THE COASTAL BEND MAGAZINE • March/April 2018 77 TheCoastalBend.com Port Aransas Texas Sandfest—the biggest event of the year in Port Aransas One of the biggest sand sculpting contests in the United States takes place in Port Aransas each April, and this year’s event, the 22nd annual, marks a much-needed return to normality for Port A resi- dents, businesses and regular visitors. Over 50,000 guests from across the country, plus sand sculpting fans from around the world, will at- tend this three-day, family-fun celebration of art, the beach and the spirit of friendly competition. A dozen of the world’s master sand sculptors, plus a half- dozen highly-skilled amateurs, will have two days to create stunning works of natural art, tireless effort and precision sculpting skill. Almost 150 vendors of every imaginable variety will be on hand, including those selling a seemingly endless selection of awesome food and treats. Free sand castle building lessons are offered at Port A Logo Mountain, and amateur competitions are held in adult, teen and kids categories. Adults will enjoy the beer garden and kids and the fearless may want to take the jump of their lives on the 40-foot“Hippo” dry slide, or soar up to 25 feet in the air on the bun- gee trampoline ride. While well-behaved dogs on leashes are allowed at Sandfest, golf carts are not, as the festival zone on the beach will be pedestrian-only. One live band after another will entertain festival go- ers and sculptors starting at noon Friday, and 10:00 a.m. Saturday and Sunday, and playing until dusk, when each days’festivities wind down. A brand new, customized golf cart worth almost $20,000 will be raffled off as part of the overall fundraising mission of Texas Sandfest—to support local charitable orga- nizations and to fund scholarships for Port Aransas High School students. While Texas Sandfest raised a record $201,000 in 2017, the need this year has never been greater for the Port A community, as they continue down the long road of recovery and rebuilding following the historic damage caused by Hurricane Harvey last August. This year’s festival, along with Spring Break, Memorial Day Weekend, and the start of the summer season, are more important than ever for the health of the island’s economy. TexasSandfest.org