TREASURE ISLAND, Fla. — The Sanding Ovations Masters Cup announced its sand sculpture theme for the 2024 competition: "The Gallery of Sand."
The Treasure Island competition will highlight the artistry and creativity found in Tampa Bay museums, murals and galleries, according to a news release. The theme will show the masterpieces that are sand sculptures, highlighting the talent and skill of the sculptors who create them.
Sanding Ovations is Treasure Island's sand sculpture competition, similar to Clearwater's Pier 60 Sugar Sand Festival. The free event includes live music, food, vendors, a kite festival and a fireworks display in addition to the sand creations.
"This year's theme enables us to highlight the quality of sand sculptors that Sanding Ovations brings in from all over the world," said Sanding Ovations founder Dan Doubleday in a statement. "These artists are world champion sculptors who create sand sculptures worthy of being in any gallery."
Sculptors from all over the world come to the beaches of Pinellas County to compete in the event, and visitors globally head to Treasure Island to see the award-winning sculptures. The event is one of the driving forces behind Treasure Island being one of the most popular beaches in the country, according to a news release.
"Treasure Island has one of the widest beaches on the west coast of Florida. This is a perfect setting for a gallery," Doubleday said. "The quality of Treasure Island's sand enables the sculptors to create very difficult, gravity-defying pieces of art."
The 2024 Sanding Ovations Masters Cup begins Nov. 21 and ends Nov. 24, with an encore weekend from Nov. 30 to Dec. 1. Admission to both events is free.
