B Street pier sand carvers

Among the things to do this Labor Day weekend is attend the U.S. Sand Sculpting Challenge. Over the four days from Friday to Monday, there will be 300 tons of sand brought in to form sculptures stretching nearly 1000 feet into San Diego Bay atop B Street Pier. Artists from Italy, Ireland, the Netherlands, Latvia, and Canada will challenge the best from the U.S. This is the fourth year San Diego has hosted the event.

In a separate competition, nine teams of three professionals will be carving for two days in the Cool California Carvers Class. The 2013 People’s Choice award winner, Bruce Phillips of Carlsbad, will join the 2012 grand champion, Carmel’s Rusty Croft, in producing the show. Gerry Kirk, known as the father of modern sand-sculpting, will be the chief judge.

Along with the competition, there will be a dimensional art exposition where several artists will sell art on the pier. For kids there will be rides, a giant sandbox, and sandcastle-building lessons.