Tales From Lake Erie: A Public Festival Like No Other

In 2015, AIA Cleveland was seeking to raise the profile of Cleveland architects and to build more authentic and meaningful connections to the public they serve. The community outreach committee quickly settled on a Sand Festival as a key venue for just that.

The unique event instantly became a summer highlight for architecture and design firms seeking out team building activities and families seeking out family-friendly events in the waning days of summer. In five years, the event grew from 15 teams (sandcastle & volleyball) to nearly fifty (castle, volley, cornhole), with thousands more spectators showing up to enjoy the event, every year. The social media event reach topped 380,000 unique users (skewing female) and the financial contribution to the ACE Mentor Program scholarship program has surpassed $10,000.

Sand Fest is an event that has captured the public’s imagination and allowed AIA Cleveland to connect with the community while raising funds to help diverse and talented students join the fold. The event is featured every summer in Cleveland Magazine, Properties Magazine, The Plain Dealer, and featured across local television news.

See the event website HERE
Project advanced with AIA Cleveland