PHOTO GALLERY: 40th Annual Sand Sculpting Contest

One group wrote out “40 Years Of Sand Sculpting” and incorporated it into their piece, Saturday, May 5.

“50 Yards To The Outhouse”

Kevin Cooper, Leslie Gnaegy and Jason Puckett were the judges for the 40th Annual Sand Sculpting Contest.

Hundreds of people participated and viewed the sand sculpture creations made, Saturday, May 5, during the 40th Annual Sand Sculpting Contest on Siesta Key Public Beach.

Cliff Richardson and his brother Bud Richardson work together on their piece, Saturday, May 5.

Andrew Dailey works on sculpting his piece “Pirecan”, Saturday, May 5, during the 40th Annual Sand Sculpting Contest.

Ken Shields and Mollie Morgan work on their piece, “Castle by the Sea”, Saturday, May 5.

Spectators wandered around the sand sculptures to vote and take photos of the sand sculptures.

Andrew Dailey won 1st place and People’s Choice with his “Pirecan”.

Justin Muklewicz, Lukas LaBanauskas and Greg Ratzael work on their piece, Saturday, May 5.

Daria Muklewicz, 12, and Gabija LaBanauskaite, 14, made a mermaid out of sand.

“Close Encounters of the Sand Kind”

Holly Arey

Annie Baez, 10, and Natalia McNabb, 10, bury their friend Jaymie Hager, 6, Saturday, May 5, during the 40th Sand Sculpting Contest.

Linda Bjorkquist and Gary Wolf

This sculpture had a dragon eating a person lounging on the beach.

Katie Downer, 14, works on carving a sign out of sand.

Ricky Arey, Jay Bush, Chris Goosney and Holly Arey work on their creation “Lightning”.

Daniela Florio, 4 ½, had fun participating in the Sand Sculpting Contest, Saturday, May 5.

All the winners posed together, Saturday, May 5, after competing in the 40th Annual Sand Sculpting Contest.