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This past Saturday, October 12th, the Edisto Chamber of Commerce hosted its third annual Turtle Tide Art Auction, alongside the lively Edisto Fall Festival. The storm clouds from earlier in the week had parted, leaving behind a perfect sunny day with cool breezes—ideal conditions for a festival filled with music, art, and a dash of competitive bidding.

The Turtle Tide Art Auction has quickly become a beloved tradition, and this year it shattered expectations yet again, raising a whopping $97,400, surpassing last year’s total by $400. The auction coincided with the Edisto Fall Festival, which buzzed with vibrant vendors, live performances by Edisto Gumbo, and an undeniable sense of community spirit.

Since its inception, the Turtle Tide Art Project has captivated Edisto, bringing together community businesses, local artists, non-profits, and visitors while also providing an educational component around sea turtle conservation. Each turtle sculpture—beautifully crafted and painted by talented artists—was sponsored at $1,500. The entire auction proceeds benefited the non-profits linked to each unique turtle, making every bid count toward a good cause.

The auction kicked off at 2:30pm, 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 fierce! The first turtle, “Edisto’s Mr. Rick,” set the stage, selling for $7,100. But the showstopper of the day was “Hephzibah,” a stunningly realistic turtle created by local artists Susalee Lamb and Ginger Sanders. The first bid came in at an impressive $10,000, and after a thrilling bidding war, “Hephzi” fetched a record-breaking $16,000—the highest bid for any turtle in the event’s history!

“Hephzi” fetched a record-breaking $16,000—the highest bid for any turtle in the event’s history!

The excitement didn’t stop there. Throughout the afternoon, turtles were auctioned off for amounts ranging between $8,000 and $11,000. The final turtle, “Sea-Note,” sold for $8,000, bringing the total to $96,300—just shy of last year’s mark. But in a heartwarming twist, a first-time visitor to Edisto named Vince May, moved by the energy of the auction, made a last-minute donation that pushed the total to $97,400, setting a new record.

The success of this year’s auction is a testament to the generosity of Edisto’s community, the dedication of volunteers, and the creativity of the artists involved. It was truly a day to remember, filled with art, philanthropy, and the undeniable power of people coming together for a good cause.

Thank you to everyone who made the 2024 Turtle Tide Art Auction an unforgettable success! We look forward to next year’s event and hope to keep the tide of generosity flowing.

Project Sponsors:

In total the day was a success! $97,400 was raised across ten local non-profits. Here’s more information on all the turtles and how much they raised: