PORT ARANSAS, Texas—Sitting on the deck of Grumble’s Seafood Co. overlooking the Port Aransas marina, I sipped a tropical drink and watched as the sky used every purple shade in the celestial crayon box in its final salute to the day.
First came a pale swath of lavender, followed by a wash of soft lilac, and finally a bold streak of violet. A perfect ending to my three days in this tranquil beach town on Mustang Island, a 45-minute drive from Corpus Christi.
With 18 miles of Gulf Coast beach, a population of fewer than 5,000 people, and a reputation as being “the fishing capital of Texas,” it’s a beachcomber’s dream.
I was here for the island’s annual Texas SandFest, and while it may have started 26 years ago with three ladies scooping sand for their fanciful creations, it has evolved into the largest native sand festival in the United States. Did you expect anything less in Texas?
Over three days every April, sand sculptors pick their spot on a one-mile stretch of the beach and let their imaginations take flight.
These creations, which can weigh as much as 60,000 pounds, are the work of master sculptors from around the country and the world who are invited to participate.
This year’s SandFest saw sculptures ranging from a wicked-looking sea serpent and a Medusa-like figure to a giant chessboard and a 7-foot-tall woman’s face.
