Sand and Sawdust Festival returns to Ocean Shores

By Wyatt Haupt Jr. The Daily World • June 18, 2021 6:45 pm
THE DAILY WORLD | FILE PHOTO Team Wabi Sabi competes at one of the past Sand Sawdust Festivals on the beach at Ocean Shores.
THE DAILY WORLD | FILE PHOTO Team Wabi Sabi competes at one of the past Sand Sawdust Festivals on the beach at Ocean Shores.

The summer tourism season will open with the buzz of chainsaws and artistry of sand castle building, as Ocean Shores welcomes back the return of a local favorite.

The Five Star Dealerships annual Sand and Sawdust Festival will take place from June 25-27 after taking one year off because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The festival, which will feature events ranging from sand drawing workshops to the Chainsaw Art Show and Auction, celebrates the beauty of the Pacific Northwest.

The theme for the 2021 festival is “Here Comes the Sun.”

“It is so exciting to have the festival back this year. We know carvers missed being here as much as our residents and tourists missed having them,” said Ocean Shores Convention Center Manager Diane Solem.

“It’s a huge tradition in Ocean Shores and the largest chainsaw carving event in Western Washington. And everyone loves Justin the Circler (a sand drawing specialist) — and the sand castle contest.

“This year we even have KOSW playing music on the beach. We hope to see everyone come and support the event. Stay safe and healthy.”

The festival begins Friday, June 25, with the building of a sandcastle by the Form Finders team near the contest site from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Form Finders is a professional sand sculpture team based in Olympia.

In order to get to the contest site, people can use the Chance a La Mer beach access entrance next to Shilo Inns. Activities will take place to the left of the poles or south.

Vehicles will not be allowed past that point, but will be allowed to the right or north.

Activities are scheduled throughout the opening day of the festival, including the popular sand drawing workshop with Justin the Circler from 11 a.m. to noon on the beach.

Chainsaw carving, which will take place from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Vendor Village, is open to the public.

There will also be a chainsaw quick carve from 10:30 a.m. to noon and the Chainsaw Art Show and Auction from 5-8 p.m. under the Oyhut Bay tent.

The schedule for Saturday, June 26, is similar although time periods for some events, such as the sand drawing workshop are different.

The festival will conclude Sunday, June 27, with chainsaw carving from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., followed by the final Chainsaw Art Show and Auction from 2-5 p.m.

For more information about the festival go to https://tourismoceanshores.com/sand-and-sawdust-2021/.