Public voting will open Monday, Sept. 1, for the Lights Out for Sea Turtles art contest, inviting the community to help select winners in both adult and youth categories.
The contest, launched by Charlotte County Parks & Natural Resources, encourages residents to use their creativity to raise awareness about protecting nesting sea turtles and their coastal habitats. Submissions closed Aug. 15, and all entries will be displayed at the Centennial Park Recreation Center, 1120 Centennial Blvd., where visitors can view the artwork and cast their ballots.
This year’s winning designs will be featured on educational materials for the 2026 sea turtle nesting season. Prizes include four passes to the Children’s Museum of Naples for the youth winner (ages 5–15) and a $50 gift card to Bisque It Studio for the adult winner (ages 16 and up).
Voting will be available during the recreation center’s regular hours: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, and 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. Voting will close Sunday, September 14. Hand-drawn, original works were required for entry, with digital, traced, or AI-generated submissions not permitted.
Winners will be announced following the community vote.
