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| Sandcastle Festival goer Pollyanna Hill. Photo courtesy Lancaster City Council |
Thousands of people got themselves into the Olympic spirit at the weekend and ventured down to the golden sands of Morecambe beach to visit the resort’s sixth Sandcastle Festival.
The event, which was organised by Lancaster City Council and sponsored by Broadoak Leisure Buildings, took place over the weekend and provided visitors with a free weekend of seaside fun.
The town was packed with people enjoying the free entertainment on offer.
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| Photo courtesy Lancaster City Council |
Europe’s leading professional sand artists, ‘Sand in your eye!’, created an array of expertly crafted sculptures, while Tall Will the bubbleman impressed with his mix of bubble magic.
Over at the Winter Gardens, guests enjoyed a trip down memory lane at the Vintage Village Hall Tea Room, enjoying cream teas, music and vintage fashion.
There was also music from samba band Batala, talks and book signings by the Queen’s Guide to the Sands, Cedric Robinson, and even donkey rides!
Staff from Morecambe’s award winning Visitor Information Centre were kept busy during the weekend and dealt with 770 enquiries.
“The Sandcastle Festival is always one of my highlights of the festival season,” enthused Councillor Ron Sands, Cabinet member with responsibility for tourism. “It just goes to show how much fun you can have with a bucket and spade!
“It was a wonderful weekend and it was great to see Morecambe so busy and packed with so many people, especially families, enjoying themselves.
“My personal congratulations go to the winners – the standard of entries is always high and this year was no exception.”
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| Under 12 winners the Strong family, from Kendal. Photo courtesy Lancaster City Council |
The highlight of the weekend was Sunday as 30 teams battled it out to be crowned the king, queen, prince and princess of this year’s Super Sandcastle Competition.
This year the festival took an Olympic theme, in preparation for the arrival of the Olympic Torch in the district on 22nd June.
The judges had a hard task on their hands as they struggled to decide between the entries and who would win first prize.
The winning team from each category won a £50 cash prize with gold, silver and bronze medals handed out on the podium in true Olympic style.
The Strong family from Kendal came out tops in the Families/Under 12s category, with Ruth and Jeremy Street from Stratford-upon-Avon winning the Open category.
Winners of the Family/under 12s were 1st: Team Strong; Second: It’s All Greek to me; and Third: Neo
In the open category, the winners were Street’s Ahead; Second, And then there was one; Third,
Team Duffy
The Sandcastle Festival is just one of the great events taking place this summer in the Lancaster district and is part of the Morecambe Festivals by the Sea summer of fun.
• For more information on what’s coming up visit www.visitmorecambe.co.uk
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| Photo courtesy Lancaster City Council |