2018 Siesta Key Crystal Classic International Sand Sculpting Festival

This November 9th-12th, twenty-four of the premier master sand sculptors from all over the world will be competing for 1st place on Siesta Beach. And, the festival will also have four additional sculptures this year as we will be holding both a doubles and new solo competition.
 
The Siesta Key Crystal Classic is a visual and cultural arts festival now in its 9th year and has hosted over 260,000 attendees on the best beach in the USA!
In only 24 sculpting hours, (spanning the four-day event), the master sculptors create sand masterpieces and transform the always beautiful Siesta Beach into an outdoor art gallery. The Crystal Classic connects the arts and the beach in ways never before seen in Sarasota.
And it’s more than just sand...the festival also features live music throughout the event along with a large village of shopping and food and drink vendors. Other activities include the popular three-day “Quick Sand” competition, sand sculpting lessons and an amateur sculpting competition. 

The festival will be open Saturday and Sunday night until 9 pm with live music by Reverend Barry & The Funk Saturday night and No Filter on Sunday night. The party tent will be open and the sculptures will again be lit through a fabulous light display.  
 
In 2017, the Siesta Key Crystal Classic generated some 16,000 hotel room nights and over $9 million in economic impact for our community. We welcomed over 60,000 attendees during the four days.

SCAT bus route 11 offers daily service to the key and attending the festival is easy as riding the Siesta Key Breeze free trolley from Turtle Beach or from the Village where public parking is available if the beach lots are full.
Visit our website: www.siestakeycrystalclassic.com, for information regarding the 2018 event schedule, and to purchase advance tickets and parking passes.
Online ticket pricing:
Multi-day passes = $30 per adult and $15 per child
One-day passes = $8, ($2 off gate pricing) per adult and $5 per child
Reserved parking passes = Friday through Monday ranging from $29 to $59.
 
The Siesta Key Crystal Classic is owned by Siesta Beach Festival, Inc., a 501(c)3, non-profit corporation. The event is produced by the Siesta Key Chamber of Commerce to promote tourism, local businesses, and both ephemeral and visual arts through a collaborative partnership with the community. 
 
Founded in 2010, The Crystal Classic is a result of discussions between master sand sculptor and Siesta Key resident Brian Wiglesworth and representatives of the Siesta Key Chamber of Commerce, the Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce, Sarasota County Parks and Recreation, Mote Marine Laboratory and Visit Sarasota County.
 
For more information about Siesta Key Crystal Classic contact the Siesta Key Chamber of Commerce – 941-349-3800; email [email protected]; or visit www.SiestaKeyCrystalClassic.com. For video, please visit the Siesta Key Crystal Classic YouTube channel.