Galveston Sandcastle Festival

Every summer in Galveston, experience over 60 teams competing to win the prestigious Golden Bucket Award.

The AIA Houston & La Izquierda Galveston Sandcastle Festival is a fundraising event for AIA Houston and ArCH Foundation as well as one of the top five revenue-generating events for the City of Galveston.

Multiple sculptures on display at the Galveston Sandcastle Competition.

About Galveston Sandcastle Festival

Galveston Sandcastle Festival is a music, food and family festival hosted on East Beach in Galveston, TX, centered around the AIA Houston Sandcastle Competition.

Expect a fun, family friendly atmosphere and an amazing Sandcastle competition showcasing local music, food, art and small businesses from Galveston and the Houston area .

Look Back on Galveston Sandcastle Festival 2024
What to Expect
Day 1

Competitors are hitting the sand and building for five intense hours as they fight to maintain the structural integrity of their sculptures. The competition is considered one of the world’s largest amateur sandcastle competitions and draws thousands of spectators to watch teams vie for the coveted Golden Bucket Award. Plus, attendees can partake in free sandcastle-building lessons from a professional sandcastle builder!

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Day 2

By popular demand, the Galveston Park Board is working to help teams maintain the event's sandcastles overnight for beachgoers to take in these architectural marvels (with smaller crowds). There are also free sandcastle building lessons in conjunction with this viewing at 11AM, 1PM and 3PM.

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Galveston Sandcastle Festival

Rent a cabana from East Beach Cantina and Rentals during the Galveston Sandcastle Festival for a relaxing, shaded spot right by the action. Enjoy prime beachfront seating with all-day access to food, drinks, and the perfect view of incredible sand sculptures.

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Directions: Galveston Causeway to East Beach

East Beach is located at the very far eastern tip of the Island on Boddecker Drive. To get there, take Seawall Boulevard past Stewart Beach two miles until it dead ends. Then hang a right on Boddecker and follow the beach road all the way down.

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What's Next on Island Time?

Planning to visit Galveston Island and looking to attend an event?

Here's what's coming up...
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2602 Santa Fe Place
Galveston, Texas 77550

This event is currently underway.

2701 Market St
Galveston, Texas 77550

This event is currently underway.

8423 Stewart Rd
Galveston, Texas 77554

There are future dates for this event and it is currently underway.

5222 Seawall Blvd
Galveston, Texas 77551

There are future dates for this event.

2127 Broadway
Galveston, TX 77550

123 25th Street
Galveston, TX 77550