The Leap Sandcastle Classic, which Leap describes as Northern California’s largest sandcastle competition, returns to Ocean Beach on Saturday, October 24, 2026 for its 44th year. Teams build large sand sculptures with local students, and the event raises money for Leap’s arts programs in local classrooms. Watching is free.
What to Expect
Building runs from 11am to 2:30pm, so the sculptures are still going up for most of the day and finished by mid-afternoon. Judging follows, and awards are presented at 3:15pm with KOIT’s Freska hosting. The event ends at 3:30pm. Performers on the schedule include DJ Wonway Posibul, Cuicacalli Ballet Folklórico and LionDanceMe. Leap says the day draws more than 5,000 people, and food trucks set up near the beach.
The money raised goes to Leap Arts in Education, a nonprofit that places professional teaching artists in K to 5 classrooms, and this year’s event also supports Youth Art Exchange. Teams register and fundraise ahead of time; spectators just show up.
Details
When: Saturday, October 24, 2026. Building 11am to 2:30pm, awards 3:15pm, ends 3:30pm.
Where: Ocean Beach at Balboa Street, Outer Richmond.
Cost: Free to attend.
Getting there: Several Muni bus lines serve the Outer Richmond; check the SFMTA trip planner for the route from your starting point. Ocean Beach is exposed, and the wind and fog at the shoreline can make it colder than the rest of the city, so bring layers.
Schedule from the Leap Sandcastle Classic event schedule. For more to do this month, see our guide to things to do in San Francisco in October 2026.
Photo: lamblukas, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
