INDIANOLA — The local definition of Indianola Days: When there’s no parking within five blocks of the Indianola Store and hundreds of sunbathing beauties sport face paint, root beer floats and bright orange, plastic shovels.

It’s the one weekend out of the year where hundreds of Indianola’s closest friends come together to revel in all her beach glory — from racing games to building the craziest, most unique sculptures for sandcastle contests.

bottle. So I am going to do that next year but I’m just studying technique this year.”

Other tools included a spackling knife for creating the scales on the aptly named “Dog-Fish.”

The creation, which looked like Clifford the Big Red Dog paired with a fish tail, was the creation of Hannah, 13, Cooper, 10, and their dad Rob Sprague.

“I was just thinking of different things that could live on the beach,” said Hannah.

The Sprague team said they don’t practice much besides the annual weekend celebration; however, they competed the last three years and said they get better each time.

“I think you just have to get out here and try it,” Hannah said, advising other potential masters of the sandcastle art.

In the children’s division, a giant, great white shark jutted out of the sand baring its numerous rows of razor-sharp teeth.

A wooden plank and washed up sponge alluded to the wreckage of a boat and many a lost sailor.

Big fans of “Shark Week,” Hannah and Healy Reinholt, ages 11 and 8 respectively, broke up clam shells for teeth to make the shark look as realistic as possible.

The weekend’s six sculpture judges came via ferry boat from Seattle.

“We can’t have any biased judges,” said Jay Gelose, who brings in architecture students each year judge the contest.

Erica Loynd, a second-year judge, said she takes her job very seriously while taking in a few rays of sun. First place masterpieces, she said, should have impeccable use of added beach decor.

As the tide crept in the judges rounded out to inspect the creations.

From playing in the sand all day and racing against other children, one by one kids tuckered out and fell asleep in parents’ arms. Three-year-old Ava Vaughn-Mifsud was no exception.

After mustering a blue ribbon finish in her sprint, she only had enough energy to agree with her mom that taking first place requires kids to run fast but more importantly to have fun.

Exactly what any Indianola native will say the weekend celebration is all about.

The sleepy little town is somewhat hush-hush about the event, specifically meant for the community. However, word always leaks out.

Community resident Allison Butler estimated more than 500 people were on the beach and dock come Saturday afternoon.

“I’m just really happy the sun came out,” she said. “All my family comes out from all over. It’s just a good time. This is a really good turnout.”

From the top of the curved Indianola dock, hordes of people swarmed the beach (a low -2.3 tide), in striped swimsuits and swim trunks. In the bright sunlight they’re reminiscent of buzzing worker bees, piling sand and patting it smooth.

Their sand hives took on all shapes and sizes. Kids and adults gathered inspiration from musical instruments, Discovery Channel’s “Shark Week,” Chinese adventures, and even borrowed library books on the amphibious animal class.

A frog, standing at least five feet tall, mid-ribbit, was complete down to its webbed toes.

With constant comments of “Oh, look how cute it is,” the manly men responsible for the creation felt the need to talk themselves up.

“Cute, dominant, ferocious — they all mean the same thing,” said Ryan Corey, 22, through his clenched jaw.

Corey explained he and comrades Robert Manos, 51, and Rob Finlon, 43, borrowed four library books containing their favorite photos of stoic frogs.

“And then we put together what is the perfect frog,” Corey said, striking a pose of admiration.

The frog, one of earth’s studliest inhabitants, was inspired “after a hearty brew,” agreed the men. They weren’t talking dark roast drip coffee.

Although this was their first year in the sand competitions, the men had it down like pros, saying they’ve watched competitions before and gathered the necessary tools including a water sprayer, to give it that smooth, solid finish.

Chuck Baetz of Indianola, a resident sandcastle building technique expert, said the spray cans were the professional factor.

“I’ve noticed everyone who had a really smooth finish had one,” he said. “It seems it’s just regular salt water in a regular spray