Last week, artists from across the globe competed in the first Seaside Heights International Sand Sculpting Competition.
Organizers say the event was a major hit for visitors and throngs of local residents who came to see the works of art come to life – in sand – beside the new Carousel Pavilion on the boardwalk. Mayor Anthony Vaz ended the contest by awarding the first ever Mayor’s Cup trophy.
The top award went to Melineige Beauregard, from Hawaii by way of Quebec, for this stunning peacock, a favorite amongst visitors throughout the week. The sculpture was an homage to a friend and fellow sculptor who passed away earlier this year, Beauregard said.
The other contest winners, selected by vote with tens of thousands of ballots cast, were sculptures of a tiki character and a mysterious magician. All will remain on display for a short time. The video accompanying this story has images of all the winners.