SANDS OF TIME

AMBER Groom will join tens of thousands of people on Surfers Paradise beach from today for the Sand Safari Arts Festival. The 19-year-old Mermaid Beach woman was intrigued by the giant squids on display yesterday. The festival, which runs until February 25, will also feature the Australian Sand Sculpting Championships.

FLYING giant squids, a chainsaw and almost 100 tonnes of sand aren’t usually items grouped together but that is the magic of the annual Sand Safari Arts Festival.

Today, the Surfers Paradise free family event kicks off and it promises to be bigger and better than ever.

Surfers Paradise Alliance CEO Mike Winlaw said the festival was in its seventh year and continuing to grow.

Last year 235,000 people attended and numbers are expected to swell to 250,000 this year during the 17-day festival.

“We have added quite a lot to it,” Mr Winlaw said of the festival which finishes on February 25.

Cavill Mall will come alive with artists displaying their talent as they create live art, from painting visitor’s portraits to carving a log with a chainsaw.

The 2018 Australian Sand Sculpting Championships will also be held.

Amber Groom, 19, of Mermaid Beach did not know the festival was taking place until she spotted the inflatable art on the beachfront.

“I think it is a great tourist attraction,” she said.