September 21, Charlestown, RI – South County Tourism Council would like to invite you to Atlantis Rising, our second annual international sand sculpture competition, taking place at Misquamicut State Beach on October 6-9, 2023.
Atlantis RIsing is Rhode Island’s first and only sand sculpture competition. We have 10 internationally renowned sand artists from all over the world — including South Korea, Lithuania, Holland and more —competing for a cash prize. The prizes are as follows: first place $7,500, second place $5,000, third place $4,000 and People’s Choice $2,500. The judges will announce the winners at 12:30 PM on Sunday, October 8th. Attendees can vote for their favorite (the People’s Choice award) and that will be announced after the event.
Atlantis RIsing’s presenting sponsor is Dunkin’. Also, this year, the event will be tented. There will be fun for the whole family, including live music, photo opportunities, food, vendors a not-to-be-missed drone light show by Verge Aero and more. An Aquaman lookalike and a Captain Jack Sparrow impersonator will wander the crowd and be available for photos. Captain Jack’s Pirate School will teach both kids and adults how to sculpt with sand. Musical performances will include local favorites, Sugar, South County’s very own national star, Billy Gilman, as well as Buddy Fanjoy, Steve Smith and the Nakeds, Dan Burke & the Royal Treatment, Island Time Steel Drum Band, Latin Mix and The Sultans. Two signature cocktails will be available for adults to enjoy provided by the Windjammer – Poseidon’s Potion and Revenge of the Kraken.
Tickets are available online for $12 for adults and $5 for children ages 5-12. Children under 5 are free. Tickets at the gate will be $15 for adults. The price for children ages 5-12 will remain at $5.
If you’re interested in scheduling interviews with the artists, the organizers (Greg Grady, Sr. and Greg Grady, Jr.), the celebrity character lookalikes and anyone else, please reach out to me via email or text to 857-225-4261. I will be onsite throughout the event and can facilitate anything you need.
“This year’s theme is pirates,” says Louise Bishop, South County Tourism Council President. “Last year this event brought in over 26,000 people to Misquamicut State Beach in October and we expect this year will surpass that. It’s a great way to boost business and tourism during what we in the tourism industry call, ‘the shoulder season’. We’ve had many inquiries from people who came last year and want to return this year. Hotels are filling up fast, so get your tickets online and make your reservations,” she urges.
The South County Tourism Council is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting the towns of Charlestown, Coventry, East Greenwich, Exeter, Hopkinton, Narragansett, North Kingstown, Richmond, South Kingstown, West Greenwich and Westerly as a single leisure travel destination known as “South County”. For more information, please visit southcountyri.com.
