Cannon Beach, Oregon will host its 54th annual Sandcastle Contest Saturday, June 9, the oldest competition of its kind in the Pacific Northwest and the most popular event in this Oregon Coast town. Dozens of teams of professional sand sculpture artists, amateur groups and families will construct remarkable creations in the sand during the event. The Masters division teams compete for cash prizes and construct large, elaborate creations often utilizing construction forms similar to those used for pouring concrete in order to accomplish their monumental size.

Although the sand sculpture contest on Saturday is the highlight of the weekend, visitors will find plenty of other activities to keep them busy. Weekend activities include the Sandcastle Parade on Friday afternoon; a beach bonfire with live music on Saturday evening; and the Singing Sands 5K fun run and walk on Sunday morning. Judging of the sandcastles begins at 5:30pm on Saturday, making 4-6pm the best time for viewing the completed sculptures. The tide will determine how long the sculptures last.

In 2014, the Cannon Beach Sandcastle Contest was recognized as an Oregon Heritage Tradition by the Oregon Parks & Recreation Department, making it one of just 11 events statewide to achieve such a designation. An Oregon Heritage Tradition is an event with broad public appeal, with at least 50 years of continuous operation and that contributes to the identity of the state.

Make lodging reservations early for this popular weekend as hotels typically sell out all rooms in advance. Day-trippers should plan on arriving early. The Sandcastle Contest is the only day of the year when the beach is used for parking to accommodate the large crowds, but cars must be off the beach by 6:30pm to avoid potential issues with the incoming tide.

To learn more about the colorful history surrounding Cannon Beach's Sandcastle Contest go to Turning Sand & Water Into Tradition. Look for a complete schedule of weekend events at 2018 Sandcastle Events.

For information on how to participate, contact the Cannon Beach Chamber of Commerce at (503) 436-2623. Find out where to stay, access CannonBeach.org for lodging information and things to do.