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Pentwater Homecoming sand sculpture contest Aug. 10.
PENTWATER — When one thinks of eating something in Pentwater they really enjoyed, what comes to mind? An ice cream cone or sundae? Fish? Corn on the cob? A favorite local restaurant? A slice of grandma’s pie? Thanksgiving turkey? Hot dog or brat? Popcorn?
Hold that thought and think of how to sculpt it in damp sand on Charles Mears State Park’s beautiful beach.
Round up a team of family members or friends and head on down to the beach Friday, August 10, for this year’s Pentwater Sand Sculpture Contest. Teams this year will be judged on how well they sculpt a design that reflects Pentwater’s 2018 Homecoming theme “Taste of Pentwater.”
“There are endless possibilities,” said Pentwater Service Club member Ron Beeber, who chairs the event. The club has been sponsoring the event for many years. “Our club’s motto is ‘Making a Great Place Even Better,’ and nothing illustrates this thought better than bringing together Pentwater residents and visitors who compete against each other on that glorious strip of Lake Michigan beach each August during Homecoming Week.”
Those thinking of entering for the first time, as well as returning teams, should now start planning their designs, and learning or refining their sand sculpting skills. A number of videos offering tips are posted on YouTube.
Some 35 teams of families and friends typically enter each year. They bring tools that include buckets, long and short-handled shovels, sheets of aluminum flashing and straps to use as forms, a straw to blow through for fine detail work, feathers, water spritzers, and assorted shaping tools like putty knives, spoons and forks.
Team registration begins at 8 a.m. at the state park pavilion. There is no fee to enter the competition. Judging begins at 11 a.m., with first/second/third-place trophies in each of seven categories awarded at noon. Teams will compete in the following age groups (determined by the age of the oldest team member): Ages 1-7, 8-9, 10-12, 13-and-over; and Family Flights A, B and C.
Entering teams will be judged on four criteria: adherence to the homecoming theme, creativity, attention to detail, and neatness. Sculptures must be in sand and water only, but items found naturally on our Lake Michigan beach – such as dune grass, feathers, driftwood, and zebra mussel shells – can be used for decoration.
Free parking is available at the state park for vehicles with a State of Michigan recreation passport. For more information, check out the “Pentwater Sand Sculpture Contest” community page on Facebook, or call 313-498-0155.
The Pentwater Homecoming celebration is set for Aug. 9-12. The grand parade begins at 4 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 11, and fireworks begin at dusk.
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