CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — Texas SandFest is set to kick off Friday morning!
Online sales are closed, but you can still buy tickets at the even in-person.
Texas SandFest Vice President Richard Kay says the festival flies in some of the best sculptors from around the world to create some of the best work you can see!
While there will be public parking available, Kay says the use of public transportation is encouraged, as several hundreds of people will be expected to attend.
Time Parke, a volunteer coordinator with the festival said that about 420 volunteers will contribute a combined 4,000 hours of their time to celebrate SandFest 2024. More than 100 of those volunteers are high school students.
Parke says the festival gave around $300,000 in scholarships to high school students last year.
New This Year
Texas SandFest is MOVING down the beach to markers 13–17. This means that the general parking lot by the North gate will now be located at beach marker 9 with the exit at Avenue G (marker 0). The South end general parking entrance will be at marker 19 with the exit at 17.5. See here for more parking information, including ADA and VIP parking information. Sandcastle Dr. will still be closed to through traffic.
YouTube personality Andy Hancock will be kicking off the week on Monday, April 15 with free public demonstrations in the afternoons from 1 p.m. onwards so you can come and learn anything you want to from a Beach Sand Sculpture Professional! These FREE Public Demonstrations will be every day through Thursday, April 18. Press and sponsors are welcome to come and film and ask questions. This is also your chance to buy tickets in advance to avoid the crowds and lines. In addition, Andy will be offering a very limited number (four only) of family group sandcastle lessons where the participants will not only have a chance to learn what it takes to build a monster sculpture/castle but will also include a BIG bonus—if you wish to borrow a complete set of buckets and forms before you enter the Amateur Competition, they will available to USE. Andy's only quote on winning is, "Time and teamwork are the most important!" Come and meet Andy who will be pleased to help you with almost anything!
Albert Lucio and Suzanne Altamare both said they first began building intricate sandcastles by chance, now they bring some of the best to our beaches.
There will be NO public RV parking lot inside the bollards. Learn more about parking and shuttles at Texas SandFest here.
We have added a Guest Relations Tent, which will be located just outside the North gate.
We will be offering advanced wristband sales on Wednesday and Thursday at the Guest Services tent from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Cash only.
The Port Aransas Tourism Bureau & Chamber of Commerce will now be located at the North gate next to Guest Relations.
An elderly and disabled drop-off at the North gate has been added.
Advanced sign-up for free use of beach wheelchair is now available here.