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These are the 10 best things to do in Dallas this weekend

Weekend Event Planner

Photo by Casey Howes and Krystal Butler

There is quite the variety of events going on across Dallas this long Memorial Day weekend, with multiple outdoor events and celebrities of all different types. Choices include a (literally) major golf tournament, dance in a (sculpture) garden, two local theater productions, a horror convention, two big rock concerts, a classical concert, a unique musical performance, and an arts festival.

Below are the best ways to spend your precious free time this weekend. Want more options? Lucky for you, we have a much longer list of the city's best events.

Thursday, May 25

Pilobolus in the Garden
Photo by Casey Howes and Krystal Butler

Pilobolus in the Garden will be at Nasher Sculpture Center on May 25 and 26.

KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship
Major Championship golf is coming to Frisco for the first time with the playing of the 83rd KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship at the Omni PGA Frisco Resort. Twenty-five major champions will be part of the 156-player field, including John Daly, David Duval, Ernie Els, Nick Faldo, Jim Furyk, Retief Goosen, Pádraig Harrington, Bernhard Langer, Tom Lehman, Justin Leonard. Davis Love III, Jose Maria Olazabal, Vijay Singh, Mike Weir, and more. The tournament takes place through Sunday.

TITAS/Dance Unbound presents Pilobolus in the Garden
Pilobolus in the Garden is a special TITAS-commissioned site-specific project created for, and in, the Nasher Sculpture Garden. The magical work involves the famed Pilobolus dancers performing with Booker T. Washington HSPVA’s student dancers, moving throughout the entire the Nasher garden landscape. The dancers, and audience, move quietly through the sculpture garden in an outdoor experience. There will be four performances through Friday.

Pocket Sandwich Theatre presents How the Other Half Loves
How the Other Half Loves follows three married couples whose lives are hopelessly, hilariously, entwined. Chaos ensues following the consequences of an adulterous affair between a married man and his boss' wife and their attempts to cover their tracks by roping in a third couple to be their alibi, resulting in a chain of misunderstandings, conflicts, revelations, and laughter. The production runs through June 17 at Pocket Sandwich Theatre in Carrollton.

Friday, May 26

Texas Frightmare Weekend
The annual Texas Frightmare Weekend, the Southwest’s premier horror convention, celebrates all aspects of genre films. The event features a variety of celebrity appearances, including filmmaker John Carpenter; filmmakers Sam and Ted Raimi; Amber Midthunder, Dakota Beavers, and Dane DiLiegro from Prey; actor/dancer Amie Donald from M3GAN; and more. There will also be autograph signings, screenings, exclusive parties, and horror memorabilia vendors from all over the country. The event takes place through Sunday at Irving Convention Center at Las Colinas.

Dead & Company in concert
Dead & Company comes to Dallas part of their final tour since forming in 2015. The band - Mickey Hart, Bill Kreutzmann, John Mayer, and Bob Weir, with Oteil Burbridge and Jeff Chimenti – will perform two sets of music drawing from the Grateful Dead’s historic catalog of songs. The concert is at Dos Equis Pavilion.

Dallas Symphony Orchestra presents "Liszt & Ligeti"
The final concert in Dallas Symphony Orchestra's 2022/2023 classical series will be "Liszt & Ligeti," featuring conductor Jaime Martin and pianist George Li. The program will include Ligeti's Concert Românesc für Orchester, Liszt's Piano Concerto No. 1 in E-flat Major for Piano and Orchestra, and Bartok's Concerto for Orchestra. There will be three performances through Sunday at Meyerson Symphony Center.

Bush in concert with Our Lady Peace
British rock band Bush is a rarity in the music industry, in that they've consistently been more popular in the United States than their native country. Their debut albums, 1994's Sixteen Stone, went to No. 4 on the Billboard 200, but only No. 42 in the UK, a trend that has remained the same throughout their career. They'll honor that special relationship with U.S. fans at this concert at The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory in Irving, which is in support of their 2022 album, The Art of Survival. They will be joined by Our Lady Peace.

Richardson Theatre Centre presents No Sex Please, We're British
A young bride who lives above a bank with her husband, who is the assistant manager, innocently sends a mail order off for some Scandinavian glassware. What comes is Scandinavian pornography. The matter is considerably complicated by the man's mother, his boss, a visiting bank inspector, a police superintendent, and a muddled friend who does everything wrong in his reluctant efforts to set everything right, all of which works up to a hilarious ending of closed or slamming doors. The production runs through June 11 at Richardson Theatre Centre.

Jess Garland presents Luminescence
Part of AT&T Performing Arts Center's Elevator Project series, Luminescence is a performance featuring Jess Garland on a laser-harp created by frequent collaborator Eric Trich. The performance shows the connection between light, sound, and visual arts. There will be three performances through Sunday at Wyly Theatre.

Saturday, May 27

Deep Ellum Community Arts Fair
Taking the place of the now-defunct Deep Ellum Arts Festival, the inaugural Deep Ellum Community Arts Fair seeks to highlight the wide variety of artists, performers, and entertainers in the Dallas area. Taking place through Monday, the event will be filled with curated exhibits, concerts, and food showcasing the talent and businesses inside of the community. The layout of the fair will run down Crowdus Street to bring more foot traffic to Deep Ellum businesses.

Photo courtesy of FC Barcelona

Soccer Champions Tour: FC Barcelona vs. Real Madrid

As part of the Soccer Champions Tour, top squads FC Barcelona and Real Madrid will face off in Arlington.

Teams playing in other cities include Italy’s Juventus and AC Milan, and England’s Arsenal and Manchester United.

PGA Frisco

PGA Frisco presents Women’s Golf Day

As part of Women’s Golf Day, PGA Frisco will present an afternoon celebrating girls and women playing golf. Registration includes a tee time on The Swing, PGA Frisco 10-hole par-3 course, as well as a chance to play on the two 9-hole putting courses on The Dance Floor.

The event also includes games and competitions, including Closest to The Pin and a 100-ft. Putting Challenge. There will be light bites, socializing and outdoor yard games at Ice House. Registration includes a signature drink, with additional drinks available for purchase (must be 21+). Prizes will be given away for competition winners.

Image courtesy of PGA

KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship

Major Championship golf is coming to Frisco for the first time with the playing of the 83rd KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship. PGA Frisco is slated to host six Major Championships over the next 12 years, including two PGA Championships.

Twenty-five major champions will be part of the 156-player field, including John Daly, David Duval, Ernie Els, Nick Faldo, Jim Furyk, Retief Goosen, Pádraig Harrington, Bernhard Langer, Tom Lehman, Justin Leonard. Davis Love III, Jose Maria Olazabal, Vijay Singh, Mike Weir, and more.

Photo by Art Streiber

These are the 17 best things to do in Dallas this weekend

Weekend Event Planner

It's another huge weekend of events across Dallas, although the slate has such a variety that it's tough to break them down by categories. Among the many options include a big golf tournament, a major awards show, hot male dancers, a tour of a Broadway musical, a visit from a famous music couple, a rare concert by an iconic band, and more.

Below are the best ways to spend your precious free time this weekend. Want more options? Lucky for you, we have a much longer list of the city's best events. Still looking for a restaurant to treat Mom for Mother's Day? Find that list here.

Thursday, May 11

AT&T Byron Nelson
The PGA Tour will make its annual stop in the Dallas area with the AT&T Byron Nelson at TPC Craig Ranch in McKinney. Although the PGA's star power has been diminished somewhat with the defection of many top players to the LIV Tour, this tournament will still feature two-time defending champion K.H. Lee, hometown hero Jordan Spieth, world No. 2 Scottie Scheffler, Hideki Matsuyama, and a slew of other top PGA golfers. The tournament takes place through Sunday.

Mother's Day with the Housewives
The Real Housewives series is one of the most popular reality franchises in the world, with over 30 different shows taking place around the world over the past 17 years. Three notable stars from the New York version - Luann De Lesseps, Ramona Singer, and Dorinda Medley - will take questions from the audience and share some of their favorite times on television in this special event at House of Blues Dallas.

Academy of Country Music Awards
The 58th annual Academy of Country Music Awards will come to Frisco for the first time, taking place at the Dallas Cowboys' practice facility, Ford Center. The ceremony, hosted by country music legends Garth Brooks and Dolly Parton, will feature performances by Carly Pearce and Trisha Yearwood; Ashley McBryde featuring Brandy Clark, Caylee Hammack, Pillbox Patti, and John Osborne; Ed Sheeran; Cole Swindell and Jo Dee Messina; and solo performances by Hardy and Jordan Davis.

Dallas Symphony Orchestra presents Carmina Burana
Arguably the most iconic choral work of the 20th century, Carmina Burana’s unforgettable opening, “O Fortuna,” has become a pop culture phenomenon. The concert will also include Orff's Catulli Carmina, brought to life by four critically acclaimed soloists, the Dallas Symphony Chorus, the Dallas Symphony Children’s Chorus, and the DSO. There will be four performances through Sunday at Meyerson Symphony Center.

Magic Mike Live: The Tour
The North American touring production of Channing Tatum’s Magic Mike LiveMagic Mike Live comes to Stonebriar Centre in Frisco, featuring professional dancers delivering a thrilling 90-minute show that packs in daring dance routines, acrobatics, live music, comedy, and more in a 360-degree venue. The production runs through June 11.

The Firehouse Theatre presents Saturday Night Fever
In this beloved ’70s throwback, Tony Manero, a 19-year-old Brooklynite paint store clerk, spends his weekends at a local disco, where he moonlights as the king of the dance floor. When he and mesmerizing dancer Stephanie enter a dance competition, the pair’s professional partnership blossoms into a deep friendship, and challenges both to reflect on what’s important in life amidst rising social tensions and disillusionment. The production runs through May 28 at The Firehouse Theatre in Farmers Branch.

Broadway at the Center presents Fiddler on the Roof
Tony Award-winning director Bartlett Sher brings his fresh take on a beloved masterpiece to life as Fiddler on the Roof comes to Dallas. A wonderful cast and a lavish orchestra tell this heartwarming story of fathers and daughters, husbands and wives, and the timeless traditions that define faith and family. The production will have four performances through Saturday at Winspear Opera House.

mixtamotus presents #Filtered
Materializing out of mixatmotus’ obsession with the human-machine relationship and social media, #Filtered explores the age-old idiom "beauty is in the eye of the beholder" in a tongue-in-cheek journey of perfectionism between the digital and real self. Part of AT&T Performing Arts Center's Elevator Project series, the production will have three performances through Saturday at Wyly Theatre.

Teatro Dallas presents The 22+ Weddings of Hugo Multiple
Why in the world does Hugo, a simple postal clerk, keep getting married so many times? The 22+ Weddings of Hugo Multiple is based on the true tale of a "beautiful crime." It's a humorous story that delves into hidden themes of our day, from empathy and immigration, to love in times of hatred, and our common need to find refuge. The production runs through May 27 at Latino Cultural Center.

Friday, May 12

99.5 The Wolf and New Country 96.3 Country Fest
The 2023 Country Fest, presented by 99.5 The Wolf and New Country 96.3, will feature performances by a variety of established and up-and-coming country singers, including Justin Moore, Eli Young Band, Priscilla Block, and Chris Cagle. The festival-style concert will be at Texas Trust CU Theatre in Grand Prairie.

Candlelight: 100 Years of Warner Bros.
In celebration of Warner Bros. Studios’ 100th anniversary, Candlelight: 100 Years of Warner Bros. features music from award-winning films and unforgettable television shows from the Warner Bros. library. Audiences will hear music from The Lord of The Rings, The Wizard of Oz, Casablanca, Friends, Batman, Harry Potter and more. There will be two performances on Friday in a candlelit setting at the Frontiers of Flight Museum.

Theatre Frisco presents Rounding Third
Don is a coach who believes that winning is what is most important in baseball. Michael, his assistant coach, believes that kids should have fun when they play. Don's kid is the star of the team, and Michael's kid can barely remember to keep his shoelaces tied. In addition, there are extramarital affairs going on (though the truth of them is well-hidden), and Michael's job is not all that it seems. The production runs through May 28 at Frisco Discovery Center.

Majestic Theatre presents An Intimate Evening with David Foster and Katharine McPhee
Musician, composer, and producer David Foster and acclaimed singer, television, and Broadway star Katharine McPhee will bring a version of their viral Instagram show to Dallas. The intimate show with the powerhouse duo - and married couple - will be packed with Foster‘s hits from Chicago, Whitney Houston, Celine Dion, Josh Groban, Michael Bublé, and more, McPhee’s biggest songs from American Idol, Smash, and Waitress, and other favorites. The concert takes place at Majestic Theatre.

Saturday, May 13

Nasher Sculpture Center presents Thaddeus Mosley: "Forest" opening day
Thaddeus Mosley: "Forest" is an exhibition that features five large-scale wooden sculptures, all made after 2015 by the still-practicing 96-year-old artist. Mosley has been making carved and joined wood sculptures since the 1950s. Largely self-taught, the artist works with arborists and local sawmills in the Pittsburgh area to find felled trees which he sculpts using mallets and chisels. The exhibition will be on display through August 20 at Nasher Sculpture Center.

The Cure in concert
Fans of The Cure in the U.S. have had precious few opportunities to see them live, as this is just their third North American tour since 2008. This year marks the 45th anniversary for the band, which rose to fame in the late '80s/early '90s with top-selling albums Disintegration and Wish, featuring indelible hits like "Lullaby," "Lovesong," and "Never Enough." They'll play at Dos Equis Pavilion in support of their new album, Songs of a Lost World.

Sunday, May 14

Godsmack in concert with I Prevail, The Struts and The Warning
Some music pundits like to proclaim that "rock is dead," but Godsmack has been proving them wrong for the past 25 years, releasing a string of top 10 albums and consistently topping the rock charts in recent years with hits like "Bulletproof," "Unforgettable," and "Surrender." They'll play at Dos Equis Pavilion with I Prevail, The Struts, and The Warning.

Chelcie Lynn: 2 Fingers And A 12 Pack Tour
Chelcie Lynn is a comedian, actress, and internet personality extraordinaire. She started building a fan base in 2014 when her sketches featuring her alter ego, Trailer Trash Tammy, went viral. She can be seen in the Duplass Brothers feature film Tangerine, and recently starred in the digital series Coach Von Pidgeon for Funny or Die & Facebook Watch. She'll perform at Majestic Theatre.

Garth Brooks and Dolly Parton will host the 2023 Academy of Country Music Awards
Photo by Art Streiber

The Academy of Country Music Awards, with hosts Garth Brooks and Dolly Parton, takes place at the Ford Center in Frisco on May 11.

Photo courtesy of Reliant Home Run Derby

Dallas Cowboys presents Reliant Home Run Derby

The 10th Annual Reliant Home Run Derby will highlight Dallas Cowboys players as they swing for the fences to raise money for charity. Over the years this family-friendly event has raised more than $565,000 for the Salvation Army and local charities.

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These are the 7 best food and drink events in Dallas this week

This week in gluttony

On the tails of the holiday weekend, several events return by this week’s end. A gourmet Italian grocer will celebrate an Italian holiday; one of the longest running food festivals in town kicks off on Friday; and a wine tasting event themed after a hit movie takes place on Saturday. Get outdoors and pair a craft pint with a leisurely paddleboard tour. Or sip margaritas poolside after a refreshing yoga class at a top Dallas hotel.

Friday, June 2

Sunset Paddle & A Pint
DFW Surf Frisco kicks off its Friday night guided standup paddle tour of Hidden Cove Park and Marina with an extra incentive: beer. At the halfway point of the two-mile trek, participants stop for a sunset beer toast provided by 3 Nations Brewing. Board lamps, head lamps, and glow sticks provide light for the evening paddle back to shore. Tickets are $60 and the tour will run from 7:30- 9 pm.

All You Can Eataly
The Italian marketplace at NorthPark will close to the public and open to ticketholders for a Festa della Repubblica party featuring more than two dozen food stations, 50-plus Italian wines, 25-plus beers, and multiple cocktails bars featuring Italian libations. There’ll also be chef demos, DJ sets, photo booths, and live music with a dance band. Tickets start at $125, or pay $195 for VIP and get early entry, premium tastings, and a dedicated lounge. The party will run from 7-10 pm, with VIP early entry at 6 pm.

Taste AddisonThe popular family-friendly festival kicks off Friday night at Addison Circle Park for two days of local restaurant dishes, wine and spirit tastings, music acts, and more. Participating restaurants include Asian Mint, Taqueria La Ventana, Thai Orchid, Ron’s Place, Lupe Tortilla, and at least two dozen others. General admission is $15, or $5 for kids 6-12. Or go VIP and pay $60 for two beverage tokens, two Taste Bite vouchers, and access to the main stage viewing deck and private VIP lounge. Taste Addison runs from 6 pm -midnight on Friday and 2 pm-midnight on Saturday.

Saturday, June 3

Catalina Canned Wine Mixer at Truck Yard Dallas
The Truck Yard hosts a “bro-down” party themed after the 2008 hit movie Step Brothers. Wear your best tuxedo t-shirt and enjoy a wine tasting, photo ops, food trucks, and a Step Brothers cover band. Admission is free, but a $15 wine tasting from 7-9 pm offers six wine samples and a souvenir glass filled with frose. Costume contests will be held at 5 pm and 10 pm.

Sunday, June 4

Yogarita at The Stoneleigh
Move over, beer yoga. The Stoneleigh is leveling up boozy yoga classes with the launch of Yogarita, a Sunday morning yoga session paired with a margarita. The one-hour class includes a Casamigos margaritas and a fish taco from the hotel’s Perle on Maple restaurant. Bonus: participants also get a lounge chair for the day at The Stoneleigh pool. Tickets are $40 and yoga mats are provided. Class begins at 10:30 am.

Wine and Cheese Pairing Class at Dallas Arboretum
This seated class will take participants through the art of pairing wine with artisanal cheeses and will be led by a cheese expert from the Mozzarella Company and wine expert from Two Wine Guys. The class is $89 (or $79 for Arboretum members) and will run from 1-3 pm.

Monday, June 5

Lakewood Brewery Dinner at Urban Crust
The Plano wood-fired pizza kitchen hosts a four-course beer pairing featuring local Lakewood Brewery. The dinner will come with four different Lakewood brews. The event is $49.99, plus tax and gratuity, and will begin at 6:30 pm.

Julia Louis-Dreyfus navigates marriage pitfalls in You Hurt My Feelings

Movie Review

Anybody who’s been married or in a long-term relationship knows that it’s almost impossible to be completely honest with his or her partner. There are always going to be moments – whether for the sake of expediency, in a show of support, or other reasons – when one person withholds their true opinion so as not to hurt the other person’s feelings.

That idea is the central tension point of You Hurt My Feelings, which follows Beth (Julia Louis-Dreyfus), a writer/teacher, and her husband, Don (Tobias Menzies), a therapist. Beth is in the middle of trying to get her first fiction book published, a process that is causing her unceasing anxiety. Don sees a series of patients, including a constantly-bickering couple (played by real-life husband and wife David Cross and Amber Tamblyn), and a few lapses cause him to question his commitment to the profession.

When Beth and her sister, Sarah (Michaela Watkins), accidentally overhear Don telling his brother-in-law, Mark (Arian Moayed), that he doesn’t like Sarah’s new book and is exhausted having to tell her otherwise, it sends Beth into an emotional spiral. The aftermath winds up pulling in not just the two couples, but also Beth and Don’s son, Eliot (Owen Teague), dredging up feelings that all of them normally try to keep hidden.

Written and directed by Nicole Holofcener, the film is a funny and genuine look at how even the best couples can run into pitfalls. By most measures, Beth and Don get along fantastically well, supporting each other unwaveringly and showing their love in a variety of ways. When the story puts them at odds with each other, there’s never a question that they belong together, as even their arguments are tinged with exasperation instead of anger.

Holofcener complements the story of Beth and Don with a nice variety of side plots, including Eliot trying to start his own writing career while working at a weed store; Beth and Sarah’s mom, Georgia (Jeannie Berlin), offering up support and criticism in equal measures; and more. Don’s patients and Beth’s students offer an opportunity to expand the two characters’ personalities outside of their marriage while also adding a few other funny roles.

While perhaps not the most insightful film about marriage that’s ever been made, it is still highly enjoyable thanks to Holofcener’s writing and the strong performances. Filmed in New York City, the particular feel of that urban landscape and the way it affects the lives of the characters also plays a big part in the success of the film.

Louis-Dreyfus, as always, is a delight to watch. A kind of spiritual sequel to her previous collaboration with Holofcener, 2013’s Enough Said, the film gives her plenty of room to show off both her comedic and dramatic skills. Menzies makes for a steady presence, showing good chemistry with Louis-Dreyfus and a preternatural calm in therapy sessions. Watkins, Moayed, Teague, and Berlin all fit in seamlessly.

You Hurt My Feelings is not a world-changing kind of movie, but rather a solidly-told story about how relationships can be complicated. With actors who are easy to like and Holofcener’s reliably great filmmaking, it’s a movie for adults that’s nice counter-programming to the glut of summer blockbusters.

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You Hurt My Feelings is now playing in theaters.

Tobias Menzies and Julia Louis-Dreyfus in You Hurt My Feelings

Photo courtesy of A24

Tobias Menzies and Julia Louis-Dreyfus in You Hurt My Feelings.

5 tips to build stunning sand sculptures from 2023 Texas SandFest winners

Fun at the beach

As summer fast approaches, sandy vacations to coastal destinations are on the horizon for many travelers. For those with kids in tow, sandcastle-making might top the list of beach trip must-dos.

But “playing” in the sand isn’t just an activity for children, as proven by the 22 professional sand sculptors from around the world who recently competed in the 26th annual Texas SandFest, held in Port Aransas in April. The internationally recognized event, started by Port A locals in 1997, is the largest native-sand sculptor competition in the nation; nearly 70,000 people attended this year.

Competition entries featured everything from mermaids to the Grim Reaper, all intricately carved, brushed, and chiseled from sand, ocean water, and perhaps a little diluted spray glue that sculptors say helps maintain detail. The competitors work on their masterpieces during the event, allowing spectators to witness their progress from start to finish.

“I do around five international sand sculpting competitions per year. It’s always a great challenge to compete a high level,” says Benoit Dutherage, a competitive sculptor from France who also creates snow sculptures in the French Alps during the winter.

Dutherage took first place in the Duo Masters category, along with his sand sculpting partner Sue McGrew, for their work called “Wish You Were Here.” Comprised of two loving faces (one mystically cut in half), the sculpture was a tribute to Pink Floyd.

“We like to reflect human emotions in our sculptures,” he says. “It is never easy to pick an idea among the thousands of ideas we have.”

Florida resident Thomas Koet, whose sculpture called “The Prospector” won first place in the People’s Choice category, intended to create something with horses and a cowboy as an homage to Mustang Island, where the competition took place. High tides just before the event thwarted his plans.

“The high tide washed away so much of the sand, I had only enough left for a mule or a foal,” he says. “So I decided to make an old prospector with a mule.”

Thinking out of the box when it comes to carving sand is just one of several suggestions Koet has for recreational sand sculptors. (“Who says it has to be a castle?” he says.) He and other winners from the 2023 Texas SandFest say they are always happy to see novices get creative.

Here are five of the pros' top tips for producing a beachfront masterpiece.

1. Think beyond the standard sandcastle
“Design and sculpt outside of your comfort zone,” says Abe Waterman, a sculptor from Prince Edward Island, Canada, who took first place in the Solo Masters division with his sculpture, “Sleeps with Angels.” The mega sculpture featured four angels at four corners holding a blanket carrying a sleeping woman. “While this may not lead to the best sculpture results, one will improve faster by doing this.”

Waterman noted that there are different types of sand depending on location. Some are better suited for detailed work while others work well for verticality. “But something can always be sculpted regardless of the sand quality, the design just may need to be altered,” he says.

Koet recommends picking something that will fit your attention span. “You can make anything you want,” he says. “You can make a cat, a shark, a monster truck, your high school mascot, a sneaker, or a shark eating an ice cream cone.”

2. Use the right tools
Forgo the cheap tourist shop plastic bucket and shovel set. “You definitely need proper tools to get a good result: A solid shovel, a few trowels – not too big – and a wall painting brush to clean your sculpture,” says Dutherage. “You’ll also need buckets.”

Think big painter’s buckets, he says, used to make what’s essentially “sand mud” consisting of lots of water and sand. Which leads to the next tip ...

3. Create a form mold
Consider this the secret to head-turning sand sculptures. Whether it’s a 10-foot-tall wooden box with sides that come off, or a plastic bucket with the bottom cut out, a “form mold” is an open-top vessel used to hold packed sand and water to create a carve-able structure.

“It’s a very useful thing to have in order to get a solid block, and to go high,” says Dutherage. “If you are a handyman, you can build your own forms. But a quick solution is to take a bucket, no matter what size, and cut out the bottom. Then put that bucket upside down on the sand. Add a few inches of sand, some water, mix with your trowel and compact that layer. Repeat until the bucket is full. Then gently pull the bucket up and surprise! You will get a nice block of sand ready for a sandcastle full of windows, arches, and gates.”

The compacted layers of sand and water almost act as cement, creating a sturdy base for carving. Dutherage says folks can easily repeat the form mold process to create multiple bases, either side by side or stacked.

4. Use plenty of water, for the sculpture and yourself
Benoit recommends adding even more water during the sculpting process.

“Bring a plant sprayer,” he says. “Sand needs to be wet to be sculptable.”

Even rain during sand sculpture building isn’t necessarily a bad thing. “One of the biggest misconceptions is that rain will destroy a sand sculpture,” says Waterman. “While this is possible, most often it just textures the surface.”

Water is also essential for the sculptor, as staying hydrated is key during the process, Waterman adds.

Texas SandFest

Texas SandFest

"The Prospector" took first place in the 2023 Texas SandFest People's Choice category

5. Practice, Practice, Practice
“The biggest misconception is that I do anything different than anybody who does it only for the first time,” says Koet, who’s been sculpting sand for 25 years. “Sure, I bring more and bigger tools and I spend much more time shoveling the sand high and mixing it with water. But there is no magic other than years of practice.”

Waterman, who admits sand sculpting has taken over his life, competes in up to 10 contests a year and also creates sculptures for exhibits and corporate commissions.

“Tricks and tips will only get a person so far,” he says. “But ultimately practice and putting the time in will get them a whole lot further.”

Benoit agrees. “Making a sand sculpture requires a lot of work and the more you practice, the better you will get,” he says. “But first of all, you have to enjoy the fun of it.”

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