Shark Beach brought the Texas coast to the Panhandle during Amarillo’s first Sandcastle Days, a four-day festival held Sept. 18-21 that drew thousands of visitors for towering sculptures, live music and hands-on learning. The event partnered with Virginia Beach and South Padre Island Sandcastle Days to give locals a taste of authentic coastal culture with more than 16 tons of sand, professional artists, food trucks and interactive exhibits.
World-class sculptors push the limits of sand
Eight internationally recognized artists — from Texas to Japan — competed in the music-themed contest, carving intricate works despite the Panhandle’s notoriously “thirsty” sand.
- Karen Fralich of Canada, a five-time world champion, captured first place with her playful “Crocodile Rock.”
- Joaquin Cortez of Stephenville, Texas, earned second with “On the Road Again,” a Willie Nelson tribute that nearly collapsed before he rescued it. “Thousands of pounds of sand, lots of shoveling — and Brian gave us a three-hour lunch every day, which helped,” Cortez joked. When the bottom mold cracked, “it started to crack on all four sides and I had to spend all day shoveling sand back to save it,” he said.
- Vadim Bandarets of Belarus garnered third place with “Perfect Day,” a detailed portrait of New York musician Lou Reed.
- Abe Waterman of Canada honored blues legend Blind Willie Johnson with “Dark Was the Night, Cold Was the Ground.”
- Yoshi Matsui of Japan carved the soulful “Me and Bobby McGee.”
- Emerson Schreiner, a Western Michigan native now living in Galveston, created the whimsical instrument-face hybrid “Live Music.”
- Bogham Kutsevych of Ukraine shaped “Deejay,” a turntable artist frozen mid-mix.
- Jakub Zimacek of the Czech Republic presented “Imagine,” inspired by the John Lennon classic.
Each artist spent three days stacking, pounding and carving their sculptures, sometimes working late into the night to finish details before judging. Despite the dry, absorbent sand that demanded constant watering, the competitors produced sharp textures and complex designs that stood more than 10 feet tall.
A community turns out
Shark Beach co-owner Brian Bailey, who spearheaded the event, called the turnout a blessing and a surprise. “The people of this community embraced us and supported something that’s never happened here,” he said. “There was even a rumor on social media that the whole thing was AI-generated. Folks were trying to convince others it was real — and it was.”
Bailey estimated roughly 5,000 visitors attended during the weekend, with another 1,600 students from lower-income and special-needs schools visiting for private field trips earlier in the week. Many of those students and festival-goers received live demonstrations from the professional sculptors, who showed how to pack and carve the sand, teaching techniques normally reserved for coastal competitions. “Kids were learning to build their first sandcastles right alongside a couple of the artists,” Bailey said. “The look on their faces was priceless. For many of these children, this was the first time they had ever touched beach sand.”
The field trips featured 90-student sessions where artists explained how to use water, pressure and carving tools to turn loose sand into solid art. Parents and teachers said the hands-on lessons matched Texas curriculum standards on art and science, turning the festival into an unexpected classroom.
Music, food and local flavor
Local music kept the grounds lively all weekend. Touching Voodoo and Solano Project headlined a rotating lineup that also included Andy Chase, Tennesse Tuckness, Cameron James Smith, and Bomb City Groove, mixing blues, rock and funk under the warm September sun. Between sets, visitors browsed a flurry of vendors selling beach-themed merchandise and festival snacks, while others joined in games and contests. A spirited tater tot eating competition drew cheering crowds, and professional artists offered sand-sculpture lessons for families eager to try their own hand at carving.
Bailey said the visiting sculptors were impressed not only by the size of the crowd, but also by Amarillo’s hospitality. “A couple of the artists told me this was one of the greatest events they’ve ever been to,” he said. “They felt like they were in Mayberry because everyone was so kind — holding doors, striking up conversations, asking about their work.”
Despite the challenges, the artists completed intricate pieces that drew steady lines of spectators throughout the weekend. Several competitors said they hope to return if the festival continues.
Weather, risk and reward
The biggest hurdle, Bailey said, was the unpredictable September weather. A storm cell passed within a mile of Shark Beach on opening night. “It was a huge risk and investment,” he said. “Scared money doesn’t make money. We prayed the weather would hold, and the Lord blessed us.”
Even without the general public, Bailey said, the week of school visits alone was enough to make the effort worthwhile. “Watching kids who had never touched sand like this build their first sculpture — that’s something I’ll never forget.”
Looking ahead
Buoyed by the strong turnout and enthusiastic feedback, Bailey said he hopes to make Sandcastle Days a permanent part of Amarillo’s fall calendar. “Lord willing and sponsor willing, we’re going to make this an annual event,” he said. “Our sponsors and volunteers — about 40 people during the build week — believed in us when nobody else did. I’m praying they’ll stay with us so we can keep bringing this world-class art back to Amarillo.”
For updates on next year’s Sandcastle Days and other Shark Beach events, visit sharkbeachamarillo.com or follow Shark Beach on social media.