JUNE 7, 2018 // 11
Cannon Beach’s 54th annual event takes
place June 9, with events on June 8 and 10
IF YOU GO
By BRENNA VISSER
FOR COAST WEEKEND
F
or one weekend a year for the past 53 years, the long, narrow sands of Cannon Beach change from an empty oasis
into a giant sandcastle-building competition. Cars flood the beach, bonfires rage, music plays and 6-foot sculptures
are built out of sand. This year, several thousand people are anticipated to come watch it all happen Friday, June 8,
through Sunday, June 10, with the main event happening Saturday, June 9. The Cannon Beach Sandcastle Contest began
in 1964 as a way to encourage people back onto the beach after a tsunami hit the Oregon Coast. Now entering its 54th year,
it is the oldest sandcastle competition west of the Mississippi River. While the Sandcastle Contest seems to come each
year as dependably as the tides themselves, the annual event is the product of a years’ worth of planning and coordination.
Behind the scenes are Debbie Nelson, the event’s chief organizer, and Jim Paino, the executive director of the Cannon
Beach Chamber of Commerce. Together they shared what it takes to make Cannon Beach’s headline event happen. CW
FRIDAY, JUNE 8
10 a.m. to 5 p.m.: Packets n’ Pail
Pickup. Cannon Beach Chamber &
Visitors Center
5:30 p.m.: Sandcastle Parade.
Participants line up at Second and
Spruce streets at 5 p.m.
SATURDAY, JUNE 9
Noon: Sandcastle Contest Begins
on the beach
5:30 p.m.: Final judging and
awards presentation to follow
7 to 10 p.m.: Live music on the
beach. Bonfire with free s’mores
starts at 8 p.m.
SUNDAY, JUNE 10
9 a.m.: Singing Sands 5K fun run/
walk. Starts on the beach at the
end of Second Street.
BY THE NUMBERS
(Note: These are the projected figures for 2018
based on 2017’s totals.)
The number of people on the official Sandcas-
tle Contest committee.
The number of volunteers it takes to set
up, facilitate and tear down the event.
year: The time it takes to organize one Sandcas-
tle Contest day. “In fact,” Paino added, “we’ve
already done some planning for next year.”
The number of law enforcement officers on
duty to help direct traffic onto the beach and
keep the event safe. Usually, they are accompanied
by a handful of Community Emergency Response
Team members, as well.
The number of sponsorships it takes to
finance the event.
The number of first, second and third
place medallions ordered for contest
winners.
The number of participant ribbons or-
dered for both the sandcastle building
competition and the Singing Sands run on Sunday,
June 10.
How many hours it takes to set up all the in-
frastructure on the beach the day-of Saturday,
June 9.
The number of different permits required by
the city, state and health department to put
on the event.
The number of cars that must be shep-
herded onto the beach for the day. The
8:
100:
1
8:
20:
165:
400:
3:
4:
500:
ERICK BENGEL PHOTOS
Eric Hawley, of the Pacific Northwest team Wabi Sabi, chisels
away at an emperor sculpture at a previous Sandcastle Contest.
Sandcastle Contest is the only day where people
are allowed to park on the sand in Cannon Beach
without a special permit.
The number of porta-potties ordered to
handle 30,000 spectators and participants.
178-200: The number of participants Paino and Nel-
son expect any given year.
The number of pallets of water and
soda the team orders to quench
everyone’s thirst.
How many boxes graham crackers are
purchased for free s’mores offered at the
bonfire Saturday, June 9.
The number of marshmallows needed
to make s’mores at the bonfire.
The number of chocolate bars it takes to
make enough s’mores at the bonfire.
16:
1 1/2:
36:
250:
216:
Jennie and Jacob Jessop, of the team The Jessops, put the
finishing touches on a car sculpture in 2014.
400:
966:
1,066:
U
P
The number of hamburgers ordered
and served on average at Sandcastle
Contest day.
How many official Sandcastle Day
T-Shirts have been ordered.
The number of yards of string it
takes to mark off about 30 sand-
castle-building plots on the beach.
nquantifiable: The amount of coffee it takes to
get it all done. “Although I think we mostly run
off adrenaline,” Nelson said.
riceless: The feeling Paino and Nelson get after
seeing everyone enjoy the event. “My favorite
point is when you see smiles on everyone’s faces.
When we’ve hit that point, I know we’ve done it,”
Paino said.