See the most over-the-top creations from this weekend's Coney Island Sand Sculpting contest

On Saturday, Coney Island hosted its 26th Annual Sand Sculpting Contest, a Brooklyn tradition that marks the winding-down of summer in the run-up to Labor Day. Would-be Michelangelos hit the beach, pales and shovels in hand, to show their skills at shaping mounds of sand into ephemeral, fanciful creations that eventually disappear with the tide. No matter, as this round-up shows, they live on in Instagram immortality. 

 

#sandcastle #sandcastles #sandcastlesinthesand #coneyislandbeach #brooklyn #newyorknewyork #brooklynbeach #castles #sandart #sandartshow #newyorkcity #newyork #madeinbrooklyn #coneyisland

A photo posted by Brooklyn Mark (@brooklynmark) on Aug 20, 2016 at 3:13pm PDT

 

#sea #seaside #commercialdiver #seasideheightsboardwalk #jeresyshore #dancing #banana #minion #larry #larrylobster #spongebob #castle #newjersey #jerseyshore #seaside #seasideheights #sea #beachsand #bestoftheday #beautiful #bikini #beachart #sea #sand #sandart #seaside #sandcastle #sandsculpture #dancer #waterdance #dance #underwaterwelding #scubadiving #santa

A photo posted by larry watkins (@vulcan2x) on Aug 22, 2016 at 5:22am PDT

 

Dozens of artists armed with shovels, forks and the force of their imaginations faced off Saturday at the 26th annual Coney Island Sand Sculpting Contest. Gilbert Ortega sculpted the Eiffel Tower.

A photo posted by Fabio Parri (@fparri) on Aug 22, 2016 at 9:11am PDT

 

Hace un año / A year ago #coneyisland #island #brooklyn #arena #sand #playa #beach #marron #brown #ig #jj_forum #jj_forum_1653 #like4like #jj_nature #jj_nosquares #creativephotography #jj_editors #jj_seasons #igtravel #travelingram #travel #viaje #photooftheday #photography #photo #summer #verano #ny #igersnyc #nyc

A photo posted by Hector Maseda (@gallegoccs) on Aug 22, 2016 at 6:31am PDT

 

Literally such a cool sand castle. #sandcastle . . . . #sandcastles #coneyisland #sandcastlecontest #coney #coneyislandbeach #brooklyn #brooklynbeach #nyc #newyorkcity #newyork #beachday

A photo posted by ipaulesbronet (@ipaulesbronet) on Aug 21, 2016 at 11:29am PDT