Kamie Kirschner puts the final touches on her team’s sandcastle on the beach at Ruby Street on Balboa Island in Newport Beach during the annual Balboa Island Sandcastle Contest, on Saturday, July 27, 2024. Teams had two hours to build their sand creation. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
A team’s finished sand motor vehicle on the beach at Ruby Street on Balboa Island in Newport Beach during the annual Balboa Island Sandcastle Contest, on Saturday, July 27, 2024. Teams had two hours to build their sand creation. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
A team’s sand Olympic rings on the beach at Ruby Street on Balboa Island in Newport Beach during the annual Balboa Island Sandcastle Contest, on Saturday, July 27, 2024. Teams had two hours to build their sand creation. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Mermaids top off a sandcastle on the beach at Ruby Street on Balboa Island in Newport Beach during the annual Balboa Island Sandcastle Contest, on Saturday, July 27, 2024. Teams had two hours to build their sand creation. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Families work with the sand on the beach at Ruby Street on Balboa Island in Newport Beach during the annual Balboa Island Sandcastle Contest, on Saturday, July 27, 2024. Teams had two hours to build their sand creation. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
A team’s sand octopus takes over the beach at Ruby Street on Balboa Island in Newport Beach during the annual Balboa Island Sandcastle Contest, on Saturday, July 27, 2024. Teams had two hours to build their sand creation. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Sandcastle organizer Chris Crosson, left, gives tips to Annika Riphagen, right, as she puts some final touches on her team’s sandcastle on the beach at Ruby Street on Balboa Island in Newport Beach during the annual Balboa Island Sandcastle Contest, on Saturday, July 27, 2024. Teams had two hours to build their sand creation. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Annika Riphagen packs down the sand in a form as she helps her team build a sandcastle on the beach at Ruby Street on Balboa Island in Newport Beach during the annual Balboa Island Sandcastle Contest, on Saturday, July 27, 2024. Teams had two hours to build their sand creation. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
With a shovel in hand, Millie Marquis, 2, left, helps her dad, Jonathan Marquis build a sandcastle on the beach at Ruby Street on Balboa Island in Newport Beach during the annual Balboa Island Sandcastle Contest, on Saturday, July 27, 2024. Teams had two hours to build their sand creation. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
A young sandcastle builder runs past the Mermaid Treasure sandcastle on the beach at Ruby Street on Balboa Island in Newport Beach during the annual Balboa Island Sandcastle Contest, on Saturday, July 27, 2024. Teams had two hours to build their sand creation. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Some of the younger sandcastle builders gather for a group photo at Ruby Street on Balboa Island in Newport Beach during the annual Balboa Island Sandcastle Contest, on Saturday, July 27, 2024. Teams had two hours to build their sand creation. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Caps for this year’s annual Balboa Island Sandcastle Contest Balboa Island in Newport Beach on Saturday, July 27, 2024. Teams had two hours to build their sand creation. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Sand and water are dribbled on a sandcastle on the beach at Ruby Street on Balboa Island in Newport Beach during the annual Balboa Island Sandcastle Contest, on Saturday, July 27, 2024. Teams had two hours to build their sand creation. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Teams work at building their sandcastles on the beach at Ruby Street on Balboa Island in Newport Beach during the annual Balboa Island Sandcastle Contest, on Saturday, July 27, 2024. Teams had two hours to build their sand creation. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Kamie Kirschner puts the final touches on her team’s sandcastle on the beach at Ruby Street on Balboa Island in Newport Beach during the annual Balboa Island Sandcastle Contest, on Saturday, July 27, 2024. Teams had two hours to build their sand creation. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The annual Balboa Island Sandcastle Contest was held on Saturday, July 27. The event was sponsored by the BIIA (Balboa Island Improvement Association) and hosted by Chris Crosson and his daughter, Stephanie Crosson. Chris Crosson, is a sand sculptor known for regularly creating masterpieces on the beach at the end of Sapphire Avenue and South Bay Front.