City of Clearwater, FL
04/11/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 04/11/2024 13:12
The Pier 60 Sugar Sand Festival Re-opens In Time for Final Weekend
Published on April 11, 2024
Enjoy Fireworks, Salsa and Bachata at Sunset, Free Beach Concerts, the Ferris Wheel, and More
The Pier 60 Sugar Sand Festival presented by Visit St. Pete Clearwater is re-opening after a temporary closure today, due to inclement weather. The festival is reopening at 4:30 p.m. Thursday, April 11, just in time for the festival's last weekend of sand, sun and fun. The sculptures were not damaged throughout today's storms.
As the festival enters its final weekend, the excitement and entertainment continue. Along with the amazing Sugar Sand Art Exhibit featuring elaborate sand sculptures depicting "Sands of Time," the festival celebrates its 10-year anniversary by hosting a wide variety of fantastic events for the whole family this weekend, until the festival ends at 9 p.m. Sunday, April 14.
This weekend is filled with live music, all part of the Frenchy's Free Beach Concerts series and the White Claw Daytime Stage:
- Friday, April 12: Chris Flowers (3-7 p.m.) and 22N! (7:30 p.m.)
- Saturday, April 13: Josh Austin (noon-4 p.m.), Aubrey Wollett (4:30-7:30 p.m.), and Soul Circus Cowboys (7:30 p.m.), followed by fireworks at 9:30 p.m.
- Sunday, April 14: Salsa and Bachata (1:30-5:30 p.m.) and Orquesta INFINIDAD (6 p.m.). Dance lessons will begin at 5 p.m., followed by finale fireworks at 9 p.m.
Other fun activities include:
- The butterfly exhibit is open all-day Friday, Saturday and Sunday. This exhibit allows visitors to feed and interact closely with butterflies.
- Frontline Friday is April 12. All police, fire, military, teachers and healthcare workers will receive a discounted general admission ticket to the Sugar Sand Walk Exhibit for $10 with proper identification.
- Free fireworks presented by Spectrum light up the night on Clearwater Beach this Saturday, April 13, at 9:30 p.m. and finale fireworks happen this Sunday, April 14, at 9 p.m. to conclude the festival celebrations.
- Free sand-sculpting classes are on Friday at 2 p.m. and Saturday at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.
- Clearwater Gas speed sand demonstrations happen Saturday and Sunday at 4 p.m.
- Ride the ferris wheel Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. or Sunday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Cost is $8, and other amusements range from $3 to $10.
- The BayStar VIP Lounge opens at 5 p.m. Friday to Sunday until close.
- The Tropico/Hyatt Sand Bar will be open Friday (3-10 p.m.), Saturday (noon-10 p.m.), and Sunday (1-9 p.m.).
The rest of the weekend will feature an interactive art installation, a kid's play zone, street-performers, artisans, Sunsets at Pier 60 daily festivals and more.
Buy your tickets online to skip the line. General admission tickets are $14 and Baystar VIP Lounge tickets are $70, all available at SugarSandFestival.com. Children 3 years and younger are free. Tickets will stop being sold at 8:30 p.m. Sunday, April 14. The festival is cashless and contactless. Accepted forms of payment include all major credit cards, Google Pay and Apple Pay.
Festivalgoers should consider using the free PSTA Park & Ride trolley service to get to and from Clearwater Beach. Park downtown for free any day of the week, and hop on board the Jolley Trolley to get to and from the beach. For Park & Ride details, visit PSTA.net/Spring.
After the festival is over at 9 p.m. Sunday, April 14, the sand sculptures will be knocked down, and the sand will be returned to its original resting place.
For tickets and event details, visit SugarSandFestival.com. If you have questions, send an email to [email protected].
About the Pier 60 Sugar Sand Festival
Sixteen world-class artists craft elaborate sand sculptures from Clearwater's internationally famous sugar sand. The works of art are on display in a 21,000-square-foot structure. More than 1,000 tons of Clearwater sand takes on a new life, bringing visitors on a "sandtastic" adventure. The festival is a joint effort between Sunsets at Pier 60 Daily Festival, a 501(c)3 organization and the city of Clearwater.