Revere Beach International Sand Sculpting Festival Returns With COVID Vaccines Available
REVERE (CBS) - The Revere Beach International Sand Sculpting Festival returned Friday for the first time in two years.
Last year's festival was canceled due to the pandemic and there are fewer sculptures this year, spaced farther apart, because of the coronavirus. The food vendors are also separated by larger distances and there is no live music. Masks, hand sanitizer and disinfectants will be available to everyone.
There will also be COVID-19 vaccination clinics from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday and from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sunday for anyone who needs their shot.
"It's really important for us to be able to hold this event but also be mindful of making sure it's a safe and healthy event," said Revere Mayor Brian Arrigo.
"One thing that COVID has taught us is we have to meet people where they are," he told WBZ-TV. "Getting one person vaccinated is a win in our book at this point."
The International Sand Sculpting Festival in #Revere kicks off today! The city is taking several steps to keep people safe:
— Anna Meiler (@AnnaMeiler) August 6, 2021
-masks & hand sanitizer are available
-less sculptures & they're more spaced out
-there are vaccine clinics from 4-8 pm today & 11-2 Sunday @wbz pic.twitter.com/mcwcgJXrZ3
Dan Belcher came from Missouri to take part in the festival. This year's event is celebrating the 125th birthday of America's first public beach.
"I really missed last year, so it's great to be here," he said. "All of these are depictions of Revere Beach throughout its history," Belcher explained as he showed off his sculpture of Wonderland Park.
"I grew up in Revere so all these images they're making bring back a lot of my past," said spectator Alan Benecchi.
He and Chris Benecchi are thrilled the famed festival is back, but with the spread of the Delta variant and rising cases, COVID-19 is still top of mind, especially because the event is expected to attract 500,000 to 600,000 people over three days.
"We're concerned about it, we're trying to take whatever precautions are necessary and hopefully everything goes well," Alan said.
The festival opened Friday morning and will run until Sunday evening.
Here's the full schedule:
Friday: 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Saturday: 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. (Fireworks at 9 p.m.)
Sunday: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
For more information, visit their website rbissf.com.