Karen Fralich of Ontario, Canada, tends to her 1st place sculpture in the singles division at the 2013 World Championship of Sand Sculpting in Atlantic City, New Jersey. It's titled, "Amazon's Pet." Click through the gallery for more amazing sand sculptures.
Peter Tobia/Atlantic City Alliance
New Jersey —
"The Charge of the Achilles" took the doubles division 1st place award. Its sculptors were Brian Turnbough of Illinois and Joo Heng Tan of Singapore.
Peter Tobia/Atlantic City Alliance
New Jersey —
Doubles division prize winners display their awards.
Peter Tobia/Atlantic City Alliance
New Hampshire —
The 2013 Master Sand Sculpting Competition in Hampton Beach, New Hampshire, crowned Carl Jara from Lyndhurst, Ohio, with 1st place for his sculpture "Infinity." The sculpture depicts a man holding smaller versions of himself in his hand.
New Hampshire —
Judges awarded 5th place to Justin Gordon of Groveland, Massachusetts, for "Legislated Liberty," depicting a bald eagle chained to a gavel.
Hampton Beach Village District
New Hampshire —
This sculpture by Greg Grady, Jr. titled "To the Moon," took the Sculptor's Choice Award.
Lars Wichmann/International Sandsculpture Festival
Denmark —
The festival, located in Søndervig, Denmark, recently featured "The Skull -- Greed Does Not Feed," by Jan Selen of the Netherlands.
Lars Wichmann
Denmark —
Another highlight of the Danish event was "The Trans-Atlantic Train," by Kimmo Frosti, of Finland; Uldis Zarins, of Latvia; Jeroen Van de Vlag, of the Netherlands; and Liga Zarins, of Latvia.
Lars Wichmann/ International Sandsculpture Festival
Switzerland —
The International Sand Sculpture Festival in Rohrschach, Switzerland, offers carvers a chance to create their art in a park along picturesque lake Bodensee with the Swiss Alps not far away.
International Sand Sculpture Festival in Rohrschach, Switzerland
Switzerland —
Materials for sculptures are limited to nothing more than sand and water. No molds or power tools allowed.
International Sand Sculpture Festival in Rohrschach, Switzerland
Switzerland —
When it's all over, the sculptures are left to the forces of nature. Depending on the weather, they can remain intact for weeks.
International Sand Sculpture Festival in Rohrschach, Switzerland
The National Sand Sculpting Festival, Revere Beach in Revere, Massachusetts, is now in its 10th year. Festivities culminate with a big finish in the form of a fireworks display. And there's easy access from Boston by public transportation.
"Life," by Benjamin Probanza of Acapulco, Mexico, took 2nd place.
City of Treasure Island
Treasure Island, Florida —
The contest's 1st place entry was "Rainforest Clearance Company," by Jonathan Bouchard of Montreal, Quebec.
City of Treasure Island
Latvia —
At the Summer Signs Annual Sand Sculpture Festival, in Jelgava, Latvia, this sculpture by Sue McGrew titled, "Contortion," was featured in 2011. The festival centered around a circus theme that year.
Sue McGrew
Latvia —
Even the bar at Jelgava included a sand sculpture.
Sue McGrew
Latvia —
The 2011 Latvian event also included a sand box where children could develop their skills as possible future sculptors.
Sue McGrew
Sarasota, Florida —
Looking for the perfect sculpting event in November? The Crystal Classic Master Sand Sculpting Competition at Siesta Key Beach in Sarasota, Florida, boasts clean, white-sugar beaches and beautiful warm weather.
Peter Acker/Siesta Key Chamber of Commerce
Sarasota, Florida —
Expect crowds -- about 70,000 people attend over four days. Part of the proceeds supports sea turtle conservation projects at Mote Marine Laboratory.
Maria Bankemper/Siesta Key Chamber of Commerce
Sarasota, Florida —
Events at Siesta Key Beach include amateur competitions for kids and parents as well as head-to-head speed-carving events.