Entrants paid $4 and were treated to a fish-and-chips dinner by organisers Progress Castlecliff and sponsors Mars Petcare and Classic Hits Wanganui.
There was $500 worth of prizes to give away on the day.
While children of three and four years were there, Claudette Morgan took home the title of oldest entrant at 71.
Rules were entrants could only build their sculptures from what was found on the beach, although fasteners such as screws and wire were allowed.
Mayor Annette Main described the event as wonderful and said she hoped it would get bigger and better every year.
Other sculptures included a giant's chair and fishing pole, surfers, and a replica of Kowhai Park, which won first prize.
Ruby Fletcher and her group took home the $400 prize for the sculpture.
Craig Ainsley's Mind of a Madman took second place and $100, followed by Lego Man by Daniel and Toni George, who won $50 for their efforts.
Runners-up were Nelson Lebo's Surfer and Tim Ridout's Giant Chair.
Kai Iwi Beach by Emily and Sam Kelly was first place in the under 10s, with Jack and Zack's Lizard in second and Ranin and Silver's Giant Fish coming up third.
Event organiser Ellen Waugh said they planned to have the competition during the Artists' Open Studios event next year so out-of-towners could view the building of the sculptures and the final products in all their glory.
"Maybe one day Wanganui could be the driftwood sculpture capital of the world," Mrs Waugh said.
"We certainly have the materials."
