Posts Tagged ‘Holiday’

The temperature is forecasted to be sunny and clear this weekend with temperatures in the high 70’s on Anna Maria Island and the surrounding areas. Head to Holmes Beach tonight for the Christmas tree lighting at the Anna Maria Island Chamber of commerce and start your weekend off right. I heard a rumor that Santa Claus will be making a special trip to Anna Maria Island tonight. Take a look at my top 5 things to do on Anna Maria Island and Bradenton this weekend.

Friday December 2nd
5pm – 8pm – Holmes Beach Holiday Open House & Tree Lighting
Anna Maria Island Chamber of Commerce – 5313 Gulf Drive Holmes Beach
For more information call: 941-778-9679

6pm – Winter Story Film Festival Presents “Desk Set”
South Florida Museum – 201 10th Street West Bradenton
For more information call: 941-746-4131

Saturday December 3rd
10am – 2pm – Lester Family Fun Day
Anna Maria Island Community Center – 407 Magnolia Avenue Anna Maria
For more information call: 941-778-1908

Sunday December 4th
10am – 3pm – Bridge Street Market
107-111 Bridge Street Bradenton Beach
For more information call: 941-799-2181

10am – Brawn on the Beach Armature Strongman Contest
BeachHouse Restaurant – 100 Gulf Drive Bradenton Beach
For more information call: 941-779-2222

There are a ton of events that occur on Anna Maria Island yearly.  If you are visiting Anna Maria Island you may want to take note of some of the well known events and try to schedule your stay during one of the several annual events.   I will also try to list some vacation rentals that will create the perfect location to take advantage of the event.

The Anna Maria Island Chamber of Commerce leads a wedding festival each year.  It is a one to two day event towards the end of February each year.  The event is filled with models showing off the latest trends of dresses, photographers, florists, catering, limo services, you name it.  There are several spots where vendors congregate to show off their services.  If there is a wedding in your midst why not schedule a vacation to find out the latest trends.  I would suggest staying in Holmes Beach where most of the festivities take place.  The hub of the wedding festival is at the Anna Maria Island Chamber of Commerce.  A great vacation rental less than two blocs away is 100 52nd street.  The vacation rental has a 2 bedroom side with private pool as well as a 3 bedroom with private pool.

In March and April there are several Friday Festivals in Anna Maria City.  Once again the Anna Maria Island Chamber leads the festival.  There is free music all night with plenty of food, drink and snacks to cover just about any dining

Holmes Beach Festival

 experience you are looking for.  In addition, there are street crafts available to grab some local gifts.  There are only a few good vacation rental spots to take advantage of the location of Friday fest and make it walk away from the festival.  The absolute closest vacation rental is 403 N Bay which is less than a block from the field in which Friday Fest is held.

In the middle of April is a new tradition which is the Holmes Beach Founders day festival.  It is a great event where the fields of Holmes Beach are converted to a large festival with free music, drink and food.  It is normally a two day event with plenty to celebrate.  Founders day normally has a number of contests.  One of which has been a skate boarding contest at the Holmes Beach skate park.  A few properties within a block to the Holmes Beach Founders day festival would be 303 61st Street.  It is a great four bedroom rental in Holmes Beach. 

The summer on Anna Maria Island has no shortage of festivals.  It’s tough to choose the best one but 4th of July is spectacular on Anna Maria.  There is a wonderful 4th of July parade with 50+ floats throwing candy, beads, toys, you name it.  Another must have for independence day are fireworks and Anna Maria Island has no shortage of fireworks.  The day before 4th of July there are fireworks in Bradenton Beach and 4th of July has fireworks in Anna Maria City.  The absolute best spot to stay is directly on the beach.  Without a doubt the best spot to be in for the 3rd of July is in Bradenton Beach right on the Gulf of Mexico in Gulf View condos.  The condo is literally right next door to where the firework festivities take place so it is a great spot.  To witness the 4th of July fireworks 12108 Gulf Drive is a fantastic Anna Maria City vacation rental that will put you right in the heat of the action.  For that matter any Gulf Front property is fantastic since there are so many owner fireworks on the beach it is a site to be seen regardless where you stay on the beach.

The next must attend event is Bayfest which is put on by the Anna Maria Island Chamber of Commerce.  They are similar to Friday festivals and use the same field in Anna Maria City however instead of Friday Festivals the October festival is a two day event.  The first night is free music with plenty to eat and drink.  The second day is full of events like a car show, arts and crafts, vendors and plenty of live music to entertain the entire family.   Another great Anna Maria City vacation rental well within a walk is 313 Magnolia.  It has a wonderful tropical private pool and still just a few blocks to the beach.

Christmas Parade

Finally, the month of December creates a ton of holiday festivals in Holmes Beach and Anna Maria City.  There is an event just about every weekend for the month of December.  In Florida we overcome no snow by holding festivals so if you want to get in the mood for the holiday season there is no better way than visit the beach and get warmed up. 

I hope some of the local favorite events will assist in planning your vacation on Anna Maria Island.  As always if you have any questions regarding Anna Maria Island call the great folks at Island Real Estate who help thousands of people each year.

Let’s face it, we all love holidays.  Who doesn’t love Easter Sunday?  Candy, treats, searching for a basket of goodies.  Well if you are visiting Anna Maria Island lunch or dinner on Easter can be down right tough.  The Publix supermarket is closed most of the day so there is no where on the island to get groceries.  Fear no more – below is a more recent list of restaurant’s that were open Easter Sunday.  After all, who wants to do dishes on a holiday?  I sure don’t!

Anna Maria Island Holiday Dining

RESTAURANT INFORMATION

Beach Bistro – Dinner only – Holmes Beach
Specialize in Gulf Front elegant dining

Beach House – Lunch & Dinner – Bradenton Beach
Gulf Front dining – casual Anna Maria dining

Da Giorgio – Dinner only – Holmes Beach
Italian elegant dining with live music

Euphemia Haye – Dinner only – Longboat Key
Elegant dining with more dessert than you can imagine

Moveable Feast – Lunch & Dinner – Holmes Beach
Casual dining

Paradise Cafe – Lunch only – Holmes Beach
Order and dine in or take it out

Rod & Reel Pier – Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner – Anna Maria
Very casual Bay front dining

Holiday Treats

Sandbar – Lunch and Dinner – Anna Maria City
Casual Gulf Front dining

Sign of the Mermaid – Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner – Anna Maria
Elegant dining with award winning desserts

Sunhouse – Late Lunch, Dinner – Bradenton Beach
Specialize in Floribean cuisine with Gulf Views

Waterfront – Lunch and Dinner – Anna Maria City
Bay View elegant dining and reservations suggested

OTHER STORES OPEN

Albertson’s Supermarket – Bradenton, Fl

Sweetbay Supermarket – Bradenton, Fl

Walgreens – Bradenton, Fl – Open 24 hours

G.T. Bray Santa

If you have never visited Anna Maria Island around Christmas you need to give it a try, Why?

There are a ton of Christmas activities all around the area. Santa comes in on a helicopter at G.T. Bray Park. Downtown Bradenton brings in snow to go sledding. Holmes Beach plaza on Marina Drive has a Christmas bash where shops serve free appetizers and the children of Anna Maria Island dance under a snow machine.

Not enough? Vacation rental accommodations in early December are more than 50% off compared to high season rates. The weather is sunny and beautiful. The only white we have is the sand on our gorgeous beaches. While I write this the entire East coast is in a blizzard that will average one foot of snow fall!

Lastly, who does not like a good parade? Every year the Anna Maria Island privateers put on a Christmas parade. Beads, candy and party favors are all thrown during the parade. It is fabulous fun for all!

So what are you doing? Call Island Real Estate today and book next year’s holiday season. Island Real Estate has more than 175 hand picked rentals with more than 25 high luxury vacation rentals. More than anyone on Anna Maria Island!

Have a great winter and a wonderful holiday season! Thanks to Michael for the great video below.

If you are on or near Anna Maria Island December 12th, 2009 you should come out to Gulf Drive and enjoy the Christmas Privateer parade. Everyone has a blast and more importantly there is lots of candy! Usually as much candy as your child can eat since there are lots of business floats throwing candy.

The parade begins at the Anna Maria City Bay Front park and ends at Coquina park in Bradenton Beach, Fl. The parade travels East on Pine Avenue, South on Gulf Drive, on to Marina Drive/Palm Drive to Gulf Drive, then a quick trip along East Bay Drive on to Gulf Drive where it finally ends in Bradenton Beach. The parade travels almost the entire length of Anna Maria Island.

If you are traveling from Tampa, Sarasota or Bradenton I would suggest parking at Coquina or the Manatee public beaches. These are easy access points and easier to get off the island just after the parade. It takes Anna Maria Island about 1 hour to get traffic back to normal.

If you are planning to spend a few more hours on Anna Maria Island then stop in at Island Real Estate where we have plenty of free maps as well as Anna Maria Island Real Estate for sale packets. They understand if you are not in the immediate market and just looking. Make sure you visit one of Anna Maria Island’s great restaurants and get a bite to eat for lunch or maybe even an early dinner.

Details of the Anna Maria Island Parade… Starts at 10 AM finished around 11:15 AM and it’s on December 12th, 2009. See a few photos below for past Christmas Parades.

Pravateer's Christmas

Privateer Ship during the Christmas Parade

Island Real Estate

Island real Estate in the Christmas Parade