Siesta Key Crystal Classic Sand Sculpting Competition

If you have not seen the outrageously beautiful sculptures that master sculptors can create from sand, you simply must attend the 5^th Annual Siesta Crystal Classic from November 14 through 18, 2014 on Siesta Key Beach.

Siesta Key’s pristine crystal sand is ideal for sculpting. Siesta Beach, named "America's #1 Beach," has become a favorite among competitive professional sand sculptors. Citing the beauty and cleanliness of the soft, white sand, sculptors have remarked that their sculptures look almost as if they were carved in marble. Master Sand Sculptor Brian Wigelsworth said, "These competitions are held all over the world, but many times it requires bringing in tons of the right sand. Siesta Beach has arguably the best beach sand for sculpting in the world."

The Siesta Key Crystal Classic connects the arts and the beach in ways never before seen in Sarasota. Founded in 2010, the Crystal Classic has quickly become a local tradition and a draw for visitors from far beyond Sarasota County. The event is sponsored by the Siesta Beach Festival Board and supported this year by Best Western Plus - Siesta Key, Gold Coast Eagle Distributing, ABC 7 WWSB; Sarasota Herald Tribune, Sarasota County Parks and Recreation, Siesta Key Chamber of Commerce; Sarasota Chamber of Commerce and Visit Sarasota County.

Master sculptors spend 3 days creating their sand masterpieces transforming the always beautiful Siesta Beach into an outdoor art gallery. Visitors entering the Sand Sculpture Gallery are immediately impressed by the size and complexity of some of the sculptures, some of which stand over 10 feet tall. If you arrive on Friday, November 14^th, you'll have an opportunity to see the very beginnings of the sculptures being created. Some enjoy guessing "what that pile of sand will look like after the sculptor completes his or her work."

Proceeds from the event support the sea turtle conservation program at Mote Marine Laboratory and other non-profit organizations.

The sculpting competition will end officially at noon Sunday, November 16^th. For just a $6.00 admission fee, you and your friends and guests can then spend the rest of Sunday admiring the works of art created by these master sculptors. On Monday and Tuesday, the sand sculptures will be on display from 10:00AM to 5:30PM to amaze visitors. Then, on Wednesday morning, the sculptures will be knocked down and by sunset time Wednesday evening, the beach will have been returned to its usual beautiful condition as if this outstanding competitive and artistic event had never happened.

In Sarasota Florida, a community known around the world for the beauty of its beaches and the breadth of its arts and cultural amenities, the organizers of the Siesta Key Crystal Classic have found an entertaining way to combine the two for the benefit of the residents and visitors of Siesta Key and other Sarasota area communities.

If reading this article has peaked your interest in building your own sand sculpture, there is a website that explains how it's done. Visit CrystalSand.org to learn more.

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