Welcome to the official site of the Imperial Beach’s Sun & Sea Festival — one of San Diego County’s most popular and fun events. The competition is over for 2022 and is going on hiatus for 2023, but we will be back stronger than ever August 16-17, 2024! Stay tuned and if you have an interest in volunteering for the 2024 committee, send us an email.
2022 Winners!
Ninth Annual Sun & Sea Festival’s Sand Castle Competition Winners
The ninth annual Sun & Sea Festival was a rousing success. Once again, the family-friendly event, featured the best Master’s sandcastle carving competition in San Diego County. The best part is that sculptures, along with the giant monument castle, will be on display for the next week so if you missed the competition, visit us now at Portwood Pier Plaza in Imperil Beach to check them out. Thanks goes to the event sponsors longtime sponsors: The Port of San Diego, CAL AM Water, the County of San Diego, and the City of Imperial Beach, and ATT. Thanks to local businesses EDCO, State Farm Insurance and Sea Breeze Apartments. And appreciation for the volunteer committee; Co-Chairs Leah Goodwin, Karl Bradley, Leila Nagel, Virginia Syverson, Anne Pilgrim, Shirley Nakawatase, Leonard Gonzales, Mike Simms, Julie Walke and Don Brennan.
2022 Masters Class Winners: Professional Sand Carvers
1st Place-Team: Sandcastle Kit, Name: Day at the Beach
2nd Place–Team: Sculpting San Diego, Name: Tiki Beach Party
3rd Place –Team: I.B. Posse Name: Sea Dreamer
People’s Choice – Sculpintures – Name: This is the Way
Kids ‘N Kastles Winners!
2022 Kids ‘N Kastles Winners Sponsored by the Imperial Beach Optimist Club
Competition was stiff this year as nineteen signed up and seventeen teams competed at the Kids ‘n Kastles event. Some came from as far as Riverside County and Mexico. All winners received medals from longtime sponsor Judy Sisson at IB Trophies. First and second place kids received craft kits. Third place received a small beach towel with swim goggles.
Best Sculpture/Sand Castle:
First Place: Garcia Kids (Laura and Miguel Garcia)
Second Place: Henry Family (Indigo Henry, the mascot; Liam Henry, Carson Henry, Sterling Henry, Ashton Henry, Ryder Henry)
Third Place: Sand Scouts (Kaeli Owen, Taylor, Fallon, Claire, Charlotte and others)
Sea Creatures:
First Place:Smart Little Dudes (Lee Lopez, Cash Davies, Noah Davies, Braxton Peterson, Layton Peterson)
Second Place: Good Ole Boys (Carson Hayes, Collin Hayes, Kai Gomez, Kaleu Gomez, Angel Buzo)
Third Place: Mermaid Maker – (Sabrina Shope)
Master Sand Carving Teams Announced in the IB Sun & Sea Fest Competition
On Saturday, July 16, four master sand-carving teams will compete, in one of San Diego County’s favorite summer traditions, on the sand at Imperial Beach’s famed Portwood Pier Plaza. This year there won’t be a street festival or parade but, like last year, the monument castle and the four master sandcastles will stay on display at Imperial Beach from July 16-July 24. The free, family-friendly, no-alcohol festival is open to the public. The sandcastle contest will take place from 8 a.m. -2 p.m. on the sand in Imperial Beach. The four-person teams will start building their forms on Friday, July 15 and start sculpting. The timed portion of the contest takes place on Saturday. Master Teams competing this year are: IB Posse, Sculpting San Diego, Sandcastle Kit and Sculpintures.
IB Posse, 2019 Master’s Third Place named See the Difference – Sea the Indifference
Sculpting San Diego; 2017 – Masters Third Place named Social Extinction
Sandcastle Kit’s Chris Crosson Sr.
Sculpintures; 2019 People’s Choice Winner named IB Shiny Photo
2022 Monument Castle
The 2022 Monument or Exhibition Castle will be a collaboration between sand artists from all of the four teams plus members from another local team called the Sand Squirrels. This sculpture is traditionally bigger than the competing castles as team members sculpt throughout the week. Featured on this year’s monument castle are the logos of longtime sponsors: The Port of San Diego, CAL AM Water, the County of San Diego, and the City of Imperial Beach, and ATT.
Sponsored by:
Thanks to our Friends of Sun & Sea:
State Farm Insurance
Sea Breeze Apartments