ANNA MARIA – The Anna Maria Island Privateers, a non-profit organization dedicated to giving back to the community, held their annual Snooks Adams Kids Day on Saturday, May 29 at the Anna Maria City Pier park.
The event is held annually the first Saturday after the end of the school year, and this year, after COVID-19 had restricted most Privateers events for some time, the group was more excited than ever to show area children a great time.
The event was founded by the late Holmes Beach Police Chief and Privateer Snooks Adams when he began bringing children from Anna Maria Elementary School to the beach for a picnic and games. When Adams retired about 25 years ago, he asked the Privateers to take over the event, and it became known as Snooks Adams Kids Day.
“I go to different businesses around the Island and try to get donations of hot dogs, pizza and gift cards for our treasure chests for the kids when they win games. They can get ice cream, a cookie from one place, a cupcake from another,” said Chairperson Terry Rapert, whose pirate name is “Cookie.” She is in her fourth year chairing the event.
After parents sign up a child, the child is given a pirate quest to complete. The only way they can solve the quest is to walk around the event and ask questions of the many pirates on hand. Once the child has used the clues given to them by the pirates, they can redeem their correct solution for a prize bag filled with goodies from the Privateers and Island businesses. Also on hand are officers from the Holmes Beach Police Department.
“In this day and age with all the negative publicity concerning the police, we’re just trying to get out here and be a smiling face,” said Sgt. Brian Copeman of the Holmes Beach Police Department. “We have some gifts to give out, and we’re trying to just build the rapport that we’re on the same side of everybody else, and just trying to help our community out.”
As Privateer pirates entertained the kids with temporary tattoos, food, games and storytelling, parents seemed to be enjoying themselves as much as the children.
“I’ve grown up on the Island and we’ve been coming to this event for years. We really missed it last year, so we’re happy to have it back,” said Maggie VanWormer, a first-grade teacher at Anna Maria Elementary who brought her two children to Kids Day.
“I really like when the fire truck comes; we’re going to have to try and wait around in the heat for that,” VanWormer added, speaking of the highlight of the day according to most attendees. The Holmes Beach Fire Department brings a fire truck and sprays down children and parents, a welcome break from the 90-degree heat, and the end to an event that brings joy to many in the community.
