From sandcastles to dragons, Fort Myers Beach has seen it all in the American Sand Sculpting Championship, and after a four-year hiatus, it is back.
This 33-year tradition has not been around for four years because of the pandemic, and then Hurricane Ian, but this year it is back.
“Yeah, we had it ready to go, and then Ian hit,” Sand Lover owner Bill Knight said.
He said he is ready for the return of the American Sand Sculpting Championship.
“Everything is a little bit lower-key than people will have seen the past 33 years,” he said.
18 artists were invited to compete at the Diamond Head Beach Resort. Knight and his team prepped the sand before teams gathered along the Gulf Coast starting Thursday.
“There are eight master piles,” Knight said. “They each have roughly eight tons of sand. And they'll have from Thursday to Sunday to work on them.”
Bill and his wife started as amateurs before working their way up to expert sculptors.
Now that he is done competing, he helps operate the event.
“There's not only the master level, the semi-pro, the amateur level,” he said.
Sculptors use tools like cake frosting knives, paint palette knives, straws, and brushes to dust away loose sand.
Since the artists reveal their final pieces on Sunday, they use a windscreen of Elmer's glue and water to protect them.
“Everybody thinks rain is the worst thing, and it's not, It's the wind,” he said.
Jackie Leszeck the Fort Myers Beach Chamber of Commerce President said this event is a huge boost to the economy.
“Be prepared to be amazed,” she said. “These works of art will take your breath away. They are just incredible at sculpting these piles of sand.”
Bill encourages everyone to come down and see these pieces of art this weekend.