ANNA MARIA ISLAND – More than 120 participants in the annual Anna Maria Island Privateers Fourth of July Parade loaded their vehicles with water guns to do battle with thousands of people lining the parade route.
Beginning at Coquina Beach at the south end of the Island and finishing on Pine Avenue in the north, some parade participants had containers holding more than 100 gallons of water, but parade watchers also were well stocked for what has become known as Florida’s biggest and longest water battle.
“We had more than 80 Jeeps in this year’s parade, in addition to the other participants that made this one of, if not the biggest, Fourth of July parades we have ever had,” Anna Maria Island Privateers President Kim Boyd said. “It was so much fun.”
Every July Fourth, it is understood that standing along the parade route will result in getting wet, but this year, it appeared that people watching the parade were especially prepared.
“We live in St. Pete and have heard about this parade and how much fun it is,” Jalene Hummer said. “We brought plenty of water, a tent and plenty of “Super Soakers” to fight back against the parade, and it was every bit as much fun as we thought it would be. This parade was huge, the best we have ever been to.”
Both locals and visitors seemed to enjoy getting soaked, especially since temperatures were well into the 90s even when the parade began at 10 a.m.
“It’s so hot here, what a great idea to cool things down for a parade,” said Jason Kabler, of Jacksonville, North Carolina. “We didn’t come with water guns because we knew nothing about it. We just got here yesterday, but we happily let them hit us as they passed by; it felt good.”
The Anna Maria Island Privateers are a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that has been in existence for 52 years and has donated over $500,000 in scholarships to local high school students. They also contribute to many other charities, adopt families at Christmas, participate in community events, as well as promote children’s activities and reading events.
No tops on these “Slingshot” vehicles means a wet and wild Fourth of July parade on AMI. - Jason Schaffer | Sun
More than 80 Jeeps participated in the Anna Maria Island Privateers Fourth of July Parade, many completely soaked inside and out within the first mile of the more than 6-mile long parade route. -Jason Schaffer | Sun
U.S. Army WWII veteran John Seen, 104 years old, waves to the crowd at the front of the Anna Maria Island Privateers Fourth of July Parade. - Jason Schaffer | Sun
The Anna Maria Island Privateers lead their annual Fourth of July Parade doing battle with water guns against parade-watchers while aboard their ship, The Skullywag. - Jason Schaffer | Sun
Although there were no official fireworks displays on AMI over the Fourth of July holiday, many individuals set off their own. - Jason Gargiule/amiaerials.com
The sunset had a little help from fireworks on Anna Maria Island on July Fourth. - Jason Gargiule/amiaerials.com
ANNA MARIA – The pending Reimagining Pine Avenue safety improvements and the pending Mote Educational Outreach Center were among the projects initiated in Anna Maria in 2021.
The year was also marked by the return of several community events that were canceled in 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic.
January
In early January, a fishing trawler sank offshore of Anna Maria and littered the Bean Point beach area with debris that required a significant clean-up effort by the city and Manatee County.
This was among the shipwreck debris that washed ashore in Anna Maria in January 2021. – Kristin Swain | Sun
A Bradenton Beach resident sustained bruises and minor injuries after being struck by a car while crossing the street at the Gulf Drive/Spring Avenue intersection.
A large and long-abandoned sunken sailboat was finally removed from the waters near the City Pier.
February
The COVID Ribbon Memorial of Florida was unveiled along the beach near the Sandbar restaurant. Created by Anna Maria resident, photographer and artist Cathy Tobias and some of her friends, the colorful art installation consisted of a string of brightly colored plastic ribbons that stretched more than 250 yards and represented each of the more than 27,000 Florida residents who had died of COVID-19 at that point.
The COVID Ribbon Memorial of Florida was unveiled on the beach in February. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
The city commission adopted a new ordinance that prohibits hoverboards, OneWheels, scooters, skateboards and bicycles on Anna Maria’s beaches and inside city parks – with an exception made for bicycles in city parks.
The commission voted 4-1 in favor of Mote Marine’s proposed educational outreach center occupying the vacant City Pier building, originally built in 2020 with the expectation of being leased to the operator of a full-service restaurant.
This rendering illustrates the preliminary concept for the Mote Educational Outreach Center. – Mote Marine | Submitted
Longtime Anna Maria resident Margaret Jenkins passed away at the age of 90.
March
Anna Maria resident Jennifer Kaleta addressed the city commission regarding the notification she received from the city informing her that her outdoor chicken coop violated city ordinances and had to be removed, much to the chagrin of her and her children.
April
Commission Chair Carol Carter, Mayor Dan Murphy and lobbyist Chip Case played key roles in defeating the Florida Legislature’s latest attempts to preempt vacation rental regulations to the state. Utilizing the city-owned Home Rule Florida website, www.homerulefl.com, the city and its supporters helped defeat Senate Bill 522 and House Bill 219.
May
The commission authorized a $50,274 consulting fee for the Reimagining Pine Avenue study that later produced several recommended pedestrian and bicycle safety improvements to be made in 2022, including new sidewalks and new and improved crosswalks.
The Reimagining Pine Avenue study hopes to address pedestrian and bicyclist safety concerns along heavily-traveled Pine Avenue. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
The city hosted its annual Memorial Day Salute at City Pier Park. The 2020 event was canceled due to the pandemic.
June
Anna Maria Commissioner Joe Muscatello announced he was leaving the commission later that month because he and his wife were moving back to West Virginia to operate a bed and breakfast.
The Manatee County Commission approved the city’s $500,000 funding request to help create a Mote Educational Outreach Center.
The city installed a new playground at City Pier Park. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
The city commission agreed to spend $30,909 to install a children’s playground at City Pier Park.
July
The Anna Maria Island Privateer’s Fourth of July parade scheduled for Sunday, July 4, was moved to Saturday, July 3, at the request of CrossPointe Fellowship church officials.
The Anna Maria Island community lost a beloved local figure when Bob “Coop” Cooper passed away on July 3.
Former commissioner Doug Copeland was appointed to serve the remaining months of Muscatello’s commission term.
Mayor Murphy enacted a precautionary local state of emergency as Tropical Storm Elsa approached Anna Maria Island. The tropical storm had little impact on the Island but disrupted the collection of trash that accumulated over the July 4 weekend, which prompted a meeting between the mayor and Waste Management officials.
Duncan Real Estate owner Darcie Duncan celebrated her company’s 20th anniversary.
Assisted by spokesperson Patrick Coyne, Anna Maria homeowners Wendy and Robert Jordan launched the Preserve AMI campaign in opposition to a Florida Department of Environmental permitting decision that could potentially result in a new home being built seaward of the Jordan’s beachfront home at the end of Elm Avenue.
The owners of the beachfront home hope to preserve their view and prevent the construction of a new home in front of it.
The mayor expressed his appreciation for the assistance that Manatee County Commissioner Kevin Van Ostenbridge and County Administrator Scott Hopes provided regarding the removal of dead fish and marine life that washed ashore as a result of red tide.
August
Holmes Beach resident Sandy Olson was hired as the assistant manager of the Code Enforcement department.
The Florida Department of Health and the city of Anna Maria hosted a free COVID-19 vaccination clinic at City Pier Park.
Bortell’s Lounge reopened after a three-year renovation project that was delayed in part by the pandemic.
Sea-level rise expert John Englander recommended the city create a “30-year Rising Seas Master Plan” as part of the efforts to prepare for the sea-level rise and higher tides anticipated in the coming decades.
Beach Bums, Robinhood Rentals and Lazy Turtle Beach Rentals agreed to place stickers in their rented golf carts. The stickers remind drivers and passengers of some state laws that apply to operating golf carts on public streets.
September
The city and Mote Marine Laboratory entered into a lease agreement for the Mote Educational Outreach Center. Mote Marine representative Kevin Cooper said he expected the interior buildout and installation to be finished in March, with the facility to open soon thereafter.
October
The city’s weekly farmers market resumed its seasonal operations and will continue each Tuesday through mid-May.
The Anna Maria Chamber of Commerce’s expanded two-day Bayfest celebration returned after being canceled in 2020.
November
Running unopposed, incumbent city commissioners Carol Carter and Jon Crane won additional two-year terms in office. The commission then appointed Robert Kingan to serve a full-two year term to fill the seat vacated by Muscatello and Copeland.
The city’s Old Soldiers & Sailors Veterans Day parade and recognition ceremony returned after being canceled in 2020.
Two Scoops ice cream celebrated its 15-year anniversary.
The second annual Thanks-Living community gathering took place at City Pier Park after being canceled in 2020.
Thanks-Living returned to City Pier Park in November.
Former longtime Anna Maria resident and tour boat operator George Glaser passed away at his Bradenton home at the age of 78.
Anna Maria resident Jana Samuels was seriously injured when the golf cart she was driving was struck by a car that crossed into her travel lane in Holmes Beach.
December
Deputy Clerk and Code Enforcement Manager Debbie Haynes retired after six years with the city.
The mayor and commission agreed to share $3,736 of about $850,000 in federal American Rescue Plan (ARP) funds the city will receive over the next two years. The AMI Historical Society, The Island Players and the Anna Maria Island Garden Club are the recipients of those shared funds. The remaining ARP funds will help fund stormwater, drainage and road improvements, and will also help fund the Reimagining Pine Avenue improvements.
Operating with a new name, Santa Stops Here, the city’s annual holiday event, returned to City Pier Park after being canceled in 2020. That evening, The Holiday of Treasures Open House holiday event took place at many participating businesses along Pine Avenue. The city also hosted its third annual Bright Holiday Lights decorating contest.
The Anna Maria Island Privateers took the Fourth of July holiday to the streets of all three Island cities Saturday, making up for lost time from the cancellation of last year’s parade by the COVID-19 pandemic. Bands of rain from Tropical Storm Elsa deterred some from lining up along the parade route, but many who attended were soaked anyway in fierce water cannon combat instigated by the invading Privateers and backed up by the forces of Hernando DeSoto’s conquistadors. The red, white and blue was still flying proudly at the end of the skirmishes, which concluded before the heavy rains deluged the Island. Have a safe and happy Independence Day!
HOLMES BEACH – The 20th Annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Anna Maria Island is set for Sunday, March 17 at 4 p.m. along Marina Drive.
The Beach Bistro Parade, an idea cooked up over 20 years ago by restaurateur Sean Murphy and journalist Vin Mannix, has become the biggest St. Patrick’s Day Parade south and east of Savannah, Georgia (It may also be the only St. Patrick’s Parade south and east of Savannah, Georgia).
The parade will proceed from Eat Here, near the corner of Marina Drive and Gulf Drive, and travel north along Marina Drive and Palm Drive, ending at 79th Street in Holmes Beach.
The parade will feature high school bands, bagpipes, the Privateers, the Conquistadors, floats, golf carts and lots of locals and visitors festooned in festive Irish green.
The parade will be led by World War II Veteran Bob Schweiger and Holmes Beach Mayor Judy Titsworth, who will be chauffeured by Steve Bark of Bark & Company Realty. Schweiger was in the second wave at Omaha Beach during the Allied invasion of Normandy on D-Day.
Those wishing to decorate a vehicle and participate in the parade should contact Sean at contact@beachbistro.com. Participants are to meet at the parking lot of Eat Here beginning at 2 p.m. to get assigned a spot in the parade.
The Fourth of July parade went off with a bang on Anna Maria Island this morning, courtesy of the Privateers good ship, Skullywag.
In the true spirit of Independence Day, participants on the floats who were asked to limit their water guns to small-caliber weapons brought cannons instead, soaking spectators on the hot July day.
Gulf Drive and Marina Drive were lined with spectators applauding the participants, which included a large turnout by Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring volunteers, law enforcement, firefighters and elected officials.
After the parade, some of the crowd drifted toward the beach to enjoy the rest of the holiday, while others drifted towards local establishments for refreshment.
- Kristin Swain | Sun
- Mike Field | Sun
Turtle Watch was out in force at the Fourth of July parade this morning. - Cindy Lane | Sun
The Hernando Desoto Crewe aboard the San Cristobal III - Cindy Lane | Sun
- Mike Field | Sun
- Mike Field | Sun
Courtney Wash and Creamery owner Dennis Miller enjoyed the parade. - Mike Field | Sun
- Mike Field | Sun
- Kristin Swain | Sun
Suzi Fox of Anna Maria Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring - Kristin Swain | Sun
- Kristin Swain | Sun
- Kristin Swain | Sun
Brenda Motes, of Jupiter, Fla. and Rachael Fowler, of Birmingham, Ala. - Mike Field | Sun
The Crewe at D Coy Ducks - Mike Field | Sun
- Kristin Swain | Sun
The ban on large weapons was largely ignored, in the true spirit of Independence Day. - Kristin Swain | Sun
- Kristin Swain | Sun
Members of the Holmes Beach Commission - Kristin Swain | Sun
The Fourth of July is one of the busiest holidays on Anna Maria Island with a parade, a park party and fireworks at the beach.
The Anna Maria Privateers Fourth of July Parade starts at 10 a.m. at Coquina Beach, south of the city of Bradenton Beach, and ends at Anna Maria City Pier. After that, the Privateers will go to the Anna Maria Island Beach Café at 4000 Gulf Drive to hand out scholarships. They will end their day with a party at D Coy Ducks in Holmes Beach.
Earlier, the Privateers asked parade participants to refrain from squirting people in the crowds with squirt guns to avoid injuring anybody or damaging cameras and cell phones, but late last week they decided to allow some squirt guns that don’t shoot a strong stream of water, according to Privateer Kim Boyd.
The park party runs from 12:30 to 2 p.m. at Anna Maria City Pier Park on Pine Avenue. There will be free hot dogs, chips, liquid refreshments and patriotic music.
Finally, the Sandbar restaurant, 100 Spring Ave., will sponsor a fireworks show on the beach. It should be the only fireworks on the beach because private individuals on the Island are not allowed to shoot anything that explodes or flies. Police say that ordinance will be strictly enforced.
Parking is limited so the free trolleys are a good alternative to get there. The county will have the trolleys running late to make sure people can stay until the end of the show and still get home.
ANNA MARIA ISLAND – The Anna Maria Island Privateers will host their annual Fourth of July parade on Wednesday, July 4.
The parade will begin at Coquina Beach at 10 a.m. and travel north to the city of Anna Maria, passing through Holmes Beach along the way. Those who wish to participate in the parade must fill out a registration form at the Privateers’ website.
“It’s free; we just need everybody registered,” Privateer Tim “Hammer” Thompson said.
The city of Anna Maria will hold a Fourth of July celebration at City Pier Park from 12:30-2 p.m. that day. The event will include patriotic music and free hot dogs, chips and beverages.
The Fourth of July festivities in Anna Maria will resume later that night during the Sandbar restaurant’s 32nd annual beachfront fireworks display. The fireworks show is free, open to the public and weather dependent. Parking for the public beach areas near the Sandbar is limited and the free trolley is one way to avoid the parking hassle.
Located at 100 Spring Ave., the Sandbar’s Independence Day celebrations will include a party under the special events pavilion starting at 6 p.m. VIP packages are available and include prime beach seating for the fireworks show. For more information contact Molly at 941-778-8709.
