Annual Leap Sandcastle Classic, a San Francisco tradition at Ocean Beach

FREE to the public, October 28, 2023

San Francisco – On Saturday, October 28, Leap Arts in Education will take over Ocean Beach to host the largest sandcastle contest in Northern California; featuring team competition, food trucks, and live music all day. The public is invited to join in the fun and experience the construction of dozens of jaw-dropping, supersized sand sculptures.

The 41st Annual Leap Sandcastle Classic, a San Francisco tradition, raises funds for high quality arts and architecture education for more than 8,500 Bay Area public school students who would otherwise go without. Thousands flock to Ocean Beach to build giant sand sculptures with architecture, design, technology, engineering and construction companies in partnership with students from local schools.

The 2023 Sandcastle Classic theme is Halloween Haunts, and teams will be including Halloween elements in their sandcastle design, t-shirt design, fundraising, and promotion. Costumes are encouraged!

The Classic will feature celebrity judges, live entertainment, and Community Castles so everyone can join in the fun, cheer on teams, and get their hands dirty! The public is invited to bring a blanket, grab a bite from the food trucks on site, participate in the competition, and spend a FREE day in the sun, all to support essential arts education.

Where: The event will be held at Ocean Beach and Balboa, near the Cliff House, free public parking, rain or shine.

When: Saturday, October 28, 2023, from 11AM – 3:30PM

Who:

• Hosted by KOIT’s Freska (http://www.koit.com/hosts/freska)
• Live musical and dance performances
• DJ RJKool
• Bay Area 3rd – 5th grade students and families
• Professionals from 100+ companies representing the Architectural, Engineering, Design, Construction and Technology industries www.leapsandcastleclassic.org

Keeping the arts alive!

Each year, Leap orchestrates the spectacular Sandcastle Classic as its major fundraising event. Funds raised from the Sandcastle Classic ensure that Leap can continue its important mission to keep the arts alive in Bay Area schools-especially following such a long and challenging pandemic, and the impact it has had on students. Leap’s 2022 goal is to raise more than $300,000. Leap executive director, Jill Dineen, says an arts education is essential because it “helps students develop 21st Century skills like critical thinking, collaboration and communication, promotes educational equity, and helps close the achievement gap for our kids. Statistically, a quality arts education gives kids a real shot at reaching their full potential in school and in life.”

For more information, visit: www.leapsandcastleclassic.org.

About LEAP

Leap Arts in Education is a private nonprofit organization founded in 1979 in response to the severe cuts in California’s school budgets that effectively eliminated the arts from elementary education. Leap’s mission is to provide high quality arts education to Bay Area children by bringing visual and performing artists and architects into the classroom to help students build skills and achieve their full potential. This year, Leap served over 8,500 children in 28 Bay Area schools.

Arts Education Matters:

● Students with an arts education increase test scores across every subject
● Students with an arts education are 4X more likely to be recognized for academic achievement
● Students who receive a quality arts education have higher attendance and graduation rates

Bay Area classroom teachers agree that an arts education is fundamental to student success:
-74% agree that students develop/apply critical thinking
-89% agree that students develop/apply communication skills
-85% agree that students practice collaboration

Leap provides quality arts education to Bay Area schools. You can help.
Attend. Volunteer. Give.
For more information call 415-512-1899.

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