Cannon Beach, Oregon, will host its 55th annual Sandcastle Contest Saturday, June 8, 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 afternoon is the highlight of the weekend, visitors will find plenty of other activities to keep them busy. Saturday morning kicks off with a pancake breakfast at the American Legion and sandcastle building starts on the beach near Haystack Rock at 9:30am. Official judging begins at 2:30pm, making 1-3pm the best time for viewing the completed sculptures. The tide will determine how long the sculptures last. Later Saturday evening, there will be a beach bonfire with s'mores and live music starting at 7pm. On Sunday morning, participants can enjoy the Singing Sands 5K fun run and walk starting at 9am on the beach at 2nd Street. (Registration starts at 8am.)

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 22 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 reservations soon 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 3pm to avoid potential issues with the incoming tide.

Find a complete 2019 schedule of weekend events at Sandcastle Contest Activities