“Mom, can we build one that wins?”—if that question has already echoed from the back seat on your way to Gulf Beach RV Resort, you’re in the right place. Below you’ll find the kid-friendly rules, age brackets and must-pack buckets that turn a sunny Biloxi morning into trophy-holding, photo-snapping glory. No hidden fees, no mystery judging—just clear guidelines, cool shade tips and a promise that every sand-covered smile will wash off at our on-site rinse stations.
Keep scrolling to learn:
• The exact supplies allowed (spoiler: your trusty beach pail is plenty)
• How early to arrive so parking—and the perfect plot—are stress-free
• Safety shortcuts grandparents will love and Instagram hashtags bloggers will crave
Ready to trade “I’m bored” for “Pass the Golden Shovel”? Let’s dig in.
Key Takeaways
• Who: Kids ages 4–12, teams up to 4
• Where: Biloxi beach, 5-minute drive from Gulf Beach RV Resort
• Cost: Free; sign up with the QR code or online form
• When: Be there by 8 a.m.; building 9–11 a.m.; awards at noon
• Plot Size: 15 × 15 ft square, dig no deeper than 2 ft
• Allowed Tools: buckets, hand shovels, trowels, paintbrush, spray bottle
• Not Allowed: glitter, dyes, plastic flags, power tools
• Safety: Adult water helper, drink every 15 min, wear shoes and sun gear
• Prizes: Golden Seashell Trophy, ice-cream vouchers, certificates for all
• Clean-Up: Refill holes and join a quick beach sweep before leaving.
Quick-Glance Entry Facts
First things first: any child age four to twelve can compete, either solo or on a team of up to four. The contest is free, yet county permitting still matters; if more than fifty people plan to gather, organizers will file a no-fee special-use form with the Harrison County Sand Beach Authority at least thirty days ahead. Expect a 9 a.m. horn blast to beat Gulf humidity, and register by scanning the QR code posted at the resort front desk or inside our online Google Form.
Parking along US Highway 90 fills fast during summer weekends, so families should arrive by 8 a.m. to snag a spot close to the designated build zone. Public restrooms sit beside the main pavilion, and snack shacks sling chilled lemonade within two minutes’ walk. Not staying overnight? Day-trippers are welcome—the event sits five minutes from Gulf Beach RV Resort, making a lunchtime pool dip totally doable.
Why Biloxi’s Kids Need Their Own Sandcastles
As of May 30, 2025, Biloxi offers music festivals, car shows and seafood cook-offs, yet not one children-specific sandcastle contest dots the calendar. Nearby inspirations prove the appetite is real: Scrapin’ the Coast’s family division hands out a coveted Golden Shovel trophy (creative sand challenge), while San Francisco’s LEAP Classic packs 20-by-20-foot plots for schools each year (LEAP rules). Up in Oregon, Cannon Beach preserves its shoreline with strict “natural materials only” guidelines (eco-minded contest).
Borrowing the best of those events, Biloxi’s kids-only version blends team spirit with coastal stewardship. By hosting it near Gulf Beach RV Resort, organizers fill a genuine local gap, hand families a ready-made memory maker and give grandparents a front-row seat that doesn’t require trekking miles down hot sand. Local businesses also benefit from the extra foot traffic, turning a morning of play into a small but meaningful boost for the coastal economy.
The Rulebook—Simple, Fair, Fun
Teams fall into three age brackets—4–6, 7–9 and 10–12—and may include up to four builders. An adult “hydration marshal” must hover nearby, but tools stay human-powered: buckets, garden trowels, plastic putty knives, paintbrushes for detailing and a small spray bottle for misting. Those limits keep the playing field even while ensuring safety for every young builder.
Plots measure 15 × 15 feet, roped below the wrack line so dunes and sea-oat plantings stay pristine. Dig no deeper than two feet, and refill holes before you leave; those guidelines align with county public-safety codes. Creative freedom reigns, yet only sand, seawater and natural décor—think shells or driftwood collected that morning—may adorn your masterpiece. Plywood forms, colored dyes, glitter and plastic flags never leave the supply bag.
Judging begins at 11:15 a.m. on a 100-point matrix. Creativity and structural strength share top billing at 30 percent each, teamwork and enthusiasm weigh 20 percent, and overall aesthetic claims the last 20 percent. Winners lift a Golden Seashell Trophy at noon and collect ice-cream vouchers good at the resort shop, while every participant receives a photo-ready certificate.
Safety and Comfort: Beat Heat, Skip Tears
Gulf Coast mornings heat up fast, so junior divisions kick off no later than 9 a.m. Organizers post a visible “sip every 15 minutes” cue, and the required hydration marshal helps kids remember before dehydration sneaks in. Encourage UPF-rated swim shirts, broad-brim hats and neck gaiters; sunscreen alone can’t block rays bouncing off Biloxi’s bright white sand.
Walking, not sprinting, rules the trip from plot to water bucket. Closed-toe water shoes shield tender feet against hidden shells and reduce slips on wet sand. Shade tents up to 10 × 10 feet are welcome but must anchor on the wet-sand side to avoid buried utility lines running parallel to Highway 90.
Protecting Biloxi’s Beach—Easy Green Habits
Teaching environmental stewardship is simple when it folds into the fun. Kids shake seaweed before adding it to a dolphin fin so tiny sand crabs can scurry back to the surf. Plastic mini-flags, glitter and painted rocks never appear—you’ll thank us when the tide retreats minus scattered debris.
After trophies fly high, a ten-minute beach sweep turns every builder into a coastal guardian. Mesh bags distributed at check-in help teams collect forgotten snack wrappers, twist ties or bottle caps. Leaving only footprints keeps county fines at bay and ensures tomorrow’s sunrise photographers find pristine sand.
Gear Up Like a Pro Builder
A winning castle rarely depends on fancy gadgets. The must-have list fits inside a single beach tote: one or two two-gallon buckets, a sturdy hand shovel, a garden trowel for sculpting towers, a plastic putty knife for smoothing, a one-inch paintbrush for sweeping away loose grains and a spray bottle to maintain dampness.
Show kids the reliable hand-pack method: blend four parts damp sand with one part water inside the bucket, tamp firmly, flip and tap until the form slides free. Carve from the top down, never hollowing large voids at the base. Aim for six-inch-thick walls per foot of height and keep a gentle mist rolling—evaporative cooling helps grains lock together, a trick professionals swear by. Practicing this sequence at home or on the resort’s sunset shore speeds up build time on competition morning.
Resort Perks That Make Competition Days Smooth
Gulf Beach RV Resort sits a five-minute drive from the main Biloxi beachfront, meaning families can build in the morning, zip back for grilled-cheese sandwiches or a power nap, then return to gaze at their handiwork. On-site rinse stations allow every sandy ankle and shovel to sparkle before stepping inside an RV. The quick commute also means you can run forgotten trowels back to the RV without missing a beat.
Waterfront pull-through sites double as pre-contest strategy zones the night before; picnic tables invite bucket-tower dry runs while the sunset paints a practice backdrop. Resort Wi-Fi covers the pool deck, so travel bloggers can upload real-time reels with #GulfBeachRV and #BiloxiSandKids without burning cellular data. Quiet hours begin at 10 p.m., guaranteeing rested young architects when sunrise alarms buzz.
Sample Day-Of Timeline
Visualizing the flow helps eliminate morning chaos. Families typically check in at 7:45 a.m., drop gear on their assigned plot and snap a group photo against a Gulf sunrise. At 8:30 a.m., organizers huddle teams for a quick rules refresher, confirming hydration duties and the “no digging past two feet” guideline.
The horn blows at 9 a.m., releasing two solid hours of teamwork and sand-flinging joy. Judges tour sculptures at 11:15 a.m., clipboards in hand, while builders conduct a friendly beach sweep. Trophies rise at noon, rinse stations fire up by 12:30 p.m., and many families celebrate with pool cannonballs back at the resort before lunch.
Ready to swap screen time for sand towers? Give your crew the best shot at that Golden Seashell by making Gulf Beach RV Resort your launchpad—five minutes from the build zone, stocked with rinse stations, poolside chill spots and sunset practice beaches. Secure your RV pad or cottage today, then sit back and watch the kids’ imaginations rise higher than their tallest turret. Book your coastal getaway now and let every grain of Biloxi sand turn into a family memory worth framing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Do we have to be overnight guests at Gulf Beach RV Resort to enter the kids’ sandcastle competition?
A: Nope—day-trippers, locals and resort guests are all welcome; the goal is a fun community event, so just register, arrive on time and join the beachside fun whether you’re sleeping in an RV, a nearby hotel or heading home afterward.
Q: How do I sign my child up and is there a fee?
A: Simply scan the QR code at the resort front desk or use the online Google Form linked on our website; registration is completely free, but we suggest signing up at least a day in advance so your child’s name, age bracket and plot assignment are secured before check-in.
Q: What ages can participate and can siblings of different ages compete together?
A: Any child aged four through twelve may enter; siblings who span two brackets may still team up, but the build will be judged in the division of the oldest teammate so competition stays fair.
Q: Do we need fancy tools or special buckets?
A: Standard beach pails, a hand shovel, a plastic putty knife, a small trowel, a paintbrush and a spray bottle are all you need, and every one of those items is sold in the resort camp store if you forget or break something last minute.
Q: Can parents or grandparents help build the sandcastle?
A: Grown-ups act as “hydration marshals” and cheerleaders—coaching from the sidelines is fine and you can fetch water or shade, but once the starting horn sounds, only kid hands may touch the sand so every sculpture is 100 percent child-built.
Q: What time should we get there and where can we park?
A: Aim to arrive by 8 a.m. to snag beachside parking along Highway 90 and give your crew time to unload gear, find your roped-off 15-by-15-foot plot and settle in before the 9 a.m. horn.
Q: Is shade, drinking water and first aid available?
A: Yes—families may set up small shade tents anchored on the wet-sand side, organizers provide a free water-refill station plus hydration reminders every 15 minutes, and a certified first-aid lead is on-site with ice packs and bandages just in case.
Q: What happens if it rains or a storm rolls in?
A: Light sprinkles won’t stop the fun, but if lightning enters a 10-mile radius or a heavy storm warning is issued, the contest pauses and may be rescheduled for the following morning; registered families receive a text update the moment a weather call is made.
Q: How is the contest judged and when are prizes handed out?
A: Judges score each castle on creativity, structural strength, teamwork and overall look using a transparent 100-point sheet posted at check-in, then announce winners at noon with Golden Seashell trophies for first place and ice-cream vouchers plus photo certificates for every participant.
Q: Are restrooms and food close to the build zone?
A: Public restrooms sit right beside the main pavilion two minutes away, and snack shacks serve lemonade, hot dogs and snow cones all morning so you never have to haul the kids far for a quick bite or bathroom break.
Q: Can my child enter solo if friends or siblings aren’t available?
A: Absolutely—solo builders are common, and judges factor in individual effort, so a single determined architect can still walk away with top honors and a very proud smile.
Q: Are pets allowed in the competition area?
A: Friendly leashed dogs are welcome on the beach walkway, but for safety and cleanliness we ask that they stay outside the roped-off build plots during active competition times.
Q: May bloggers or influencers take photos and is Wi-Fi provided?
A: Yes—high-resolution photos, reels and livestreams are encouraged, the resort’s complimentary Wi-Fi reaches the beachfront for quick uploads, and we’d love you to tag us with #GulfBeachRV and #BiloxiSandKids so we can share your content.
Q: What eco-friendly rules should we keep in mind?
A: Only sand, seawater, shells and driftwood found that morning may decorate your castle, and everyone joins a quick 10-minute beach sweep after judging so the shoreline stays pristine for sea life and future visitors.
Q: If I miss online registration can I still sign up the morning of the event?
A: Walk-up entries are accepted until 8:30 a.m. as long as space remains in your child’s age bracket, so come early, head to the check-in table and we’ll do our best to squeeze you in.