Sandbanks visitors sculpt buckets of fun

"It's in the details, I normally create mermaids," said Alan Walsh, of Ottawa, a participant in the Friends of Sandbanks Sandfest, Wednesday at Sandbanks Provincial Park. Bill Samuel photo

Bill Samuel
Mermaids, an octopus, castles and a snowman (sandman?) were among the many sand sculptures that decorated the shore of Sandbanks Provincial Park Wednesday morning.
The day was perfect for building sand sculptures with a light breeze, clear skies and a temperature of about 25C. Event organizers. The Friends of Sandbanks Park, were thrilled with the wather for this year’s Sandfest which attracted about 110  young and young-at-heart sculptors.
Sandfest is held to raise awareness of the beautiful Sandbanks Provincial Park  south-west of Picton on the shore of Lake Ontario. In its fourth year, Sandfest is not a judged contest and all participants receive a prize.
“It seems to be quite successful,” said Don Metcalfe, volunteer with the Friends of Sandbanks. “It doesn’t hurt to have a day like this.”
Family fun is the theme of the event. Each sculptor paid $1 or $5 for family/group and were assigned a roped-off section approximately 3-by-3 meters to create their masterpiece.
“This is our first time to enter this event,” said Melaine Griffin, of Kingston. “I like to build a sand sculpture every year. It lets the kid out of me.”
Nautical themes were popular.  Sculptures included mermaids and an octopus, traditional sand castle techniques and one (a true Canadian) created a smiling snowman (sandman?).
The Friends of Sandbanks Park is an incorporated, non-profit, charitable organization. The Sandbanks Provincial Park is noted for its picturesque sand dunes and beaches. It also has the world’s largest fresh water sand bar and dune system.