HOLMES BEACH – The city will celebrate its 75th anniversary on Friday, Dec. 5 with music, food, shopping and more.
Hosted by the city and co-sponsored by the Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau and Waste Pro, the anniversary celebration will be held at City Field, 6001 Marina Drive, from 5-9 p.m., next to city hall.
“Holmes Beach Turns 75. Join the celebration. You will not want to miss this event,” according to the city website and Facebook post. “We’re celebrating 75 amazing years of our beautiful Holmes Beach community and you’re invited! Bring your family, friends and Island spirit for a free evening of music, activities, vendors and hometown fun.
Enjoy shopping, treats and displays from your favorite Island businesses and organizations. A variety of delicious food and beverages will be available for purchase from local favorites.”
Jah Movement and Trevor Bystrom will perform the evening’s live music and kids’ activities will include a bounce house and face painting.
Participating businesses and organizations include AMI Health & Fitness, Anna Maria Island Coffee Shack, the Anna Maria Island Historical Society, Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch & Shorebird Monitoring, Boho Beach Escape, Distractions on The Island, Edibles N’ More, the Freckled Fin Irish Pub, Jimmy CakeZ, Keep Manatee Beautiful, Kona Ice of N. Sarasota, Marquis Management, Oliviea Salt Scrubs, Pizzano’s Pizza, Pizza Social, Rodney’s Jamaican Grill, SeaBreeze Vacation, Skinny’s, Waste Pro, West Coast Surf Shop, the West Manatee Fire & Rescue District, World Famous Eggrolls, Aloha Party Experts, AMB Photography, Beckers Car Shows and more.
To help support local families facing food shortages, please consider bringing dry and non-perishable food donations to assist the Anna Maria-based Roser Food Pantry’s efforts to support community members in need during the holiday season.
“Come celebrate our city’s history, our neighbors and the Island community we love. Here’s to 75 years of Holmes Beach – and many more ahead,” according to the city’s message.
City history
According to the history provided at the city website, “Sam and Annie Cobb first homesteaded 160 acres on Anna Maria Island in 1896 in the area now called Holmes Beach. John R. Jones and Jose Casanas soon joined the Cobbs. Jones piloted boats running between Tampa and Cuba. Casanas relocated from the Canary Islands in search of mullet fishing grounds.
“The city derives its name from Jack Holmes, a developer who arrived on the Island after World War II and created a 600-acre community. When the city was incorporated in 1950, Halsey T. Tichenor served as its first mayor,” according to the website.
