Inaugural Sand & Sun Festival Coming to Citizens' Circle

OCALA, Fla. (Feb. 9, 2026) - The City of Ocala Cultural Arts Division will bring a beach-inspired experience to downtown for the first time with the Sand & Sun Festival, scheduled for Saturday, May 16, at Citizens' Circle, 151 SE Osceola Ave.

This free, family-friendly event will feature six professional sand sculptors creating large-scale works of art live throughout the day. A panel of judges will award first and second place, and attendees may vote for their favorite sculpture to receive the People's Choice Award.

Guests will be welcomed by a signature sand sculpture showcasing sponsor logos at the festival entrance.

In addition to the sculptures, families may enjoy the Sandcastle Playground, live music, community performances, local food trucks, nonprofit and sponsor booths, and artisan vendors.

Open Call for Vendors
The City of Ocala is accepting vendor applications for:

• Artists, Artisans and Craftsmen
• Food Trucks
• Nonprofit and Arts Organizations
• Sponsors

Applications are available at https://www.ocalafl.gov/sandandsun. Completed applications may be submitted online, emailed to [email protected] or mailed to:

City of Ocala Cultural Arts Division
201 SE Third St., Second Floor
Ocala, FL 34471

The application deadline is March 30.

For more information, contact the City of Ocala Cultural Arts Division at 352-629-8447 or [email protected], or visit https://www.ocalafl.gov/sandandsun.

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