Here’s how many people attended Manitowoc's inaugural Wisconsin Sand Sculpting Festival
MANITOWOC – The inaugural Wisconsin Sand Sculpting Festival July 14-16 brought more than 8,000 attendees to Red Arrow Park and Beach, organizers said Tuesday.
Manitowoc Sunrise Rotary and Visit Manitowoc, the city’s tourism department, partnered with The Sand Lovers to bring the new event to town. Sponsors, in-kind donors and more than 70 volunteers also supported the event.
Organizers said the attendance exceeded estimates of 6,000 visitors based on similar sand sculpting events in Michigan and Indiana.
Hotel occupancy was at 96% Saturday night, the highest Manitowoc has seen so far this summer, organizers added.
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“Manitowoc shined to thousands as we hosted the inaugural Wisconsin Sand Sculpting Festival,” Courtney Hansen, director of Visit Manitowoc, said in a news release. “The event showcased Red Arrow Park and Beach to both visitors and residents and proved that this area can become the site for other exciting events in summers to come. Plus, after attending the festival, visitors spent money at our restaurants, stores and hotels, making this entire weekend an economic booster for the Manitowoc area. We can’t wait to bring this event back to Manitowoc’s beautiful lakefront in 2024 and are confident it’s going to be even bigger and better!”
Kathy Bernhart, Manitowoc Sunrise Rotary president, added in the release: “Manitowoc Sunrise Rotary is very pleased with the event and will be using the profits to continue their efforts to support childhood literacy by purchasing books for 4K children and ongoing education through college scholarships to UW-Green Bay Manitowoc Campus and Lakeshore Technical College as well as scholarships to The World Affairs seminar in Milwaukee.”
The weekend consisted of hands-on lessons, sand sculpting demonstrations, a kids’ area, live music, food, drinks and vendors. Admission was $5.
Semi-Pro Sand Sculpting Wisconsin State Championship awards
First place, People’s Choice and Sculptor’s Choice went to “Leonardo Pre-Ninja” by Bob May.
Second place was “Sleeping Bear Dune,” by John Martinez.
And third place was “Drink Me,” by Dottie Willison.
Judging panel for these awards included the Wisconsin Department of Tourism Cabinet Secretary Anne Sayers, Manitowoc Mayor Justin Nickels, Manitowoc Common Council President Eric Sitkiewitz and Rahr-West Art Museum Director Greg Vadney.
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Amateur Sand Sculpting Wisconsin State Championship awards
Adult Solo: First place, “Sand Castle,” by Ryan Metzner; second place, “Hogwarts,” by Shauna Clemens
Family/Group: First place, “Octopus Garden,” by Team VanThiel; second place, “Octopus Attack,” by Autumn Farrell; third place, “Freedom,” by Lori Lex and Family
Children: “Green Bay,” by Christian Wiley
Semi-Pro Quick Sand Speed Sculpting Wisconsin State Champion: “Baby Yoda,” by Jim Ford
Contact Brandon Reid at 920-686-2984 or breid@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at @breidHTRNews.
This article originally appeared on Manitowoc Herald Times Reporter: Manitowoc hotels were crowded during Wisconsin Sand Sculpting Festival
