Ponquogue Beach was transformed into an outdoor art gallery, as families, friends and community groups gathered for the Town of Southampton Youth Bureau’s second annual Sandsational Sculpture Showdown.

The community sand-building competition invited participants of all ages to showcase their creativity by constructing original sand sculptures. Teams spent hours shaping and decorating their creations before judges made their rounds to select the top entries.

“We’re building a sandcastle,” participant Candy Dash, of Montauk said. “We’re trying to make it kind of like a volcano.”

The event is designed to bring residents together while encouraging teamwork, creativity and problem-solving skills, according to organizers.

“To give them those skills that they need to do better in life,” said Tracy Kolsin, Youth Bureau director. “The sandcastle competition is awesome because we help them, you know, with engineering techniques and things like that.”

Competitors embraced the challenge of turning sand into elaborate works of art. Heather Dune Macadam, of Hampton Bays, along with members of the Sag Harbor Mermaid Club, crafted a sand sculpture of a mermaid.

“Oh, it’s great fun,” she said. “I mean, it takes me right back to being a kid.”

When asked about the most difficult part of building a sand mermaid, Macadam laughed and replied: “Her head!”

In addition to the competition, children took part in free T-shirt decorating and seashell painting activities offered throughout the afternoon. Other local organizations, like RISE Life Services, were also present to interact with beachgoers.

Following the competition, attendees were invited to stay at the beach for a free Summer Beach Concert hosted by the Southampton Town Parks Department. The concert featured Streetfighter, a Rolling Stones tribute band.

“I’m glad that we get to go out here on a sunny day to build sandcastles and then enjoy the water,” said Juliette Schneider, of Riverhead.

The Town of Southampton Youth Bureau said it was pleased with the turnout and hopes the event continues to grow into a summertime tradition for local families.