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Sandcastle contest draws 28 entries; Community Day held with mixed feedback
Summary
Staff reported that the annual Sandcastle Contest drew 28 entries and that moving the contest to Sunday improved family attendance; Community Day (paired with Third Thursday) had participation from local organizations but received mixed feedback on layout and noise near the music stage.
Leslie Varney reported on the city’s recent Sandcastle Contest and the following Community Day, saying the sandcastle event had 28 entries, good weather and strong family participation.
The outcome matters as both events are longstanding community traditions that support family engagement and local organizations.
Varney said the Sandcastle Contest was moved to Sunday to avoid conflicts with Saturday youth sports; most participants and volunteers said the switch helped families remain through awards. She reported 28 entries, six judges (three city representatives plus AIA volunteers with one substitution) and a positive volunteer turnout. Judges and commissioners praised the family‑oriented turnout and the participation of Carmel High School students.
Community Day, held the Thursday after the contest and paired with Third Thursday, attracted more than 20 local organizations. Varney said some attendees noted that vendor booths placed near the band drew less foot traffic because patrons tended to sit for the music rather than circulate; other feedback suggested experimenting with more vendors on the street but that longer vendor hours could burden vendor schedules. Staff said logistics and layout would be refined in future editions.
Commissioners who judged or attended praised volunteers and noted opportunities to improve communication, signage and booth placement. Varney said photos and a summary would be posted to the city’s channels and staff would continue to test dates and layouts to maximize participation.
