Sand Sculpture Contest carves out tradition

Before there was the Crystal Classic sand-sculpting competition, the sand belonged to the locals participating in the annual Sand Sculpture Contest. 

Residents and visitors scooped, brushed, smoothed and scraped the soft sands of Siesta Key Beach for the 44th annual Sand Sculpture Contest on Saturday, May 7. 

Andrea King, recreation supervisor for Sarasota County Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources took feedback from returning participants last year and re-organized the contest groups. This year participants could enter in one of four categories: Child (ages 8 and under); Youth (ages 11 to 17); Adult individual; Adult team.

“I just love the atmosphere and people are engaged and it’s such a unique event,” King said. “What a way to to highlight this part of Siesta Key Beach?”

Among the participants were father and daughter duo Bruce and Olivia Peck. Returning participant Bruce helped coach his daughter during the competition on her piece with “Humpty Dumpty” in the child category while he worked on “Clownin’ Around” in the adult individual category. When they are competing in competitions Bruce and Olivia are practicing sand sculpting. 

“This is definitely our home beach,” Bruce Peck said.