VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) — More than 400 tons of sand were brought into a football field sized tent on Oceanfront. It will soon be turned into more than 20 intricate sand sculptures. The truckloads of sand came in from Moyock, set up in piles for each artist. Some work alone, others work in pairs. Solo artists will turn these 17 ton piles of sand into a fleeting work of art. Each team of two or more gets 27 tons of sand. "It is all placed strategically based on the tent and where the walkways and everything will be," said Bo Wilkinson, Vice President of Operations with Neptune Festival. Bo Wilkinson is busy behind the scenes. Months of planning go into the operation with equipment and set up. The massive tent is there to protect the artists and artwork from the elements. They use a specific type of sand instead of what is already on the beach. The sand shipped in from Moyock sand holds its shape better, with a sturdy texture and more clay content. The artists are coming in from across the United States and places like Canada, Mexico, Estonia, Italy and Latvia. They are all competing for a big prize pool. The people with Neptune Festival fly them in, paying for lodging and food — making sure they have what they need to put their vision in the sand. "So I think my favorite part is how these sculptors are going to turn these piles of sand into these incredible temporary works of art out here, and see where they draw their inspiration and see their processes and the tools they use, and the focus that they really get into," explained Kit Chope, President and CEO of Virginia Beach Neptune Festival "They'll put their AirPods in, they'll zone out and they'll get in the groove." The artists arrive this weekend. They begin their sculptures on Monday and have until Thursday to finish their work. The sculpture gallery opens from Sept. 27 through Oct. 6 . Admission is seven dollars. Children get in for free with a paying adult.