By Forum Staff
The beloved Rockaway Beach Sandcastle Contest makes its return to Beach 108th Street this Saturday, Aug. 2.
Registration for the contest, hosted by City Councilwoman Joann Ariola (R-Ozone Park), will be in-person from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. The competition will follow from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Registrants are asked to bring their own shovels and pails. Categories will be ages 9 and under; 10 to 18 year olds; and 19 and over. Prizes will be awarded to the first, second, and third place winners of each category. Participants will be judged on creativity, detail, and originality.
“This is something that has been a summer staple for a lot of people in Rockaway, and when I heard that this thirty-year-old tradition was in danger of fading away I knew I had to step in and preserve it,” said Councilwoman Ariola. “I’ve served as a judge for the contest in the past, and I’ve seen how much fun the participants have and how much real dedication and skill goes into some of the winning pieces. These people are truly artists, and it’s great to give them this kind of platform to show off their work and also give the community another event to come together around.”
Harold Paez, president of the Rockaway Civic Association and one of the judges for this year’s contest, added, “Not only is it a chance to exhibit artistic talent and perseverance in building with sand; it is a reminder of how the child in us can always find happiness in getting back to what made us happy in childhood. What’s better than a sunny summer day, the sound of the ocean, a bucket full of sand, and imagination!”
