Come next spring, Clearwater Beach will host the annual Pier 60 Sugar Sand Festival with a new theme that harkens back to prehistoric times. From April 11 to 27, 2025, visitors can explore "DinoShores: A Prehistoric Adventure in Sand!" as this year's immersive sand sculpture theme, announced by organizers.
The festival, now in it's eleventh triumph, elevates Clearwater's renowned sugar sand to artistic heights, combining sculptural expertise with entertainment for the masses. Over the course of its 17-day run, the event offers a diverse schedule that includes concerts and performances alongside the central attraction—the Sugar Sand Walk Exhibit. This key feature is set to expand to 24,000 square feet, promising the introduction of an augmented-reality experience that promises to add a new dimension to the intricate sand sculptures.
Access to this experience comes with a price tag of $14 per person, a sum that excludes the inevitable tax, but accommodates children under the tender age of 3, granting their curious eyes free admittance. Special individuals who weave the frontline fabric of our society—military personnel, police officers, firefighters, teachers, and healthcare workers—are afforded a measure of gratitude with discounted $10 tickets on designated days, dubbed "Beachside Hospitality 'Frontline Fridays’," according to the event's press release.
Moreover, this year's festival courts the collaborative talents of Tampa Bay Sandsculpting Co., the artisans who will bring to life this year's exhibit. Amidst the sculpted wonders, they offer as a gift to the public, free sand-sculpting classes. With tickets set to be available online in December at SugarSandFestival.com, anticipation is high—2024's event beckoned more than 200,000 visitors, and this year's promises to draw even the more.
