J.P. Luby Surf Park was inundated with an estimated 90,000 sun worshipers Saturday during the 19th annual C-101 C-Sculptures, a festival that elevates building sand castles to an art form.

Competitors constructed a variety of castles, lizards and wizards while local bands took the stage and crowds cheered the annual bikini contest. This year's attendance tops last year's by 20,000 people, according to C-101 program manager Kelli Cluque.

She said the station enjoys boasting that the annual gathering is the largest on the Gulf Coast. "We've never had anyone refute it," Cluque said, adding that there were 5,000 people camping on the beach by 8 p.m. Friday.

Eight contestants built structures alone for the solo category while six groups registered for the team competition.

The first-place winner of the solo category was Lucinda Wierenga's castle and lagoon. Second place went to Adam Kelley's musical angel and third place went to Ashley Schmidz's fat iguana.

Team efforts paid off for first place winner Merritt Finnell's team and their tribute to C-101, second place went to Lori Willson's team for a castle scene, and Kent Young took third place for his wizard.

First-place winners took home $500, second-place winners were awarded $300 and third place took $200.

Paul and Lori Willson, owners of Merchant Ivory Flower and Gift Shop, thought their chances of victory were slim because of dry weather.

"The sand isn't sticking to anything," said Paul Willson. "We had our castle two feet higher but it just wouldn't hold."

The Willsons, who also took second place in C-sculpture competition last year, said the task of building with dry sand is "an architectural nightmare."

Some spectators noticed the difference. "This year's sculptures don't seem so hot and the place is twice as crowded," said Tom Nance, from Lake Corpus Christi. "They're still good, but last year seemed better."

The temperature rose to 95 degrees. Police and lifeguards said no serious heat-related injuries were reported. Lifeguards said the beach was too crowded for an ambulance to get through, making the presence of the HALO Flight medical helicopter necessary. An ambulance was also on call at all times.

The local rockabilly group Matt Hole and the Hot Rod Gang and Zoo recording artist Self provided music in two separate daytime shows.

The annual bikini contest was greeted with lusty cheers, with both men and women encircling the stage and shouting encouragement at the 16 contestants.

"Part of my losing weight after having kids was getting into this contest," said Jeannette Lindsay, one of the contestants.

Two bikini fans were waiting in the wings to take pictures of the women as they walked off stage -- the shutterbugs' third year of documenting the bikini contest. The photos go to a "locker room collection," said one, Tim Beitzel.

"We're going to take pictures of them all, if we can catch them," Beitzel said, setting up for another shot.