ANNA MARIA – Lester Family Fun Day included a visit from Santa, pony rides, goat-petting, inflatables, musical performances, a DJ, a dance contest, raffles, a snow machine, a 25-cent menu and a helicopter-assisted 50/50 drawing.
The outdoor holiday celebration took place on The of Anna Maria Island Center athletic fields from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on a beautiful, sunny and slightly cool day last Saturday. The fun-filled event created a sense of normalcy on an Island still recovering from two hurricanes.
Lester Family Fun Day is annual tradition started more than 20 years ago and funded by seasonal Holmes Beach residents Chuck and Joann “Joey” Lester. The Lesters wanted the community to enjoy an event that featured family fun at old-fashioned prices, with 25-cent tickets purchased to enjoy the activities and offerings. Chuck passed away earlier this year. Joey couldn’t attend this year because the Lester home in the Key Royale community was damaged by the hurricanes, but the Lester family still funded the event.
In one corner of the property, children lined up at the Addi’s Pony Parties area to enjoy a pony ride and pet the friendly goats. Two-year-old Holmes Beach resident Olivia Warvington was among those who rode the pony.
“We love it. We come every year,” her mom, Ali, said of the event.
One of the many inflatables set up around the perimeter resembled a climbing wall. Another offered trampoline-like bouncing around inflatable objects. The gingerbread house inflatable contained a maze inside and a football-themed inflatable served as a target to throw footballs into.
DJ Freeze served as the master of ceremonies, playing Christmas songs and interacting with attendees of all ages. Accompanied by their grandparents, Eric and Laura Shine, 8-year-old King Selph-Kelly and his 3-year-old sister, Leah, enjoyed dancing to DJ Freeze’s musical selections.
Mixon Farms brought “The Mixon Swirl” ice cream truck and Travelin’ Tom’s Coffee truck served up caffeinated beverages. Inside The Center, Duffy’s Tavern burgers and Anna Maria Oyster Bar hot dogs sold for 25 cents.
At noon, DJ Freeze received a text message from Santa informing him that he’d be there soon. Santa was greeted by the Manatee High School Drumline and a long line of youngsters lined up to visit him and receive a gift from the gift bag manned by Santa’s elves, Ila Taylor and Savanna Coba.
DJ Freeze is associated with the Bradenton-based SOZO Missions organization that strives to transform the lives of urban youth, their families and the communities they live in. After Santa settled in, DJ Freeze and the ‘SOZO Kids’ led the other kids through a “shark dance” that escalated in speed as the song progressed. The ‘SOZO Kids’ then performed “Silent Night, a rap-version of “Deck the Halls” and a couple more songs.
Then came the Grinch Dance-Off that pitted The Grinch against a young female elf, Frosty the Snowman and Ginger the gingerbread girl. Ginger was declared the winner based on the volume of the applause each dancer received.
To conclude the festivities, a helicopter piloted by Sarasota Helicopter Services owner Stan Lee flew over The Center twice before hovering over a soccer flag used to replicate a golf hole. A bag full of golf balls purchased in advance for the 50/50 Golf Ball Drop drawing was emptied from the helicopter and the ball purchased by Abbie Libman landed closest to the flag, making her the raffle winner.
