Photos: ‘Boston Strong’ at the National Sand Sculpting Festival at Revere Beach

BOSTON STRONG CENTERPIECE AT REVERE BEACH. (ALL PHOTOS BY OLGA KHVAN)

This weekend, master sand sculptors gathered at Revere to fashion the sand at the nation’s first public beach into intricate works of art. Despite record-breaking 99-degree weather, the 10th Annual National Sand Sculpting Festival went on, with winners from all over the world.

Jonathan Bouchard from Montreal and his octopus creation titled “Let Me Spread My Ink” took first place, winning $5,000. Dan Belcher from St. Louis took second place for his entry “Breaking Out.” Third-place winner Benjamin Probanza hails from Mexico, winning with his entry, “Escuchando La Vida Y La Muerte” (“Listening to Life and Death”). And Holland’s Edith van de Wetering took fourth place with “My Own Quiet Place.”

The public, meanwhile, reveled at an elaborate take on a traditional sand castle, making Walter McDonald’s creation, “Step Up,” the people’s choice winner. As master sand sculptors and visitors viewers alike persevered through the heat, a “Boston Strong” sculpture stood as the centerpiece of the festival, a tribute to Boston’s perseverance in light of tragedy.

Below, check out photos from this year’s National Sand Sculpting Festival:

FIRST PLACE WINNER “LET ME SPREAD MY INK” BY JONATHAN BOUCHARD FROM MONTREAL.

SECOND PLACE WINNER “BREAKING OUT” BY DAN BELCHER FROM ST. LOUIS.

THIRD PLACE WINNER “ESCUCHANDO LA VIDA Y LA MUERTE” (“LISTENING TO LIFE AND DEATH”) BY BENJAMIN PROBANZA FROM ACAPULCO, MEXICO.

FOURTH PLACE WINNER “MY OWN QUIET PLACE” BY EDITH VAN DE WETERING FROM HOLLAND.

PEOPLE’S CHOICE WINNER “STEP UP” BY WALTER MCDONALD FROM SOUTH PADRE ISLAND, FLA.

DETAIL OF THE “BOSTON STRONG” CENTERPIECE.

“PEACE OF MIND” BY RUSTY CROFT FROM CARMEL, CALIF.

“PHOENIX RISING” BY STEVE TOPAZIO FROM TIVERTON, Rhode Island

“WATERING HOLE” BY JUSTIN GORDON FROM GROVELAND, MASS.

“IMPRINTED” BY SUE MCGREW FROM TACOMA, WASH.

“SOUND WAVE” BY SANDIS KONDRATS FROM LATVIA.