Sanding Ovations Beats the Odds to Return to the Beach.

By Laura Mulrooney

Thank goodness for Treasure Island’s sprawling beach. The outdoor landscape allowed for Treasure Island’s 12th Annual Sanding Ovations festival, themed “Sandhenge,” to go on as planned November 19 through 22, just behind the Bilmar Beach Resort.

Like many events this year, it almost didn’t happen.

However, with plentiful

handwashing stations and sanitizer, portalets replaced by trailers with running water, and Space Force volunteers enforcing CDC guidelines, the show went off without a hitch.

Due to travel restrictions, the festival wasn’t an international sand sculpture competition, but an exhibit crafted by those who were able to partake. Nine sculptors from North America – as far as Canada and Washington state and Massachusetts – and all over Florida turned Treasure Island into a paleolithic wonderland.

But COVID-19 wasn’t the only obstacle this year.

Copious flooding from Tropical Storm Eta, which hit Gulf Coast shores Wednesday, November 11, also threatened the sculptors’ natural canvass; luckily the water receded in time for the show to go on.

Peatcasso shows off in art class with this sculpture of a voluptuous lady cyclops.

Laura Mulrooney

"This sculpture depicts William "Wille" Mammoot the Third, the most celebrated mammoth jockey of all time. Well known for his innovations in the field of mammoth racing. Some historian even argue that the wooly mammoth was in fact named after Willie himself," reads the stone in front of the sculpture of a seven-foot-tall wooly mammoth. Who are we to argue facts written in stone?

Laura Mulrooney

Sand children laugh at the "Inaugural Meeting of the Round Earth Society."

Laura Mulrooney

Over the event’s four days, artists, vendors and visitors took to the beach to enjoy the beautiful weather, gorgeous sunsets and the amazing gifts of nine unique artists, with plenty of space to spare.

The City of Treasure Island will keep the sculptures up until the New Year, weather permitting.

"Crash Test Dummies," shows up that, just maybe, not everyone benefited from some of our greatest inventions.

Laura Mulrooney

"Can I Keep HIm" is relatable for parents of children who bring home questionable "pets". What could possibly go wrong?

Laura Mulrooney

Laura Mulrooney