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Photos: This year’s Revere sand sculptures as impressive as ever

Visitors can enjoy not only the stately sculptures but also over 75 food vendors, amusement rides, and exhibitors

REVERVE, MA - 7/18/2024: sandsculpting ...... Karen Fralich (CQ) from Canada went barefoot on the beach while working on her sculpture at Revere Beach. Once a year the beautiful three-mile stretch of sandy beach along Revere’s seashore transforms into an open-air festival celebrating the art of sand sculpting. Every year of this festival and competition is special but this year is especially notable as it is a milestone year. Join us this year as we celebrate the 20th Anniversary of the beloved tradition in Revere with the International Sand Sculpting Festival (David L Ryan/Globe Staff ) SECTION: METRO

By Gwen Egan

July 21, 2024

For the 20th year, patrons of the arts or anyone just looking for a fun way to spend an evening can appreciate fine sculptures made of a nontraditional medium — sand.

Revere Beach’s International Sand Sculpting Festival is back. Running through Sunday, visitors can enjoy not only the stately sculptures but also over 75 food vendors, amusement rides, and exhibitors, according to a statement.

A sculptor works on a sand sculpture of the Harry Potter “wizarding world” during the 20th annual Revere Beach International Sand Sculpting Festival in Revere, Massachusetts, on July 13, 2024. The festival opens on July 19 and runs to July 21. (Photo by Joseph Prezioso / AFP) (Photo by JOSEPH PREZIOSO/AFP via Getty Images)

In the afternoon, the Revere Beach Beer Garden will be open, and the William G. Reinstein Bandstand will feature acts from “Aerialicious Entertainment” to a Latin dance quartet. The festival is free to attend.

About $28,000 in prize money will be awarded to the Master Sand Sculptors, according to the statement.

Sculptors work on their large sand sculptures for day two of the individual competition during the 20th annual Revere Beach International Sand Sculpting Festival in Revere, Massachusetts, on July 18, 2024. The festival opens on July 19 and runs to July 21. (Photo by Joseph Prezioso / AFP) (Photo by JOSEPH PREZIOSO/AFP via Getty Images)

Some of the contestants, such as Slavian Boreck who hails from Poznan, Poland, Hanneke Supply from the Netherlands, or Matsu Yoshi from Japan, traveled quite a distance to be a part of the festival, while some contestants, such as Deborah Barret-Cutulle, came from as close as Saugus.

Slavian Borecki, of Poland, works on his sculpture for day two of the individual competition during the 20th annual Revere Beach International Sand Sculpting Festival in Revere, Massachusetts on July 18, 2024. The festival opens on July 19 and runs to July 21. (Photo by Joseph Prezioso / AFP) (Photo by JOSEPH PREZIOSO/AFP via Getty Images)

“The sculptors coming from around the world are evidence of the growth of this festival and how it is enhancing Revere,” said Bob Upton, a longtime Revere resident and owner of the community website reverebeach.com, according to WGBH.

Images posted by reverebeach on Instagram revealed sand sculptures ranging in subject from octopus to a joker rolling dice.

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Instagram also revealed the winners from this year. First place went to Jobi Bouchard, second place to Slavian Borecki, third place to Susanne Ruseler, fourth place to Boule Atema and fifth place to Karen Fralish.