What to KnowPismo Beach Sand Art FestivalNov. 6-8, 2025Pismo BeachFreeThe best time to view the soon-to-be-washed-away works will be “low-tide sunset”
THE BEACH? It can playfully prompt us to try our hands at many wonderful, zany, and plucky pursuits, from castle-building to kite-flying to the occasional cartwheel in the surf, if we’re so inspired and feeling energetic. But the ancient act of placing your index finger in damp sand and drawing a heart, or your name, or a flower, or the sun, is particularly timeless, and a pastime sandily savored by ocean visitors the world over. But there are those beach buffs who take this fingertip-to-wet-sand tradition even further, by creating large-scale yet intricate artworks just steps from the surf. Perhaps you’ve been fortunate to come across such a stirring sight during a seaside walk, but there is one place where you’re guaranteed to sea, er, see sand art: Pismo Beach.
A SANDY SPECTACULAR… is coming ashore from Nov. 6-8 at the ocean-snug burg, and it will feature ten sand artists working in serene yet speedy fashion. They’ll be creating sand-based pictures at low tide, meaning that onlookers should enjoy them while they last. As the later-in-the-tide meets the art, it will disappear, though not from the minds of those who encountered it. This is all free to watch, and the event is billed as an all-ages happening. As for the best time to view the sand art? The “low-tide sunset” will deliver the “striking views and photo opportunities.” And if your tots want to give it a try, there will be an area for youngsters to connect with this millennia-old creative calling. Discover more about Pismo Beach’s nature-meets-inspiration event here.