Clearwater Beach is getting buried in style. The Pier 60 Sugar Sand Festival returns March 27, 2026, for a 17‑day run through April 12, bringing with it a 24,000‑square‑foot, walk‑through Sugar Sand Walk exhibit sculpted from more than 1,000 tons of Clearwater’s famously fine white sand. Organizers say the towering sand sculptures are just the start, with live music, food and family programming stacked across multiple marquee weekends.
What you'll see inside the Sugar Sand Walk
Inside a climate‑controlled tent, 18 master sculptors are set to turn roughly 1,000 tons of sand into larger‑than‑life creations across a 24,000‑square‑foot footprint, according to the festival's website Sugar Sand Festival. Exhibit hours are listed as 10 a.m.–9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 10 a.m.–10 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, with some extended hours on opening weekend, per the festival schedule. Organizers also highlight an augmented‑reality element this year alongside the permanent sculptural displays.
Music, classes and family‑friendly extras
The action spills out onto the beach with free concerts, sand‑sculpting classes, speed‑sand demonstrations, a Ferris wheel and a Pro‑Am competition, Visit St. Pete‑Clearwater notes. Opening‑week performers include The Fulcos on March 27 and Cutty Jones x Jay Slay on March 28, with Whosoever South on the schedule for April 11. Several Saturdays are set to wrap up with fireworks. Families can also tap into kids' sand art sessions and free daily activities that help fill the gaps between sculpture tours.
Tickets, deals and VIP options
Tickets to the Sugar Sand Walk Exhibit are sold online, with the festival's ticket page listing general admission at $16 plus tax and Baystar VIP Lounge packages starting at $75, which include fast‑lane entry and a souvenir photo. Gate‑only discounts for frontline workers and special senior pricing on select Tuesdays are available on specific dates, according to the festival's ticket page Sugar Sand Festival. Organizers recommend purchasing ahead of time to dodge the longest lines on busy weekend days.
Getting there: parking, ferry and tips
The festival is a big draw, and parking near Pier 60 can fill up early; Visit St. Pete‑Clearwater points drivers to the Pier 60 lot and nearby garages and suggests hopping on the Clearwater Ferry or the Jolley Trolley to avoid bridge traffic altogether. The tourism site links to the city’s interactive parking map and notes meter rates and garage options for weekend visitors. Showing up early or planning a park‑and‑ride setup can make the day smoother, especially during spring break and holiday weekends.
Community impact and the city's announcement
City officials say the festival supports the Sunsets at Pier 60 nonprofit and local educational initiatives while bringing substantial visitor traffic to the beach, according to a City of Clearwater press release City of Clearwater. The city has also shared photos and a short announcement on its official Facebook page as it promotes the March 27 opening. For the full schedule and ticket purchases, organizers direct visitors to the festival website and the city's social announcement.
