A towering tradition: Locals build elaborate creations at the 64th annual Corona del Mar contest

"Octopus" captured the Best Display of Theme award at the sandcastle contest held Sunday in Corona del Mar.

Sept. 28, 2026 4:12 PM PT

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The 64th annual Corona del Mar Sandcastle Contest was a flurry of activity by 10 a.m. Sunday as 16 teams got to work on the business of sandcastle building to be completed by 2 p.m.

(Susan Hoffman)

Armed with buckets, shovels, gardening tools and household implements along with decorative natural beach materials like shells, seaweed and even a carcass, each team of eight spread out inside their designated building plots on the sand.

The team from Sycamore Creek Community Charter School, 7th grade class, pose during the 64th annual Corona del Mar Sandcastle Contest held Sunday.

(Susan Hoffman)

A group of seventh grade students from Sycamore Creek Community Charter School in Huntington Beach, now in their third year competing, decided to design their creation around everyone’s best friend, classmate, Noah Van Rocca.

“I was the first person here today,” said an excited Van Rocca.

“The kids titled the sandcastle, Noah’s Uncs,” said teacher Aurelia Khatib about the BFF popular student’s star power. “We also used a real lobster tail next to the mermaid.”

First time entrant Izhaq Alquaddoomi completes his haunted lighthouse sculpture in the Sandcastle Contest hed Sunday at Corona del Mar State Beach.

(Susan Hoffman)

This was the first year competing for Izhaq Alquaddoomi, who traveled from Pasadena to construct his abandoned lighthouse sandcastle. “It’s a haunted light house inspired by a real lighthouse in Crescent City,” explained Alquaddoomi about the historic Battery Point Lighthouse.

The Commodores award for Overall Best Creation, Master Class entry went to Chris Crosson and his family, who are shown putting finishing touches on “Welcome to Castle Newport” Sunday during the sandcastle contest in Corona del Mar.

(Susan Hoffman)

Team Sandcastle Kit, created the 14-foot-tall “Welcome to Castle Newport” led by Chris Crosson, owner of Sandcastle Kit and his family, wife Laura Crosson and two daughters, Christine (Crosson) McManus and Stephanie Crosson. This year the team included former wrestlers from his coaching days at Woodbridge High School along with friends and neighbors.

“We wanted to go with height this year, so the plan was a giant castle, and we almost bit off more than we could chew in the allotted four hours. By the time we had 30 minutes left, we still needed to take down four forms,” Crosson said, “It was a photo finish at the end.”

“It’s a fun tradition that we have enjoyed being apart of since the early 1990s,” Crosson added.

“B.C.” of the team B.C.& Friends carves out a buried surfer in front of the castle during the sandcastle contest Sunday at Corona del Mar State Beach, where they won People’s Choice award for Best Creation.

(Susan Hoffman)

“The 64th Annual Corona del Mar Sandcastle Contest is a one of the Chamber’s Commodores Club signature events. Over the years it has become a multi-generational activity attended by Newport Beach residents and visitors from all over Southern California,” said Steve Rosansky, the Chamber’s president and chief operating officer.

The teams consisted of families, students, businesses, civic organizations and also masters class, a category specifically for architecture firms or professionals, allowing them to showcase their advanced sand sculpting skills.