ANNA MARIA – Carol and Larry Craft and the Anna Maria General Store have retained their previous rank as winners of the city’s 3rd Annual Bright Holiday Lights decorating contest.
The winners were announced Friday afternoon during the city’s Santa Stops Here event at City Pier Park.
Larry Craft was on hand to receive the residential category trophy he and his wife earned for a third consecutive year.
“His home over on Gladiola is just fantastic. It’s a work of art and we’re very proud that he’s a resident of our city,” Mayor Dan Murphy said when presenting the trophy to Craft.
After receiving the trophy, Craft invited all children and those who still have a child-like spirit to see their decorations at 266 Gladiolus St.
“I think you’ll find it a little bit amusing as to how Carol, my wife, orchestrates all the decorations in a rather unusual way. We even have a 4-foot tall, 4-foot-long reindeer called Prancer that she decorates and puts out front. Prancer has false eyelashes, bells from its antlers, stars and all types of decorations on it. Come by and see Prancer,” he said.
When interviewed afterward, Craft said, “One of the big reasons for the Christmas decorations is for all the children who come by and enjoy the lights.”
The Craft’s holiday display incorporates driftwood, reindeer, inflatables, lights, a Christmas tree made of wooden twigs, the word “Rejoice,” a nativity scene made of Talavera Mexican pottery and much more.
When interviewed at her home Friday evening, Carol Craft said, “We’ve noticed that a lot more people are decorating this year and we love it. We’re so happy that others are joining in and spreading the Christmas spirit.”
The Crafts started working on their decorations the day after Thanksgiving and finished a few days before the entries were judged on Thursday, Dec. 9. They began their ever-expanding holiday decorating efforts when they moved into their Anna Maria home 18 years ago.
“We go all out to speak to the children and the child in everyone. Many adults come by and say ‘thank you.’ We’ve had cookies left on the porch. We had a bottle of wine left on the porch,” Carol said.
“There’s goodness in the world and you get to see it at Christmas. I wish we could see it all year round,” Larry added.
The residential contest entries also included John and Patricia Knowlton’s home on South Bay Boulevard, Deborah White’s home on North Bay Boulevard, Annemarie Stephan’s home on North Bay Boulevard, Luann Marshall’s home on Gladiolus Street and James Stepan’s home on Gladiolus Street.
Business category
Last year, the Anna Maria General Store and Beach Bums shared first place honors in the business category. This year the general store claimed those honors outright.
The mayor and Santa Claus delivered the business category trophy to general store owner Brian Seymour and his team during the Holiday of Treasures Open House that took place along Pine Avenue Friday evening.
Seymour said employee Tom Powers again led the decorating efforts.
“Tom’s my main elf and Hagan Powers and Mason Jones also helped decorate the Green Village and the general store this year,” Seymour said.
“We wanted to do it bigger and better than last year. We had to outdo Beach Bums this year and win. We got up on the roof this year, which we didn’t do last year. We have more strands of lights this year and we have a live Christmas tree that’s lit up,” Powers said.
“We have a Christmas tree on the roof and some new inflatables,” Seymour added.
Beach Bums, Duncan Real Estate and AMI Beach & Dog Supply Co. also competed in this year’s business category.
