Hundreds of people descended on San Francisco’s Ocean Beach on Saturday under sunny skies to build sandcastles in a competition that raised money to fund arts education in schools.
The 41st annual Sandcastle Classic was organized by Leap Arts in Education, a nonprofit. Pledges on the event’s website indicated more than $220,000 was raised by the event, benefiting 30 schools.
More than 20 teams of students and adults competed in the contest, building sculptures that ranged from traditional-looking castles to fantastical creatures with a Halloween theme. The event also included a dog costume contest.
Organizers say the event is Northern California’s largest sandcastle competition.
Companies come together to form teams with elementary school students and work together to design, create and build sandcastle structures. Generally, teams include a general contractor, an engineering company and an architecture/design company. Teams pay a $500 registration fee, and each team aims to raise at least $4,250 for their partner school.
The Best in Show winner was Team Mall of the Pumpkins—Whiting-Turner Contracting, Syska Hennessy Group, Stantec, Buro Happold, Introba and Clarendon Elementary.
