HISTORY

About the Sandcastle Classic:

scc_logotype2019 year marks the 37th annual Sandcastle Classic on Ocean Beach, the biggest sandcastle competition in Northern California.

Teams of architects, engineers, contractors, designers, corporations, and local elementary school students work together to build giant sand sculptures. The funds raised by teams and sponsors make it possible for Leap to continue to provide arts programs to Bay Area students.

  • Thousands of people attend Leap’s annual Sandcastle Classic, which is free to the community.
  • The event is covered by regional print and online media, and celebrity judges evaluate the final sand sculptures.
  • More than 25 local schools and 300 donating companies and advertisers participate.
  • In 2016, the top team raised over $55,000
  • This year, we’re accepting a maximum of 30 teams. Sign up early to reserve your spot!

About the Leap Arts in Education:

Leap was established in 1979 in response to severe budget cuts in arts programs in California schools. These cutes continue to affect arts education in our schools today, and the need for high-quality arts  programs is now greater and ever. Leap’s programs place professional teaching artists in classrooms to work with grades K-5. Every year, these education programs – in music, dance, theater, creative writing, visual arts, and architecture – serve over 6,000 students in more than 25 elementary schools throughout the Bay Area.
Through Leap’s extended arts residencies, children build skills that are conducive to success in 21st century skills:
  • Creativity, entrepreneurialism, and inventiveness
  • Critical thinking and cognitive skills
  • Ability to set goals, experiment, solve problems and learn from mistakes
  • Acceptance of diversity and differing viewpoints
  • Ability to work collaboratively

Past Media Coverage:

2016 Event coverage

2015 SF Bay News Coverage: “Sandcastles soak up Ocean Beach spotlight”

2014 SF Bay News Coverage: “Shining sun spawns scrump­tious sand­castles”

Past Sandcastle Classic Themes & Photos:

castle-pyramid2018 – Building Bridges

2017 – Castles, Castles, Castles!

2016 – Makers & Movers

2015 – Sand Cinema

2014 – Food, Glorious Food

2013 – Masterpieces in Sand

2012 – Leap Year (Things That Jump!)

2011 – Sandblast

2010 – ‘Sand’ Francisco

2009 – Stories in the Sand: Classic Children’s Books

2008 – Freestyle

2007 – Nature Rocks

2006 – Leap Around the World

2005 – Comic Book Adventures

2004 – A Race to the Finish

2003 – Extreme Sandsculptures

2002 – Westward Ho!

2001 – A Sand Odyssey

2000 – Sandcastles from the 1st to the 21st Century

1999 – Animals

1998 – Bridges

1997 – Education

1984 – 1996 – Leap Sandcastle Classic

1983 – The FIRST Leap Sandcastle Classic!

Take a look at photos from past Sandcastle Classics on Flickr