October 21, 2025 | Clubs, Entertainment, Events

Kids’ Halloween party returns to AMI Moose Lodge

The costumed children gathered for a group photo. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

BRADENTON BEACH – Anna Maria Island Moose Lodge 2188 was filled with the sights and sounds of Halloween during the annual kids’ Halloween party on Saturday.

This year’s party took on greater significance for lodge officers and volunteers because last year’s party had to be held at Bradenton Moose Lodge 1223 due to the extensive damage Hurricanes Helene and Milton caused at the beachfront lodge in Bradenton Beach.

For the youngsters, it was simply a fun-filled Saturday morning that included French toast sticks for breakfast, games, a costume parade, a dance party, story time, a jelly bean guessing contest and a bag of treats for each youngster to take home with them.

“This is home,” Moose volunteer and party organizer Sandra Zenzel said as the party began. “We’re thrilled to be back at our lodge for our parties again. We’re finally back home where we need to be for our parties. Enjoy, and happy early Halloween.”

She also thanked the other Women of the Moose who helped organize the party.

When speaking to The Sun, Lodge Administrator Byron Dalton said, “Today’s our annual kids’ Halloween party the Women of the Moose put on for our members. We’ve got about a hundred kids here.”

When asked how it felt to have the kids’ Halloween party back at Lodge 2188 again, Dalton said, “Phenomenal.”

After he gathered the costumed children for a group photo, Dalton suggested an impromptu dance party and requested some music. Using her cell phone, Fox 13 reporter and party attendee Kimberly Kuizon acted quickly and provided the dance music.

At one point, some of the younger children gathered around Zenzel as she read “The Little Old Lady Who Was Not Afraid of Anything.”

Two-year-old Bryson Price came closest to correctly guessing the number of jelly beans contained in a large, covered drinking glass. He guessed 195 and there were 187.

The adult Halloween party will be held on Saturday, Oct. 25 and begin around 6 p.m., with karaoke being sung on the beachfront patio as part of the festivities.

Queen of Hearts

The hurricane-damaged Moose Lodge has been operating at full speed for several months. The social quarters, bar area and second story deck reopened on May 1 and the storm surge-ravaged dining room opened ahead of schedule a couple months later.

The weekly Wednesday evening Queen of Hearts drawing that began before the 2024 hurricanes struck came to an end last week when one lucky local Moose member bought the winning ticket that opened the envelope containing the elusive Queen of Hearts.

“The winner walked away with about $270,000 after taxes,” Dalton said.

The next Queen of Hearts drawing will begin in about 60 days.

“Everybody that worked the Queen drawings needs a rest,” Dalton said.

With just under 18,000 members, the AMI Moose Lodge has the largest membership of any Moose Lodge in the world.

Grand reopening

On Saturday, Nov. 1, the AMI Moose Lodge will host its post-hurricane grand reopening celebration.

“We have some special visitors coming down. Scott Hart is the chief executive officer of Moose International and that’s the highest position you can hold in the Moose fraternity. He’s coming to visit us for the first time,” Dalton said.

John Reiter, the Inverness-based chairman of the Moose International Board of Directors will also attend the grand reopening, joined by additional board members.

“There’s going to be some heavy hitters here to visit us as part of the grand reopening,” Dalton said.

The special grand reopening dinner menu will feature filet mignon served with two extra-large blue crab-stuffed shrimp, garlic mashed potatoes and fried green beans. Tuesday, Oct. 28 is the deadline to purchase a $34.95 dinner ticket.

After dinner, Ted Stevens and the Doo-Shots will provide the live music from 6:30-10 p.m., performing on the beachfront, ground-level patio. Moose members don’t need a dinner ticket to enjoy the live music and other after-dinner festivities.