Piccolo Spoleto’s 36th annual sand sculpting competition  brought creativity Saturday to the Isle of Palms, transforming its front beach into a vibrant, sun-soaked art display.

Despite sweltering heat, participants crafted a variety of sculptures on 55 sites, from dolphins and sea turtles to intricate castles and Lego models, attracting beach regulars and early-morning visitors alike.

Individual participants and teams of up to four competed in four categories: Children, Young Adults, Family and Adults. Judges presented awards for Most Creative, Best Architectural and Best of Show. 

A team that called itself Charleston Drip Company won Best of Show, but plenty of sculptures received admiration from curious bystanders. 

  • “Have a Wickedly Good Summer” won the Charlie Peberdy Memorial Award for Best of Family. Credit: Mathilde Refloch
  • One of the team members of Charleston Drip Company, winner of the Best of Show prize, holds the trophy. Credit: Mathilde Refloch
  • “Lego My Eggo,” a nod to the classic “Leggo My Eggo” campaign launched by Kellogg in the 1970s, won second place in the Charlie Peberdy Memorial Award – Best of Family category.
  • “Hippo-Pata-Mama” won third place in the Charlie Peberdy Memorial Award – Best of Family category. Credit: Mathilde Refloch
  • A competitor breaks ground in the sand to begin his sculpture. Credit: Mathilde Refloch
  • A father-and-daughter duo start their sculpture. Credit: Mathilde Refloch
  • A man surrounded by his tools sculpts a castle. Credit: Madey Lynch
  • One man creates piles of sand with buckets while the other man digs.
  • Two men in the middle of their sand sculpting, while a young boy plays with a rake. Credit: Mathilde Refloch
  • Two men dig a hole that goes up to their knees, surrounded by the sculpture they have already created. Credit: Mathilde Refloch
  • A competitor who added shells to her alligator sculpture’s mouth finishes the last “marshy” details. Credit: Madey Lynch.
  • A sand sculpture created by two local women honors World Oceans Day. Credit: Mathilde Refloch
  • Shells found on Front Beach’s shore decorate a World Oceans Day sculpture created by two local women. Credit: Mathilde Refloch

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