Month-long festival features breath-taking sand sculptures, family friendly events, friendly competition and much more!

Space Coast, Fla. – (March 29, 2010)  - 1,100 tons of sand have descended upon the Space Coast, but it’s not the sand scattered along the destination’s 72-mile stretch of beach, it’s a shipment of specialized sand imported for the destination’s first-ever Art of Sand Festival and Exhibition, April 2 – May 1, 2010 in Cape Canaveral.  

Poised to be the nation’s largest sand sculpting festival, this inaugural event spans 30 fun-filled days, with varied events happening each week at the Radisson Resort at the Port in Cape Canaveral.  Sand sculpting artists from around the world - including nine of the most renowned - have traveled to the destination to transform loose sand into an outdoor exhibit of breathtaking sculptures, some towering as high at 15 feet! These unique and enormous masterpieces will open the month-long festival and remain on exhibit for the duration of the event.    

In addition to the sand exhibition, the event will also give visitors a chance to try their hand at sand sculpting.  A corporate challenge takes place April 10, ideal for team-building programs.  Guests can see the professionals at work when they compete during The Space Coast Open, April 16 – 18. Students can take to the sands and compete against their peers in a student competition April 24; At the conclusion of the festival, the sand sculptures will be razed and returned back to the earth.  Locals and tourists can take as much sand as they like -  free of charge - giving new meaning to reduce, reuse and recycle! Festivities also include live entertainment and great food.

In commemoration of the 40th anniversary of Earth Day (April 22, 2010), the entire festival will be a litter-free event.

According to Shellie Williams, executive director of the Brevard Cultural Alliance, the event sponsor, “The Art of Sand Festival is 30 days long and every week there’s a new family friendly activity to enjoy. From the art exhibition to the professional competitions to the amateur activities, this event is a must-see for tourists and locals.”

As a demonstration of the destination’s support for the festival, some of the area’s most noted attractions - Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, Ron Jon Surf Shop and Cocoa Beach Surf Co. are displaying custom-designed sand sculptures at their locations. Visitors can also obtain the Art of Sand’s currency – the Sand Dollar – for a dollar off admission or for discounts at various restaurants and businesses throughout the destination.  A list of participating merchants can be found on the Art of Sand’s website (www.artofsandus.com).

The Art of Sand Festival and Exhibition is an ideal activity for visitors to enjoy live entertainment, wonderful food and view amazing works of sand art in one location for an incredibly low price of $8 for adults and $4 for seniors, military personnel and children under 15.

The event takes place at the Radisson Resort at the Port, 8701 Astronaut Blvd. in Cape Canaveral (where the Beachline 528 meets A1A.) April 2 – May 1, 2010: Monday through Thursday: 11 am to 7 pm; Friday: 11 am to 10 pm; Saturday: 9 am – 10 pm; Sunday 9 am to 7 pm. 

For more information on the Art of Sand Festival and Exhibition, call (321) 690-6817 or visit www.ArtOfSandUS.com.

Located 35 miles (56 km) east of Orlando, Florida’s Space Coast is home to Orlando’s closest beaches. A family-friendly destination with more than 10,000 guest rooms, the area is an ideal, value getaway, offering adventure, history and nature. With 72 miles (110 km) of beaches, the longest stretch in the state, and 250 square miles of wildlife refuge, the Space Coast is one of the largest intact eco-systems in Florida. Home to NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, it is the only place in the country where one can watch a live shuttle launch, and after the shuttle program ends will continue to offer viewing opportunities for unmanned rocket launches.  Encompassing Cocoa Beach, Melbourne Beach, Palm Bay and Titusville, the Space Coast also is noted for surfing, its numerous history and art museums, and a popular cruise port, Port Canaveral. For more information, contact the Space Coast Office of Tourism at (877) 572-3224 or visit www.space-coast.com. Visit www.spacecoastlaunches.com to learn about remaining shuttle and upcoming rocket launches.

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