August 2 – 4, 2025
Sculpted by the Sea
Introducing the Bay of Fundy Sand Sculpture Festival, a three-day celebration of impermanence, imagination, and the raw, natural power of the highest tides on Earth.
Something extraordinary is happening this summer on the sands of New River Beach. One of Atlantic Canada’s most beloved and enduring events, the New River Beach Sand Sculpture Competition, is returning, but this time, it is bigger, bolder, and built to last (at least until the tide rolls in).
For nearly 40 years, sand sculptors and spectators have gathered at New River Beach Provincial Park to create and marvel at works of art destined to disappear. Now, the festival is evolving — growing from a single-day community event into a multi-day experience.
What hasn’t changed? The heart of it all: the sand, the sea, and the sense of wonder.
A Stage
Only Nature
Could Build
Watch as world-class sand sculptors transform the shores of New River Beach Provincial Park into an open-air gallery, crafting masterpieces from nothing but sand and water. But as the tides rise, their creations are reclaimed by the Bay, making each sculpture a temporary wonder.
Also returning are the much-loved amateur competitions, drop-in workshops, and family-friendly experiences that have defined this event for decades. Everyone from young builders to seasoned artists is invited to sculpt, play, and explore.
The Vendor Village features local artisans, food vendors, and live music. A licensed beer garden will offer a front-row seat to the action, while family workshops and public lessons invite everyone to dig in and get creative.
More Than a
Competition —
It’s a Coastal Celebration
Schedule
Masters Series: Day 1
- 8:00 a.m. – Sculptors Kick-Off
- 1:00 p.m. – Low Tide
- 3:30 p.m. – Sculptors 30-minute warning
- 4:00 p.m. – Sculpting Ends
- 5:00 p.m. – Awards
Amateur Competition
- 8:00 a.m. – Registration
- 8:30 a.m. – Sculpting Begins
- 3:00 p.m. Judging Begins
- 4:00 p.m. Awards
Vendor Village:
Open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Masters Series: Day 2
- 8:45 a.m. – Sculptors Kickoff
- 2:00 p.m. – Low Tide
- 4:45 p.m. – Sculptors 30-minute warning
- 5:15 p.m.– Sculpting Ends
- 6:00 p.m. – Awards
Youth Sandcastle Workshop:
10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Public Sculpting Lesson:
1 p.m. – 3 p.m.
Masters Series Day 3
- 9:30 a.m. – Sculptors Kickoff
- 3:00 p.m. – Low Tide
- 5:00 p.m. – Sculptors 30-minute warning
- 5:30 p.m. – Sculpting Ends
- 6:00 p.m. – Awards
Public Sand Sculpture Lessons:
10 a.m. – 1 p.m.