Sand in the City kicks off on Friday

By SCOTT NILES Courier staff writer

July 24, 2008 10:21 am

— OTTUMWA — Take 100 tons of sand, 10 area teams and a whole lot of fun and you’ve got the Third annual Sand In the City competition at Bridge View Center.
“The event begins on Friday with six master sculptors doing carvings at Central Park ... this will be in conjunction with the Live After Five event,” said Ottumwa Area Convention and Visitor’s Bureau Director Kathy Jacobs. “People can check out the sculptures while they are there enjoying the music.”
The actual “Sand in the City” event will take place at 9 a.m. on Saturday. Each of the 10 teams will have six hours and 10 tons of sand to create a unique masterpiece that will be judged for awards and “bragging rights,” Jacobs said. “It’s a friendly competition.”
Besides the awards for the top three placing teams, there will also be a people’s choice award where individuals can donate $1 for two picks.
While the competition is going on, there are guidelines that need to be followed. Only 12 people can be working at one time, giving the other participants a break from the hot sun.
“We want people to have the chance to alternate and get a break,” Jacobs said.
She said it’s a family-oriented event and there will be kids’ games inside Bridge View, while the competition is being held in the parking lot.
The overall theme for this year’s event is “Splash Adventure.”
Master sculptor Burt Adams, founder of “Sand in the City,” will be there coaching the teams as they try and build their sculptures.
The event is free and open to the public. There will also be other activities and a concession stand inside.
“We have people in their 80s participating and I think our youngest participant is 12 years old,” Jacobs said.
All the teams have practiced at least one time, while others have spent the last two weeks working on their skills.
Jacobs said sand sculpting is not as easy as it may look.
“It’s actually pretty difficult,” she said.
On Sunday, South Ottumwa Savings Bank will sponsor an appreciation day for the participants of the event. The Ottumwa band “Harvest,” a southern rock group, will also be performing that day.
There will be some parking at Bridge View Center and overflow parking will be at The Beach Ottumwa.
For more information, call Bridge View Center at (641) 684-7000 or via e-mail at sjniles@mchis.com.
Scott Niles can be reached at (641) 683-5360 or via e-mail at sjniles@mchsi.com.

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