See photos of Clearwater’s Sugar Sand Festival, back for the season
Steve Schomaker of Sarasota adds detail to his relief of Chuck Norris while sculpting for the Pier 60 Sugar Sand Festival on Thursday at Clearwater Beach. ©Douglas R. Clifford
The Pier 60 Sugar Sand Festival returns to Clearwater Beach this week, bringing thousands of tons of sculpted sand, live entertainment and beachside attractions.
At the heart of the festival is the signature Sugar Sand Walk exhibit, a 24,000-square-foot enclosed gallery featuring large-scale works carved by master sand sculptors using roughly 1,000 tons of Clearwater’s fine white quartz sand.
The 2026 theme, United in Sand: Celebrating Sports & Spirit, highlights teamwork, competition and athletic traditions through immersive installations designed for close-up viewing.
Surrounding the exhibit, the festival expands into a broader beachfront celebration with nightly concerts, food vendors, public sand-sculpting demonstrations and interactive activities for families and visitors throughout the event’s run.
The festival typically attracts more than 118,000 visitors each year, making it one of Clearwater Beach’s most significant annual draws.
