• Alternate Text
  • Loading

  • Holiday Gift Guide
  • Health Observed
  • Crossword
  • Contests
  • Newsletters
  • e-Newspaper App
  • Longboat
    • News
    • Cops Corner
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Opinion
  • East County
    • News
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Schools
    • Sports
    • Opinion
  • Sarasota
    • News
    • Cops Corner
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Schools
    • Sports
    • Opinion
    • Siesta Key
  • Arts + Entertainment
    • Eat + Drink
    • Arts + Culture
    • Reviews
    • Things To Do
    • Black Tie
    • Spotlight Partners
  • LWR Life
  • Galleries
  • More
    • Hurricane Season
    • Red Tide Map
    • Health Observed
    • Sand Bucket List
    • Calendar
    • Celebrations
    • Contests
    • Tributes
    • Submit a Celebration
    • Submit a Tribute
    • Public Notices
    • Classifieds
  • Longboat
    • Longboat
    • News
    • Cops Corner
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Opinion
  • East County
    • East County
    • News
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Schools
    • Sports
    • Opinion
  • Sarasota
    • Sarasota
    • News
    • Cops Corner
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Schools
    • Sports
    • Opinion
    • Siesta Key
  • Arts + Entertainment
    • Arts + Entertainment
    • Eat + Drink
    • Arts + Culture
    • Reviews
    • Things To Do
    • Black Tie
    • Spotlight Partners
  • LWR Life
  • Galleries
  • More
    • More
    • Hurricane Season
    • Red Tide Map
    • Health Observed
    • Sand Bucket List
    • Calendar
    • Celebrations
    • Contests
    • Tributes
    • Submit a Celebration
    • Submit a Tribute
    • Public Notices
    • Classifieds
  • Holiday Gift Guide
  • Health Observed
  • Crossword
  • Contests
  • Newsletters
  • e-Newspaper App

Sand sculptors compete on Siesta Key

Sarasota County Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources hosted the 45th annual Amateur Sand Sculpture Contest on May 6 on Siesta Beach.


  • By Anna Brugmann
  • | 1:37 p.m. May 6, 2017
  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
  • Share

Competitors both new and old made their way to Siesta Key on May 6 for the 45th annual Amateur Sand Sculpture Contest. 

Ken Shields, who has been competing in the contest for about 20 years piled, patted and shaped Siesta's snow-white sand as two-time sculptors Nicole Colton, Wendy Kiesewetter and Paige Krittenden made progress on their own creation — a mermaid. 

Theirs was not the only mermaid represented in the entries. There were also cabins, castles, emojis and a sea turtle or two. 

As the competitors toiled away on their sculptures, beachgoers wandered through the ranks of sand creations, complimenting the artists as they went. 

Ken Shields works on his entry into the 45th annual Amateur Sand Sculpture Contest.
Ken Shields works on his entry into the 45th annual Amateur Sand Sculpture Contest.
Participants work on their entries  into the 45th annual Amateur Sand Sculpture Contest.
Participants work on their entries into the 45th annual Amateur Sand Sculpture Contest.
Sadie Smith points as the sand sculptures near the halfway mark in the competition.
Sadie Smith points as the sand sculptures near the halfway mark in the competition.
Nicole Colton, Wendy Kiesewetter and Paige Krittenden pose next to their sculpture-in-progress Misty the Mermaid.
Nicole Colton, Wendy Kiesewetter and Paige Krittenden pose next to their sculpture-in-progress Misty the Mermaid.
Cole Loo lies down next to his sculpture called Emoji.
Cole Loo lies down next to his sculpture called Emoji.
Valeria Nolasco, Ryann Taylor and Camilo Nolasco pose next to their sculpture called By the Bay Base.
Valeria Nolasco, Ryann Taylor and Camilo Nolasco pose next to their sculpture called By the Bay Base.
Justin Muklewicz works on his team'    s entry in the 45th annual Amateur Sand Sculpture Contest.
Justin Muklewicz works on his team' s entry in the 45th annual Amateur Sand Sculpture Contest.
Robin Schmidt works on her teams contribution to the 45th annual Amateur Sand Sculpture Contest called Atlantis.
Robin Schmidt works on her teams contribution to the 45th annual Amateur Sand Sculpture Contest called Atlantis.
Lillian Loo carves in the details to her sculpture called Tank the Turtle.
Lillian Loo carves in the details to her sculpture called Tank the Turtle.
Lillian Loo blows excess sand from her sculpture Tank the Turtle.
Lillian Loo blows excess sand from her sculpture Tank the Turtle.
Alec, Justin and Dave Muklewicz work on their entry in the 45th annual Amateur Sand Sculpture Contest.
Alec, Justin and Dave Muklewicz work on their entry in the 45th annual Amateur Sand Sculpture Contest.
The 45th annual Amateur Sand Sculpture Contest took place on Siesta Key Beach.
The 45th annual Amateur Sand Sculpture Contest took place on Siesta Key Beach.

 

Latest News

Sarasota City Attorney Joe Polzak and City Auditor and Clerk Shayla Griggs during a meeting of the Sarasota City Commission.
  • December 5, 2025
Sarasota charter official evaluations begin this month
You'd better watch out: Tow-away zones set for Sarasota holiday parade
  • December 4, 2025
You'd better watch out: Tow-away zones set for Sarasota holiday parade
A satellite image of Hurricane Irma.
  • December 4, 2025
Hurricane season ends without Florida landfall
Sarasota Police Department personnel monitor Sarasota's network of cameras, license plate readers, gunshot detectors and other devices in the nearly completed Real-Time Operations Center.
  • December 4, 2025
SPD set to grow its city camera system

Sponsored Health Content

Sponsored Content

The best of Your Observer, delivered directly to your inbox

Get the latest in news, sports, schools, arts and things to do in Sarasota, Siesta Key, Longboat Key and East County.

Sign Up

Latest in Neighbors

The moon shines between a pair of "Florida Reindeer."
  • December 4, 2025
Holiday display at Selby Gardens boasts over 2 million lights
Shane Rawley poses for a photo on Dec. 2 at Shaner's Pizzeria with his three published books. From left: "A February Thaw: A Peter Cobb Adventure," "January Freeze: A Peter Cobb Adventure" and "Peter Cobb: Three Strikes You're Out."
  • December 4, 2025
Former MLB pitcher and local pizzeria owner is an author
Eighth grader Mikayla Ross works with teacher Joseph Conner.
  • December 4, 2025
Tutoring nonprofit helps raise students' success rates
Laura Oliff-Maxey and Barbara Braun
  • December 4, 2025
Mothers Helping Mothers strengthens its toy drive effort
Sarasota City Y is a Vital Part of the Community
  • December 4, 2025
Sarasota City Y is a Vital Part of the Community
Sarasota Police Department on Dec. 2 gave away $2,000 in gasoline at three city stores, first offering to take photos with unsuspecting patrons.
  • December 2, 2025
Gas patrons fill up on Sarasota Police's giving spirit

App

Download the Your Observer app

Stay in the know with the latest local news. Any device, anytime, anywhere.

DOWNLOAD NOW

Contact

  • 1970 Main St.
  • Third Floor
  • Sarasota, FL 34236
  • Phone: 941-366-3468
  • FPN Verified

Extra, Extra!

  • Newsletters
  • App
  • Crossword
  • Contests

more

  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Classifieds
  • Advertise
  • Rack Locations
  • Jobs
  • Privacy Policy
  • Accessibility Options

sister sites

  • Business Observer
  • Jax Daily Record
  • Orange Observer
  • Accessibility Options
  • Copyright © 2025 Observer Media Group Inc., All Rights Reserved
Sign Up for Daily Headlines

A daily dose of news from Longboat Key, East County, Sarasota and Siesta Key.

Sign Up for In Case You Missed It

A Saturday dose of the week's top stories from Sarasota, Longboat Key and East County.


The Your Observer App is Here!

Get local news you can trust — now on your phone, tablet or laptop. Fast. Free. Easy to Use.
Stay informed, wherever you are.

Download Now