Coney Island’s annual Sand Sculpting Contest; in photos

On Saturday, August 19, sand sculptures of all ages and experience levels converged upon Coney Island Beach and Boardwalk to compete in the 27th Annual Coney Island Sand Sculpting Contest, presented by Brooklyn Community Services, Neptune/Sixth, and Astella Development Corp and Alliance.

Participants and revelers alike couldn’t have asked for a better day, weather-wise, to host the competition, with temperatures climbing into the high 80s and a mild breeze here and there that made the heat somewhat bearable.

Even with a grand prize of $500 on the line, competitors kept the mood light and seemed to be having fun above all else. There were four categories under which sculptors had a chance to claim prizes: individuals, groups, families, and the people’s choice award.

In the end, it was the Brooklyn-based sculptor pictured below who claimed prizes for both the individual award and the people’s choice award. His tactic: becoming a crowd favorite by joking around with observers and encouraging everyone to vote for him.

Check out some more of the cool sand sculptures from this year’s Coney Island Sand Sculpting Competition below:

To see even more of the action, enjoy the video below: