VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. – Neptune’s International Sandsculpting Championship venue “The Land of Sand” was closed Tuesday morning in anticipation of possible high winds expected to affect the area later in the week due to Hurricane Matthew.
The display was scheduled to be open through Sunday.
It could take workers up to four days to take down the massive 30,000 square foot tent that holds the sand creations.
In addition to the 300’ long x 100’ wide tent, the structure includes almost 10,000 feet of wooden walkways, electricity, water, fencing, lighting and landscaping.
“It was a disappointing and difficult decision,” said Nancy Creech, President of the festival, “but the sheer size of the structure and all that is involved to remove it from the beach make it impossible to delay a decision when a storm of this size and magnitude could potentially be affecting our coast by the weekend.”
The International Sandsculpting Championship was part of the 43rd Annual Neptune Festival Boardwalk Weekend that concluded Sunday, October 2.
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