The annual Sugar Sand Festival at Pier 60 on Clearwater Beach closes in a couple of hours. But if we walk fast, we can still make it!
This year’s theme is Sugar Sand Tales. Ten internationally renowned sand sculptors have created stunning scenes reminding us of our childhood’s fairytales.
Let’s enter this enchanted storyland housed in a massive 21,000 sqf tent, where our fantasy and great memories will be brought to life.
We made it out just in time for the fireworks! They too are like fairytales. Whimsical and inventive. See for yourself.
And now that we are in a child-like mood, we can go home and watch the uplifting nature movie made right here, Dolphin Tale 2.
Thanks for joining me for a tour inside this timeless storybook made of sugar sand. May your week be magical.
TINY LESSONS BLOG 
Tiny!!! OH MY GOSH! These sculptures are beyond exotic, are beyond magical! I cannot even begin to image the HOURS of intensive labor that these sculptures required, and then for the elements just to wear them away? Wow! Now that IS LOVE! For no other reason to create then it it because it is something you LOVE to do. Thank you for this walk, (LUCKY YOU!), one that I wanted SO bad just to jump into with you. As for the fireworks, one word … WOW! The movie I plan on watching tonight as I relax before another challenging day in my gardens tomorrow. Love to you, my friend! Love, Amy ❤
Thank you dear Amy! I’m happy you liked the sand sculptures. They were so skillfully done in all small details, truly magical! The exhibit was covered for the time of the festival by this huge tent, which will probably come down tonight, and then it’ll not take long before nature claims back the sand. And the fireworks were to whimsical, very different from what one usually sees. The movie is beautiful too. I had an opportunity to see it at the premiere here because my friend worked at the Marine Aquarium, which is a rescue and rehabilitation center for dolphins, sea turtles etc. Have a wonderful evening, and a good gardening week, my friend. Love Tiny ❤
I have always loved sand sculptures. I don’t see too many up here. 😉 Amazing pictures my friend. You are getting so good at taking them. ❤
Thanks Jackie! I missed this event last year and decided it wouldn’t happen this year 🙂 I went early in the morning when there were no crowds so I could take some pictures too. These artists are so good, it was thoroughly enjoyable. Will email soon. Hugs ❤
These artists are amazing! I love to see their work:)
Yes, they are! The little details and the huge structures all sculpted with the finest sand. Happy you enjoyed their beautiful art.
I really enjoy all of your posts! 🙂
Very happy to hear that! I enjoy your wonderful art too 🙂
Incredible sculptures – incredible!
They were truly awesome, such gifted artists!
How incredible!!! They are amazingly creative! Awesom shots of your firework shots.
The talented sand artists had created all these fairytale characters exactly like they are pictured in books and films! Thanks, Amy.
Those sand sculptures are incredible!
They are! And they kept them “together” for 10 days! There were small fans blowing moist air in the tent. I hope you’re doing better. XX
Gorgeous ~ especially enjoyed the 7 dwarfs and the big bad wolf! I’m always amazed at the creativity and craftsmanship of sand sculptors.
I was thinking that all their work is so marvelous, yet they know it’ll be there only for a couple of weeks, max, for people to enjoy. That’s quite amazing.
Amazing what sand artists can do! Thanks for the walk about…
Glad you came along, Kathy!
Magical. Was the public allowed to watch the sculptures being sculpted?
I think that the sculptures were ready when the exhibit opened 10 days ago. It would have been very difficult to have public there in the limited space when sand was brought in, etc. I have seen this happening only when they are sculpting on an open beach. On the other hand, none of these wonderful works would have lasted in the open with the storms we had the past weekend.
The tent-like structure was a very sensible idea!
Yes indeed!
I have never seen sculptures like those ones before. Your fireworks photographs were excellent.
We have this festival once a year here. I was traveling last year and missed it. Happy you enjoyed the fireworks.
WOW! Such talented artists. It must have been magical to be there Tiny. Thanks for bringing us along 🙂
It was like walking inside a huge story book 🙂 Thanks for coming along, Val.
Sculptures are simply marvelous. Awesome capture of the fireworks.:)
Thanks! Happy you enjoyed the party 🙂
Amazing pictures! Do you know how they colored the sand?
Thanks Hien! There we colored spot lights in the ceiling of this huge tent. Most sculptures were “lighted up” this way, a few were not.
Have been in the area (Spring Hill) for almost ten years
and did not know that this event existed.
Enjoyed the sand sculptures yearly in Ocean City MD for many years.
If this is a yearly event, when is it held ? ? ?
I’m still red from our visit to Sand Key last weekend.
ME and the Boss
Yes, this is an annual event, held around this time of the year. The theme is different each year. Did you see the osprey family in the salt marsh when you visited last weekend?
Tiny, since we moved away from Florida I won’t have the opportunity to see the sand castles anymore. Thanks for taking me there!
Happy you enjoyed “coming back”! Last year I missed this event due to my travels, but was so happy I could go just before it ended this year.
Impressive! Thank you so much for sharing. Hope you have a beautiful and inspiring week, Tiny!!
Happy you enjoyed the party, Noora. Have a wonderful week too!
Love these art sculptures. Thanks for the walk-along.
Happy you came along, Susan!
A really wonderful exhibition. Thanks for sharing your pics, Tiny. 🙂
It was quite a special art exhibition. Thanks Sylvia!
Lovely art work, Tiny 🙂
Happy you liked it, Celestine!
What fun and that sand art is really incredible!
It was such fun to recognize these sand sculptures from classic fairytales! Happy you visited the exhibition 🙂
Thank you for sharing the tour! I love this blogging business! I get to see so much more of the world. And your kindness through your words and lens allows that! 🙂
It’s true that we get to see so much of the world right here at home through our friends 🙂 And I’m learning a lot from your innovations! Thanks for coming along, Koko!