Beach community hosts Texas SandFest

PORT ARANSAS, Texas (CBS, KYMA) - Visitors to Port Aransas, Texas, were dazzled by the talent on display April 17 to 19, as the beach community hosted Texas SandFest, the country's largest sand-sculpting event.

Video by real-estate agent Autumn Martens shows elaborate multistory sandcastles on the beach at Port Aransas.

"Incredible talent at SandFest 2026," she wrote in a post on Instagram.

First place honors at the sculpting competition went to duo Abe Waterman and Greg Grady for their piece Pawns, local media reported, and the solo first prize went to Ilya Filimontsev for Mermaid.