2017 Sugar Sand Festival: What To Know Before You Go

CLEARWATER, FL – Once again, Clearwater Beach will be celebrating its most famous attraction: The white sand that makes it one of the top beaches in the world.

The Pier 60 Sugar Sand Festival features one of the Bay area’s largest sand sculpture exhibits and competitions, along with live music, movies and other entertainment. The 10-day event, which is part of Sun ‘n Fun Clearwater, draws more than 100,000 people to enjoy the white sandy beach and the free events.

Here’s what area residents need to know before you go to the 2017 Sugar Sand Festival:

Dates and Times

The 2017 Sugar Sand Festival is scheduled to take place from Friday, April 14 to Sunday, April 23. The hours are 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. all days except for April 23, which will be 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Location and Parking

The event takes place on the beach near Pier 60, 1 Causeway Blvd., Clearwater. The closest parking to the event is the Pier 60 parking lot and the Clearwater Marina parking lot. There are parking garages at Surf Style and the Hyatt Regency, along with metered spots along nearby streets.

The Jolley Trolley will offer service from Dunedin, Palm Harbor and Tarpon Springs to Clearwater Beach. For more information, visit http://www.clearwaterjolleytrolley.com/.

The Clearwater Ferry also offers service during the Sugar Sand Festival, with service between downtown Clearwater and Clearwater Beach. For more information, visit http://www.clearwaterferry.com/.

Tickets

Tickets to the Sugar Sand Walk exhibition tent are $10 for adults and $6 for students age 6 to 17. Children 5 and younger are admitted free with an adult purchase. Seniors 55 and older, plus police, fire, military and educators are $8, with ID. Tickets can be purchased online at http://sugarsandfestival.com/buy-tickets/.

All other attractions at the Sugar Sand Festival are free to attend.

Shephard’s VIP Lounge Experience

New to the 2017 Sugar Sand Festival is the Shephard’s VIP Lounge Experience, which offers access to a tented bar area with private, air-conditioned restrooms, lounge seating, light snacks and DJ Swanky. Admission is $50, and includes VIP admission to the Sugar Sand Walk Exhibit, a Shephard’s 40th anniversary T-shirt and swag bag, three complimentary beer or wine drink tickets, complimentary admission to Shephard’s Wave Nightclub, a 15 percent voucher for Ocean Flame Buffet and one $5 off of $25 or more at Shephard’s Tiki Bar and Tiki Grill.

The VIP tickets are valid for one day only and ticketholders must be 21 or older. The VIP Experience hours are:

• Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday: 4 to 9 p.m.
• Thursday: 4 to 10 p.m.
• Friday: 1 to 10 p.m.
• Saturday: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
• Sunday: 1 to 9:30 p.m.

Tickets are available at http://sugarsandfestival.com/buy-tickets/.

Sugar Sand Walk Exhibit

Eleven world-class sculptors will have their works on display at the Sugar Sand Walk Exhibit, under a 21,000-square-foot tent. Their works are created using only Clearwater Beach’s sand and water, plus baking utensils, dentist’s tools and brushes. This year’s theme is “Sugar Sand FantaSea, a Magical Adventure Above and Below the Sea.”

Local sculptors Team Sandtastic will be on site throughout the festival, teaching free sand sculpting workshops and performing sped sand demonstrations.

Sculpting Competitions

Seven of the exhibiting master sculptors will also take part in the Master Sand Sculpting Competition, which takes place April 15-16 inside the Sugar Sand Walk Exhibit. Guests of the Sugar Sand Festival will select the winner of the $6,000 grand prize by voting with their own cash, down to the last penny. The sculptor who raises the most money wins the competition. All proceeds collected will be donated to Sandy Lane Elementary School in Clearwater.

The sculpting pros will also compete against each other in the Speed Sand demonstration. The Sand sculptors will have 10 minutes to create whatever prompt is randomly chosen. The events take place on Saturdays and Sundays at 5 p.m.

Concerts

A big part of the Sugar Sand Festival is the free live entertainment, including a concert series. This year’s performers are:

• Friday, April 14, 7 to 10 p.m.: Tobacco Rd Band
• Saturday, April 15, 7 to 10 p.m.: The Black Honkeys
• Friday, April 21, 7 to 10 p.m.: Landsharks Parrothead Party, including a Parrothead costume contest
• Saturday, April 22, 7 to 10 p.m.: Pirate Flag: A Kenny Chesney Tribute, including a pirates and mermaids costume contest
• Sunday, April 23, 6 to 9 p.m.: Reverend Barry & Funktastic Soul

Sunset Cinema

The Sugar Sand Festival will host Movies on the Beach during the two weekends of the festival. Blankets and low-lying lawn chairs are welcome. Movies begin at dusk, and popcorn and concessions will be available onsite.

This year’s movies include:

• Friday, April 14: Moana
• Saturday, April 15: Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl
• Sunday, April 16: Hop
• Friday, April 21: Finding Dory
• Saturday, April 22: Jaws
• Sunday, April 23: Dolphin Tale 2

Cornhole Tournament

The Sugar Sand Festival will feature two Cornhole events this year. The first is the College Cornhole Night, which takes place on Thursday, April 20 from 7 to 10 p.m. with practice beginning at 6:30. Entry is $10 per player and includes one complimentary bar ticket. No online registration is available.

The Sugar Sand Cornhole Tournament will take place on Saturday, April 22 from noon to 5 p.m. with registration and practice beginning at 10:30 a.m. Entry is $30 per player and includes one complimentary bar ticket. Registration is available online at http://sugarsandfestival.com/cornhole-tournament/.

Fireworks

Both weekends of the 2017 Sugar Sand Festival will end with a bang, as fireworks displays will cap off the days’ events. The schedule for this year’s fireworks is:

• Saturday, April 15 at 9 p.m.: Spectrum Fireworks Spectacular
• Sunday, April 16 at 9 p.m.: Easter Fireworks
• Saturday, April 22 at 9 p.m.: Spectrum Fireworks Spectacular
• Sunday, April 23 at 9 p.m.: Fun ‘n Sun Finale Fireworks

For more information on the 2017 Sugar Sand Festival, visit http://sugarsandfestival.com.

Image courtesy of City of Clearwater Government Facebook page