Grab your bucket and spade! Scarborough launches 400 sandcastle challenge for historic anniversary
Scarborough residents are invited to grab their buckets and spades this September for a special sandcastle building competition celebrating 400 years of the town’s history.
The event will see sandcastle builders attempt to create a total of 400 sandcastles on South Bay beach between 11am and 1pm on Sunday, September 13, marking Scarborough’s 400th anniversary of the discovery of its spa waters.
The competition is organised by The Scarborough Fair in conjunction with Councillor Rich Maw, as part of the wider Scarborough 400 celebrations and the national Heritage Open Days festival, which runs in Scarborough from September 5 to 26.
The event looks back to the days of traditional seaside holidays, giving people the chance to build their own piece of Scarborough’s history on the beach that has welcomed generations of holidaymakers since the town first became known as a spa and seaside destination 400 years ago.
Catherine Goble, Festival Manager at The Scarborough Fair, said: “What better way to celebrate Scarborough than harking back to its heyday with a sandcastle building competition?
"Everyone can get involved, young and old, and be a part of this event which takes place right by where the waters were first discovered.
“We hope that people will get creative and that we will see some fantastic sand structures. It’s time to bring out your inner child!
"We are very grateful to some of the local businesses who have donated prizes for the event too.”
There will be prizes for the best sandcastles in a number of categories, including family tickets to see Puss in Boots and Hairy Bob’s Christmas Jumper at the Stephen Joseph Theatre, a family ticket to the Robin Hood pantomime at Scarborough Spa, afternoon tea for two at Oliver’s on the Mount, and a family ticket to Filey Zoo, with more to be announced.
Councillor Rich Maw at North Yorkshire Council and Scarborough Town Council, said: “Scarborough has so much to offer to residents and visitors, but the majority of us have the same thing in common – we’ve all enjoyed building a sandcastle on the beach at some point!
“A sandcastle building competition felt like the perfect way to mark our town’s 400th anniversary. We want people to come down to the beach and have fun in the same, simplistic way that people have been enjoying here for all that time.”
Participants should bring their own bucket and spade and head to South Bay to register at the information tent and collect a flag to take part. The event is free to join.