A sleeping tiger, a mythical dragon, and King Neptune of the sea all stand before you. The three characters are masterfully crafted out of sand, so the only threat they pose is leaving you in momentary awe. Try your best to pick your jaw up off the floor and carry on – the other offerings of Atlantis RIsing await you.
An initiative of the South County Tourism Council (SCTC), Atlantis RIsing invites artists from around the world to a sand sculpture competition of grand proportions from May 30 to June 1. Ten artists, each competing for a cash prize, are provided with 12 tons of quarry sand to bring their visions to life over the course of five days, which ends up being around 40 hours altogether. Competitors are only allowed one day off the clock to compact and prepare their plot, and sculptures must only be made of sand and water.
While the sand sculptures are undoubtedly the main event of the competition, there is much to do and see, with local bands performing live as attendees browse through the goods of artisan vendors, or grab a bite to eat from a food truck. Hands-on activities include learning how to sand-sculpt, and photo ops abound between the sand sculptures, busy artists, and atmosphere.
Louise Bishop, president of the SCTC, leads an office of seven people with the common goal of drawing in visitors to southern Rhode Island from the New England area and beyond. She and her team travelled to sand sculpture competitions in Florida, Virginia Beach, and Texas to understand the inner workings of these contests. With advice from organizers around the country informing their approach, the competition launched in October 2022.
“Even we were surprised at the sheer number of people who came,” admits Bishop. The first year launched at Misquamicut State Beach with a theme based on the event’s octopus logo. The following year, the staff decided to establish a pirate theme, inviting Captain Jack Sparrow and other buccaneers to walk around singing sea shanties and taking photos with wonderstruck children. Competitors may choose to follow the theme, but it’s not mandatory.
Three years later, Atlantis RIsing has found a new home at Charlestown’s Ninigret Park, more inland than its previous location. Festivities will follow an enchanted garden theme in honor of the new Thomas Dambo troll sculptures housed in the park. Visitors will be in for a treat with decorations and characters involving fairies and mushrooms. “You can see the joy, and it reaches all ages,” says Bishop. “That’s the most amazing thing to me: the awe.” SouthCountyRI.com
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