🏖️ Birch Bay’s 43rd Annual Sand Sculpture Competition 🏰

📅 August 1st, 2026📍 Birch Bay Beach Park

Our 43rd Annual Sand Sculpture Competition brought families, friends, and talented artists of all ages together for a day of beachside creativity and community fun!

Participants rolled up their sleeves, grabbed their buckets and shovels, and transformed the sand into incredible creations. From first-time sculptors to seasoned competitors, everyone brought their imagination to the beach and helped make this beloved Birch Bay tradition another great success.

Looking Ahead to 2027

We’re already looking forward to next year’s Sand Sculpture Competition! The 2027 date has not yet been finalized, but we’ll post the details here as soon as they are confirmed.

Whether you’re a returning sculptor or hoping to join the fun for the first time, we hope to see you on the beach next year!

WECU’s People’s Choice – Chosen by event attendees

  • Little Kids 6 & Under (non-judged category).

  • Kids 13 and Under

  • Solo, Duos & Trios

  • Small Groups Up to 8 Participants

  • Large Groups 9+ Partipants

 

Thank You to Our Sand Sculpture Judges! 🏖️🏆

A huge thank you to the incredible group of volunteers who helped judge our 43rd Annual Sand Sculpture Competition! With dozens of creative entries to evaluate, their time, enthusiasm, and careful consideration helped make this beloved Birch Bay tradition a success.

We were grateful to have judges representing Blaine School District, Whatcom County Council, North Whatcom Fire & Rescue, the Whatcom County Sheriff’s, Birch Bay Community Advisory Committee, WECU, and our local Blaine School District Leadership.

Thank you for spending part of your Saturday on the beach, admiring the incredible creativity of our participants and helping select this year’s winners. We couldn’t do it without you! 

RESULTS FROM THE POKER RUN SUPPORTED BY BIRCH BAY BIKE SHOP:

WHAT IS A POKER RUN?

The July 2026 Birch Bay Poker Run brought 93 teams together for a fun, family-friendly adventure through Birch Bay! Teams traveled between local checkpoints by bicycle, golf cart, or on foot, collecting playing cards along the way. ♣️ 🚲 🌊

The goal was to build the best 5-card poker hand for a chance to win prizes. This free, non-gambling event was a great way to explore Birch Bay, connect with local businesses, and enjoy a day of summer fun with friends and family.

Congratulations to our 2026 winners! 

A special thank you to John & Birch Bay Bike Shop for sponsoring the 2026 Poker Run and helping keep our riders rolling! 🚲

We’re looking forward to another Poker Run in August 2026! You can register for that poker run by using the link below.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR OUR NEXT POKER RUN AUGUST 29TH, 2026 AS PART OF DERBY DAY

2024: 41st Annual

2023: 40th Annual

THANK YOU TO OUR 2026 SPONSORS AND SUPPORTERS:
Phillips 66 Ferndale Refinery Logo
Blaine-Birch Bay Park & Recreation District 2 Logo
Sparrow's Pest Control Logo

Past Sand Sculpture Competition Results

Our Sand Sculpture Competition winners are now posted on our Birch Bay Chamber Website!

Click the button below to see our judge’s favorites from this year! We had so many amazing sculptures it sure was hard to pick the winners! Thanks to everyone who came out and built such amazing sculptures in the sand!

Sand Sculpture Competition 2021 Winners Rollback Weekend Car Show Winners

Saturday, July 20th Winners:

Little Kids Division (Kids under 8 years old)

1st Place – Team Bananas, Captian Ella Van Holfwegen (Make believe Island called Hatuka)

2nd Place – Team Castle Builders, Captian Paxton

3rd Place – Team Rocket – Captian Evan (Bey Blade)

Tweens (Ages 9-14)

1st Place – Octabuck, Captain Emma Riemer (“Thanks A Latte – Octopus arm holding a Starbucks cup)

2nd Place – Luna the Hippo – Captain Lea Artiguenava

3rd Place – Team USA, Captain Taryn Walters (Equal justice honoring the girls of the US Soccer team – “Dream Big – Equal Play for Equal Pay!”)

High School (Ages 15-18)

1st  Place – Team Castle of Dreams, Captain Ryan (Something you would see in your dreams – a castle on top of a turtle shell with rocks balanced on top)

2nd Place – Team Ocean, Captain Maya Daniels (Turtle, octopus and shark with shells for teeth)

Big Kids (Ages 19 – 100)

1st Place – Team Octopussy, Captain Alli Willis (A huge Octopus)

2nd Place – Team Tidal Defense, Captain Rick Tippe (Pirate Ship Wreck)

3rd Place – Team Dino MD, Captain Meagan (Dinosaurs)

Sunday, July 21st Winners:

Family Division:

1st Place – Team Hustle Muscle, Captain Katie

A Pirate Ship being attacked by an octopus, with a treasure chest filled with treasured words on painted rocks. Team members were dressed in pirate costumes and were playing pirate music.

2nd Place – Team Gogal Family, Captain Trynka

The Eagle has Landed – A beautiful eagle on its back with wings spread in celebration of the 50th anniversary of the USA moon landing.

3rd Place – Team Tess, Captain Kaitlyn

Hank the Hoarder, a shell hoarding octopus. Three generations worked together on this sand sculpture.

Community Division:

1st Place – Team Insandity, Captain Veronica

Castle & Dragons – A dragon complete with teeth and scales surrounding castles that are being destroyed by the squeeze of his tail.

2nd Place – Team Mavericks, Captain Penny

Fun in the Sun – Iguanas have fun in the sun just like the team that was building him.

3rd Place – Sand Apocalypse, Captain Bryan Bell

Battle at Sea – 2 Ships at battle firing flowers from their cannons.