County and the whole state of Rhode Island. It spreads the business everywhere, from the hotels to the restaurants to the shops.”

For that reason, she added, “I think it’s really putting Rhode Island on the map.”

Last year’s winner, Melineige Beauregard, came back from Maui, Hawaii to see if she can keep her title and take home the $7,500 top prize. She said it won’t be easy.

“The competition here is very hard, like everybody could have won, actually,” she said. “The sculptors are all like top class, the best of the world.”

But, she said, she’s up for the challenge, and invites you to enjoy the magic first-hand.

“Just come out, and you will be amazed,” she said.

This year’s theme is pirates, with an Aquaman lookalike and a Captain Jack Sparrow impersonator wandering the crowd for photo opportunities.

Attendees can also look forward to live music, food, and a spectacular light show. It all takes place at Misquamicut Beach, rain or shine.