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Tag: Anna Maria Island holiday

Walking to Bethlehem

Walking to Bethlehem

Written by SUN contributor on . Posted in Entertainment, Family fun, Featured.

ANNA MARIA – One of the most anticipated events of the holiday season took to the city’s streets on Sunday evening as dozens of participants came out to Roser Memorial Community Church to take the annual Bethlehem Walk.

Encompassing one city block, the interactive event invites community members to dress up and follow Mary and Joseph as they search for a room at an inn where Mary might rest and give birth to the Christ child. After making several stops and enjoying singing Christmas carols, the group makes its way back to Roser, where the Christ child is born.

This year a crowd took the journey escorted by Manatee County Sheriff’s deputies for safety. Participants were accompanied by a whole host of live animals, from the donkey walking with Mary and Joseph to chickens, bunnies, a potbellied pig and even a miniature horse. Children and adults alike dressed up as shepherds, wise men and women, angels, farmers and more. All of the animals and costumes were provided by the church.

After the nativity scene on the steps of the Roser fellowship hall, it was time to return the animals and enjoy treats provided by the church’s staff and members, including cookies and lots of hot chocolate.

The Bethlehem Walk takes place annually the first Sunday in December.

Each stop along the Bethlehem Walk was accompanied by a prayer for the holiday season. - Kristin Swain | Sun

Each stop along the Bethlehem Walk was accompanied by a prayer for the holiday season. - Kristin Swain | Sun

Rev. Dirk Rodgers, accompanied by a chicken, welcomes everyone to the 2023 Bethlehem Walk. - Kristin Swain | Sun

Rev. Dirk Rodgers, accompanied by a chicken, welcomes everyone to the 2023 Bethlehem Walk. - Kristin Swain | Sun

Mary and Joseph, accompanied by a donkey, arrive at the first stop on the Bethlehem Walk to ask if there is any room for them at the inn. - Kristin Swain | Sun

Mary and Joseph, accompanied by a donkey, arrive at the first stop on the Bethlehem Walk to ask if there is any room for them at the inn. - Kristin Swain | Sun

Jackson Glasscock and Xyza Jaworski ready to take the Bethlehem Walk as a shepherd and an angel. Live animals also were brought to the church for participants to cuddle during the event. Xyza chose a chicken. - Kristin Swain | Sun

Jackson Glasscock and Xyza Jaworski ready to take the Bethlehem Walk as a shepherd and an angel. Live animals also were brought to the church for participants to cuddle during the event. Xyza chose a chicken. - Kristin Swain | Sun

This group of Bethlehem Walk attendees dressed the part for the annual recreation of the birth of the Christ child. - Kristin Swain | Sun

This group of Bethlehem Walk attendees dressed the part for the annual recreation of the birth of the Christ child. - Kristin Swain | Sun

Dozens of people took to the streets of Anna Maria, escorted by Manatee County Sheriff’s Office deputies, Dec. 3 for Roser Church’s annual Bethlehem Walk. - Kristin Swain | Sun

Dozens of people took to the streets of Anna Maria, escorted by Manatee County Sheriff’s Office deputies, Dec. 3 for Roser Church’s annual Bethlehem Walk. - Kristin Swain | Sun

One couple brought their own animals to this year’s Bethlehem Walk, a rubber chicken and a stuffed horse. - Kristin Swain | Sun

One couple brought their own animals to this year’s Bethlehem Walk, a rubber chicken and a stuffed horse. - Kristin Swain | Sun

Summer’s unofficial end comes quietly

Summer’s unofficial end comes quietly

Written by Jason Schaffer on . Posted in Anna Maria Island, Community News, Featured.

ANNA MARIA ISLAND – The official number of visitors to the Island won’t be available for a few days, but this Labor Day weekend appeared to be a more subdued event than last year, when the post-COVID travel boom brought a record number of visitors to the Island.

“We came to Panama City first to visit a friend there, then we headed here,” said Tom Biscontine, who traveled here with his wife, Stacy, from Illinois. “We have a wedding to go to in Bradenton, so coming to the Island was a no-brainer.”

Biscontine says his father was a regular at the Coquina Beach Cafe for years, even having his own reserved chair with his name on it. The couple likes to come to the Island, but says they usually avoid the busy holiday weekends.

“We are surprised, it’s not crazy at all here right now, it’s really nice,” Biscontine said. “We love the beaches here, the people, the food, and, of course, the live music. We love to go see a great band and there are plenty here.”

Both Lt. Lenard Diaz of the Bradenton Beach Police Department and Chief Bill Tokajer of the Holmes Beach Police Department say Labor Day weekends are not typically as busy as the Fourth of July or Memorial Day weekends because children are back in school and it’s a tight window for air travel in that short time frame. Regardless, all the police departments on the Island increased the number of officers on patrol last weekend and got assistance from the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office, which not only patrols the city of Anna Maria, but brings in additional officers to Bradenton Beach and Holmes Beach on holidays.

Normally, holiday weekends on Anna Maria Island cause serious traffic issues, but this year, some beachgoers found roads less crowded.

“It took us over an hour to cross the Palma Sola Causeway last year,” Brandon resident Tommy Stamper said. “This year on the same day it took less than 20 minutes.”

According to statistics from Manatee County regarding the tax dollars brought in from the 5% tax on tourist rentals on the Island, the summer months have seen a sharp decline from 2021, showing that the freedom to travel burst after the COVID-19 lockdown has started to level off.

“I know we need our tourists to keep our economy strong, and I love them,” said Maria Nunez, of Holmes Beach. “On the other hand, it’s nice to get to work in just a few minutes rather than planning for chaos.”