LONG BEACH Long Beach is gearing up for the 27th year of SandSations with a multitude of events starting Wednesday, July 20, and culminating with the sand sculpture competition on Saturday, July 23.

Last year, the new SandSations event, City Sandsations was a huge hit. According to event organizer Becky Johnson, The merchants liked it, the tourists liked it and the local people liked it! The event, held in downtown Long Beach next to the police station, allows visitors to see sand sculpting in action with four solo sand artists and one masters team creating sandy works of art. The four solo artists will create individual sculptures while the masters team creates an entire scene, that when finished will serve as a backdrop for photos. The sculptors will start on Wednesday morning and should have the work completed by Friday afternoon. 

This years theme for the scene sculpture is Long Beach with Jake the Alligator Man and the Long Beach Arch likely making an appearance in the scene. Visitors can have their photos taken in front of the sculpture, with their own cameras, for a suggested donation of  $2. Stop by during the building process to see how these works of art come together. The finished sculptures will remain up through the following week. 

Also at City SandSations and running Wednesday through Friday will be a kids sand sculpting area and the SandSations trailer selling memorabilia and registering participants for the Saturday sand sculpting contest. Last minute registration will be from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Friday at the City SandSations lot. 

On Friday afternoon, a sidewalk chalk art contest will be held downtown by City Sandsations. That evening, stick around for the chili cook-off fundraiser, held near the sand sculptures from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. $5 gets you chili tasters from a variety of local restaurants including 42nd Street, Kellys Deli, Hungry Harbor, Bensons by the Beach, The Dunes, Lamplighter, Great Day Café and Shelburne and the chance to vote for your favorite. After some hearty chili, head to the beach for sand sculpting lessons from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. and the Sandsations bonfire at 8 p.m. 

The sand sculpture competition begins at 10 a.m. and goes until 3 p.m. Awards will be handed out at 3:30 p.m. Theres a category for every skill level: masters, intermediate, novice, families and children under 12. Organizers ask that after the sculptures are judged that spectators refrain from destroying the sculptures so that others can enjoy them before the tides come in. Also at the beach on Saturday will be the Sand Flea Pet Parade at noon hosted by South Pacific County Humane Society, who will be offering dogs treats and a fresh drink of water at their registration tent. 

Whether you get down and dirty for some competitive sand sculpting or leave it to the pros, SandSations weekend has something for everyone. According to Johnson, her favorite part is just seeing people having fun, especially the families that come in and do the sand building together. I like seeing them have fun creating memories.