Sandcastle Tradition Continues With Improvised Event

The Sandwallowers, I.B. Posse, the Benham family and young volunteers continued a tradition of summer sandcastles on Imperial Beach shores Sunday with an impromptu build.

The Sandwallowers sculpted a turtle, mermaid and octopus.

I.B. Posse built a dragon coming out of a castle.

Known as SandQuest, the Benhan family  built a sandy banner that read "Thanx for the memories: U.S. Open Sandcastle Competition 1980-2011."

For the first time in decades, official Kids 'N Kastles Sandcastle Competition and the U.S. Open Sandcastle Competition were not held this year.

The U.S. Open Sancastle Committee disbanded in fall 2011 but the future of sandcastle competitions in Imperial Beach remains unclear.

Julia Simms of CHE Marketing attempted to bring together stakeholders earlier this year to put a competition together but talks failed to culminate in a new competition.

Preliminary talks continue for a possible sandcastle event in 2013 as part of a Sun & Sea Festival for a new generation to attact about 40,000 people to the area.

In comparison, 400,000 or more people are estimated to have attended the U.S. Open Sandcastle Competition in years past.

The Sun & Sea Festival has roots in Imperial Beach dating back to 1960. Like festivals of the past, a parade and Sun & Sea Ball have been proposed.

Imperial Beach Patch editor Khari Johnson contributed to this report.

Unlike the U.S. Open Sandcastle Competition,