Hundreds of tons of sand are arriving this week on the Great Lawn in downtown West Palm Beach, marking the start of the city’s annual holiday sand‑tree construction, a tradition that draws families and visitors each December.
According to CBS12, the city will receive a total of 850 tons of sand, with approximately eight to ten dump trucks delivering material each day. Of that amount, about 700 tons will be used to sculpt Sandi, the 35‑foot‑tall, 700‑ton sand tree, while the remaining 150 tons will be fashioned into four smaller waterfront sculptures.
WPBF reports that the sand deliveries are expected to wrap up by the end of the week, with the final trucks arriving by Friday, Nov. 13, weather and operations permitting. Sculptors are scheduled to begin carving on Monday, Nov. 16, and will work through the holiday season to complete the centerpiece.
The 2024 theme, “The Art of the Holidays,” celebrates color, movement, music and imagination. WPBF quoted resident Chloe Esposito, who said the arrival of sand “kind of makes me feel like a kid again,” recalling childhood Christmas trips to Florida. Another local, Michelle Babek, told the outlet that visiting Sandi has become a family outing, noting, “I bring my niece and nephew. Even my parents come down with us.”
Sandi will anchor the Holiday in Paradise celebration, presented by FPL, which runs from Nov. 27 through Dec. 31. CBS12 noted that the official tree lighting is set for Thursday, Dec. 3, from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m., after which nightly music and light shows will continue along the waterfront.
What’s next: Residents can expect the sand deliveries to finish by Nov. 13, with sculptors beginning work on Nov. 16. The Holiday in Paradise festivities launch Nov. 27, and the highly anticipated lighting ceremony will take place Dec. 3, ushering in a month of seasonal events along the West Palm Beach waterfront.
