Seasonal celebrations
With snowbirds migrating for the winter and vacationers escaping for a week or weekend — The Islander offers a glance at the 2009-10 season.
Save the dates…
December
Dec. 3: “The Education of Angels” opens at the Island Players theater, 10009 Gulf Drive, Anna Maria.
Dec. 4: Downtown Holmes Beach Holiday Open House, including tree-lighting, Santa visits and merchant offerings.
Dec. 4: Anna Maria Island Art League, 5312 Holmes Blvd., Holmes Beach, exhibit reception, “Island Colors.”
Dec. 4: Island Gallery West, 5368 Gulf Drive, Holmes Beach, reception for the month’s featured artist.
Dec. 5: Lester-Islander Family Fun Day at the Anna Maria Island Community Center, 407 Magnolia Drive, Anna Maria.
Dec. 5: Bridge Street Market on Bridge Street, Bradenton Beach.
Dec. 12: Anna Maria Island Privateers Christmas Parade with Santa, from Bayfront Park to Coquina Beach.
Dec. 12-13: Anna Maria Island Art League Winterfest juried arts festival, Holmes Beach City Hall field.
Dec. 12: Roser Memorial Community Church, Anna Maria, Bethlehem Walk.
Dec. 19: Holiday open house in Bradenton Beach, centered on Bridge Street.
Dec. 19: Bridge Street Market on Bridge Street, Bradenton Beach.
Dec. 19: Where’s Woody Art Sale, The Islander newspaper office, 5404 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach.
Dec. 20: Anna Maria Island Community Chorus and Orchestra concert, “An Island Christmas,” Crosspointe Fellowship, 8605 Gulf Drive, Holmes Beach.
Dec. 25: Christmas
Dec. 31: New Year’s Eve. Fireworks at midnight over the Gulf, the BeachHouse Restaurant, 200 Gulf Drive N., Bradenton Beach.
January
Jan. 1: New Year’s Day.
Jan. 8: Featured artist reception, Anna Maria Island Artists Guild Gallery, 5414 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach.
Jan. 8: Island Gallery West, 5368 Gulf Drive, Holmes Beach, reception for the month’s featured artist.
Jan. 8: Dec. 4: Anna Maria Island Art League, 5312 Holmes Blvd., Holmes Beach, exhibit reception, “James Pay Exhibit.”
Jan. 9: Anna Maria Island Privateers Thieves Market, Coquina Beach, Bradenton Beach.
Jan. 18: Martin Luther King Jr. holiday.
Jan. 21: “Self Help” opens at the Island Players theater, 10009 Gulf Drive, Anna Maria.
February
Feb. 5: Anna Maria Island Community Center Talent Show.
Feb. 11: Sweethearts Dance, sponsored by the Anna Maria Island Kiwanis Club at the Anna Maria Island Community Center.
Feb. 12: Featured artist reception, Anna Maria Island Artists Guild Gallery, 5414 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach.
Feb. 12: Island Gallery West, 5368 Gulf Drive, Holmes Beach, reception for the month’s featured artist.
Feb. 12: Anna Maria Island Art League, 5312 Holmes Blvd., Holmes Beach, exhibit reception, “The Florida I Remember — A Photographic Journey.”
Feb. 13: Anna Maria Island Privateers Thieves Market, Coquina Beach, Bradenton Beach.
Feb. 14: Valentine’s Day.
Feb. 14: Anna Maria Island Community Chorus and Orchestra concert, “From AMICCO with Love,” Crosspointe Fellowship, 8605 Gulf Drive, Holmes Beach.
Feb. 16: Fat Tuesday/Mardi Gras.
Feb. 20-21: Cortez Commercial Fishing Festival on the waterfront in Cortez.
Feb. 28: Anna Maria Island Wedding Festival, Islandwide, registration at the Anna Maria Island Chamber of Commerce.
March
March 5: Anna Maria Island Community Center Oscar Party.
March 5: Island Gallery West, 5368 Gulf Drive, Holmes Beach, reception for the month’s featured artist.
March 5: Anna Maria Island Art League, 5312 Holmes Blvd., Holmes Beach, exhibit reception, “Student Exhibit.”
March 5: Featured artist reception, Anna Maria Island Artists Guild Gallery, 5414 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach.
March 12: For Art’s Sake silent auction to benefit Manatee High School art program, The Islander, 5404 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach.
March 13-14: Anna Maria Island Art League Springfest juried art festival, Holmes Beach City Hall field.
March 13: Anna Maria Island Privateers Thieves Market, Coquina Beach, Bradenton Beach.
March 17: St. Patrick’s Day.
March 18: “Catch Me If You Can” opens at the Island Players theater, 10009 Gulf Drive, Anna Maria.
March 20: Anna Maria Island Community Center Tour of Homes, Islandwide.
March 21: Anna Maria Island Community Chorus and Orchestra concert, “An Invitation to the Opera,” Crosspointe Fellowship, 8605 Gulf Drive, Holmes Beach.
April
April 1: April Fool’s Day.
April 4: Easter. Anna Maria Island Kiwanis Club Sunrise Service, Manatee Public Beach, Holmes Beach.
April 9: Featured artist reception, Anna Maria Island Artists Guild Gallery, 5414 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach.
April 9: Island Gallery West, 5368 Gulf Drive, Holmes Beach, reception for the month’s featured artist.
April 9: Anna Maria Island Art League, 5312 Holmes Blvd., Holmes Beach, exhibit reception, “Artists Gone Wild.”
April 10: Anna Maria Island Privateers Thieves Market, Coquina Beach, Bradenton Beach.
April 16-18: Real Florida Festival, Islandwide.
April 22: Earth Day.
April 24: Anna Maria Island Community Center gala dinner and auction, an Affaire to Remember.
Summer
May 1: Turtle nesting season opens.
May 1-2: American Cancer Society Island Relay for Life, Coquina Beach, Bradenton Beach.
May 7: Anna Maria Island Art League, 5312 Holmes Blvd., Holmes Beach, exhibit reception, “Manatee High School Student Exhibit.”
May 9: Mother’s Day.
May 13: “The Prisoner of Second Avenue” opens at the Island Players theater, 10009 Gulf Drive, Anna Maria.
May 31: Memorial Day.
June 1: Hurricane season begins.
June 5: Islandwide Blood Drive, St. Bernard Catholic Church, 248 S. Harbor Drive, Holmes Beach.
June 20: Father’s Day.
July 4: Anna Maria Island Privateers Independence Day Parade and scholarship party, from Coquina Beach to Bayfront Park.
Sept. 6: Labor Day.
| 
