Turtles, Talent & Giving Back: Inside Edisto’s 4th Annual Turtle Tide Art Auction

Perfect weather, festive vibes, and a whole lot of community spirit—Friday, December 12 was one to remember on Edisto! The Edisto Chamber of Commerce proudly hosted the fourth annual Turtle Tide Art Auction, paired with the always-popular Holiday Mix & Mingle at beautiful Bay Creek Park, and Mother Nature couldn’t have planned it better if she tried. With mild temperatures, clear skies, and a gentle coastal breeze, the park buzzed with holiday cheer as neighbors, visitors, and friends gathered to celebrate local art, local causes, and the magic of the season. This year, we also tried something new by expanding the collection beyond turtles, introducing three brand-new sculpture styles alongside the beloved classics. In total, the auction featured seven turtles, one dolphin, one deer, and one oyster shell, adding fresh excitement and variety to the lineup. Best of all, every bid placed helped make a difference, with the auction raising an impressive $51,800 for local non-profit organizations that serve and strengthen our community.

Traditionally, the Turtle Tide Art Auction is held during our Annual Fall Festival in October, but this year the weather had other plans. When conditions didn’t cooperate, we were incredibly grateful to team up with the Town of Edisto Beach and host the auction on the same day as the Holiday Mix & Mingle instead. While the shift meant we may not have raised quite as much as in past years, the outcome was still something to celebrate. Seeing $51,800 go directly to our amazing local non-profits made the evening a true success and a wonderful reminder of what makes this community so special.

Since it first made waves on Edisto, the Turtle Tide Art Project has become a true community favorite—uniting local businesses, talented artists, dedicated non-profits, and visitors alike, all while shining a spotlight on the importance of sea turtle conservation. Each one-of-a-kind sculpture, thoughtfully sponsored at $1,500 and brought to life by a local artist, tells its own story. When the sculptures head to auction, every bid goes beyond the art itself, with proceeds directly supporting the non-profit paired with each sculpture—turning creativity into meaningful impact for our island and beyond.

This year, we added a fun new twist to the Turtle Tide Art Auction by inviting attendees to vote for their favorite sculpture. Throughout the event, guests cast their ballots for the piece that captured their hearts—and just before the auction kicked off, the votes were tallied. The winner? Jack, the striking piebald deer sculpture that had everyone talking. The announcement sparked plenty of excitement and made an already lively afternoon even more engaging, proving that a little friendly competition is a great addition to a beloved tradition.

The auction kicked off at 3:00pm, with Peter Beck, a local business owner, returning as the enthusiastic auctioneer. Chamber Director Chelsea Harrison and volunteer Amy Stephens introduced each turtle, along with the sponsor and artist, followed by representatives from the benefiting non-profits, who shared their missions and the impact of the donations.

Bidding was lively from the very start! The first piece to hit the auction block, “Meribel Blue,” got the energy flowing as it sold for a strong $5,000. But the true showstopper of the afternoon turned out to be one of this year’s brand-new additions to the collection. “Jack,” the piebald deer sculpture, was brought stunningly to life by local artists Susalee Lamb and Ginger Sanders with incredible realism and detail. As bids climbed, it was clear the crowd was captivated—ultimately driving Jack to a winning bid of $7,200. The debut of three new sculptures this year proved to be a huge success and a refreshing, fun change of pace that added even more excitement to the auction.

The excitement carried on throughout the afternoon as sculptures continued to draw enthusiastic bids, with winning amounts ranging from $2,900 to $7,200. Each piece brought its own buzz and cheers from the crowd, keeping the energy high until the very end. The final sculpture to cross the auction block, “Aurora,” closed out the event with a strong bid of $6,200, bringing this year’s total to an impressive $51,800 raised in support of our local non-profits. 

The success of this year’s Turtle Tide Art Auction is a shining example of the generosity, spirit, and creativity that make Edisto so special. From the talented artists who brought each sculpture to life, to the volunteers who kept everything running smoothly, and the community members whose bids made a real difference—this day was a true celebration of art, philanthropy, and coming together for a good cause. 

A heartfelt thank you to everyone who helped make the 2025 Turtle Tide Art Auction such an unforgettable success! We can’t wait to see what next year brings and look forward to keeping the tide of generosity rolling strong. 

In total the day was a success! $51,800 was raised across ten local non-profits. Here’s more information on all the turtles and how much they raised: