Annual Milford sand sculpture contest returns with a hybrid model Saul Flores FacebookTwitterEmail The 42nd annual Sand Sculpture Competition hosted by the Milford Arts Council at Walnut Beach in Milford on July 27, 2019.Arnold Gold / Hearst Connecticut Media MILFORD — A silver lining of last year’s virtual sand sculpture contest was that anyone in the state — or beyond — could participate in the city’s annual tradition. The event was such a success that the 44th annual competition — to be held July 18 — will be a hybrid model of in-person sculpting at Walnut Beach and virtual entries. “The virtual version went so well that we decided we should offer both versions of the contest this year,” said Lori Lewis, previous marketing director for the Milford Arts Council. “Anyone from anywhere can enter and so we’re shouting out to creative spirits from Cape Cod to California to Clearwater and even Croatia. Our vision is to see ‘creativity everywhere,’ so we want everyone to have a chance to build a sculpture on the home beach of choice.”