Sand Sculpture Contest canceled
Another summer favorite is being canceled next month: The Alpena News’ Fourth of July Sand Sculpture Contest.
Unlike other events canceled because of COVID-19 concerns, this one is being called off because there is not enough beach left at Starlite Beach to hold the event. Lake Huron’s water levels are at record highs, causing erosion and damage up and down the coast.
“It’s pretty hard to hold a sand sculpture contest when you have lots of water, but little beach,” said Alpena News Publisher Bill Speer.
The decision was a hard one, he said, especially given all the other holiday cancellations this year.
“We delayed the decision as long as we could, but anyone who has visited Starlite this summer understands our reasoning,” Speer said. “It is amazing how high the water level is there right now. The beach has virtually disappeared.”
Speer promised the newspaper would spons the popular crowd favorite again as soon as the beach returns in that area.
“We all have experienced the ebb and flow of water levels in the Great Lakes,” Speer said. “We understand this is a cyclical pattern and the water levels of today won’t necessarily be the same levels next year.”
The cancellation joins other events that won’t be occuring this year, including Alpena’s Fourth of July parade and Maritime Festival.
It has yet to be determined whether Alpena will host a fireworks show this year, as city officials await permission from Gov. Gretchen Whitmer as to whether it will be safe enough to host or not.