Wednesday, Dec. 5

11:30 a.m. — Anna Maria Island Chamber of Commerce networking luncheon, Gulf Drive Cafe & Tiki, 900 Gulf Drive N., Bradenton Beach. Fee applies. Information: 941-778-1541.

1:15 p.m. — Gulf Coast Writers meet, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach. Information: 941-778-3209.

 

Thursday, Dec. 6

2 p.m. — Knitting clinic, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach. Information: 941-778-6341

 

Friday, Dec. 7

5:30-7:30 p.m. — Island Gallery West reception for featured artist Brenda Alcorn, 5368 Gulf Drive, Holmes Beach. Information: 941-778-6648.

5:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m. — Artists’ Guild of Anna Maria Island reception for Patricia Curtis, Guild Gallery, 5414 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach. Information: 941-778-6694.

5-8 p.m. — Holmes Beach Downtown Holiday Open House, Marina and Gulf drives, Holmes Beach. Features visits with Santa and the Anna Maria Island Privateers at The Islander. Information: 941-778-1541.

 

Saturday, Dec. 8

9:30 a.m. — REAL Women Christmas Brunch, CrossPointe Fellowship, 8605 Gulf Drive, Holmes Beach. Information: 941-778-0719.

9:30 a.m. — Family origami, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach. Information: 941-778-6341

10 a.m. — Anna Maria Island Privateers Christmas Parade, from Bayfront Park, Anna Maria, to Coquina Beach Gulfside Park, Bradenton Beach, parade route is mostly along Pine Avenue/Gulf Drive/Marina Drive and back onto Gulf Drive. Information: 941-752-5973.

10 a.m.-4:30 p.m. — Anna Maria Island Art League Winterfest arts and crafts show, Holmes Beach city field, 5801 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach. Information: 941-778-2099.

11 a.m.-2:30 p.m. — Anna Maria Island Privateers Party with Santa, gifts for children, lunch and refreshments free. Adults: donation for lunch, refreshments. Coquina Beach Gulfside Park, 2650 Gulf Drive S., Bradenton Beach. Information: 941-752-5973.

 

Sunday, Dec. 9

Hanukkah.

10 a.m.-3:30 p.m. — Brawn on the Beach amateur strength competition to benefit Hope Family Services, BeachHouse Restaurant, 200 Gulf Drive N., Bradenton Beach. Information: 941-779-2222.

10 a.m.-4:30 p.m. — Anna Maria Island Art League Winterfest arts and crafts show, Holmes Beach city field, 5801 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach. Information: 941-778-2099.

 

Tuesday, Dec. 11

10:30 a.m. — Lawton Chiles Christmas for Kids Party — for a pre-selected daycare, Sandbar Restaurant, 100 Spring Ave., Anna Maria. Information: 941-778-8709.

 

Wednesday, Dec. 12

7:45 a.m. — Anna Maria Island Chamber of Commerce sunrise breakfast, Sign of the Mermaid, 9707 Gulf Drive, Anna Maria. Fee applies. Information: 941-778-1541.

11:30 a.m. — Off Stage Ladies of the Island Players luncheon and gift exchange, BeachHouse Restaurant, 200 Gulf Drive N., Bradenton Beach. Fee applies. Information: 941-799-2181

 

Off-island

Friday, Dec. 7

6:30-9:30 p.m. — Reception for Joan Peters’ exhibit “Seashores of the Suncoast,” Joan Peters Gallery, Village of the Arts, 1210 11th Ave. W., Bradenton. Information: 941-365-9960.

 

Saturday, Dec. 8

10 a.m., 11:30 a.m. — Magic Box Theatre presents “Rumplestiltskin,” Ramada Waterfront, 7150 Tamiami Trail, Sarasota. Fee applies. Information: 941-363-1727.

7 p.m. — Dance Theatre of Bradenton performs “The Nutcracker,” Manatee High School Davis Center for the Performing Arts, 1902 33rd St. E., Bradenton. Fee applies. Information: 855-222-2849.

 

Sunday, Dec. 9

4 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. — Jazz at First Church featuring Johnny Moore, Dominic Mancini, Tommy Goodman and Bob Switzer, First United Methodist Church, 104 S. Pineapple St., Sarasota. Information: 941-955-0935.

2 p.m. — Dance Theatre of Bradenton performs “The Nutcracker,” Manatee High School Davis Center for the Performing Arts, 1902 33rd St. E., Bradenton. Fee applies. Information: 855-222-2849.

 

Tuesday, Dec. 11

7 p.m. — PLATO’s byKids4Kids presents “The Twelve Days of Christmas,” Ramada Waterfront, 7150 Tamiami Trail, Sarasota. Fee applies. Information: 941-363-1727.

 

Wednesday, Dec. 12

2 p.m. — Christmas with the Ditchfield Family Singers concert, Manatee Players, 102 12th St. W., Bradenton. Fee applies. Information: 941-748-5875.

7 p.m. — PLATO’s byKids4Kids presents “The Twelve Days of Christmas,” Ramada Waterfront, 7150 Tamiami Trail, Sarasota. Fee applies. Information: 941-363-1727.

 

Ongoing

• Through Jan. 6, “Waist Watchers: The Musical,” by Alan Jacobsen, the Professional Learning and Theatrical Organization, Ramada Sarasota, 7150 Tamiami Trail, Sarasota. Fee applies. Information: 941-363-1727.

• Through April 28, Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium, 1600 Ken Thompson Parkway, Sarasota, hosts Sea Lions: On the Water’s Edge. Fee applies. Information: 941-388-4441.

• Wednesdays and Saturdays, 9 a.m., horseshoes pitched, Anna Maria City Hall, 10005 Gulf Drive, Anna Maria. Information: 941-708-6130.

• First Wednesdays, noon, Anna Maria Island Chamber of Commerce networking luncheon. Location varies. Fee applies. Information: 941-778-1541.

• Second Wednesdays, 8 a.m., Anna Maria Island Chamber of Commerce sunrise breakfast. Location varies. Fee applies. Information: 941-778-1541.

• Fourth Wednesdays, 5 p.m., Anna Maria Island Chamber of Commerce business-card exchange. Location varies. Fee applies. Information: 941-778-1541.

• Fridays, Senior Adventures, low-cost field trips from Annie Silver Community Center, 103 23rd St., Bradenton Beach. Fee may apply. Information: 941-962-8835.

• Third Fridays, 5-8 p.m., Pine Avenue Porch Party presented by local merchants, Pine Avenue, Anna Maria. Food donations requested for Roser Food Pantry. Information: 941-896-3132.

• Saturdays, 8:30 a.m., Kiwanis Club of Anna Maria Island meeting, Anna Maria Island Beach Cafe, Manatee Public Beach, 4000 Gulf Drive, Holmes Beach. Information: 941-761-8834.

• First Saturdays, 8 a.m.-noon, Manatee County Audubon open house, 9:30 a.m. Audubon Walk, Felts Audubon Preserve, 4600 24th Ave. E., Palmetto, Information: 941-729-2227.

• Through May, third Sundays, 9-11 a.m., Jr. Audubon, Manatee Audubon Society, Felts Audubon Preserve, 4600 24th Ave. E., Palmetto. Information: 941-729-2227.

• Through April 10, Sundays, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., the Bridge Street Market, Bridge Street, Bradenton Beach. The first Sundays include a food challenge.

• Mondays, 1 p.m., bridge games, Roser Memorial Community Church, 512 Pine Ave., Anna Maria. Information: 941-778-0414.

• First Mondays, 7 p.m., Florida Institute for Saltwater Heritage board meets, Fisherman’s Hall, 4515 123rd St. W., Cortez. Information: 941-254-4972.

• Third Mondays, noon, Anna Maria Island Democratic Club lunch meeting, BeachHouse Restaurant, 200 Gulf Drive N., Bradenton Beach. Fee applies. Information: 941-779-0564.

• Tuesdays, 12:30 p.m., Anna Maria duplicate bridge, Episcopal Church of the Annunciation, 4408 Gulf Drive, Holmes Beach. Information: 941-778-3390.

• Tuesdays, noon, Rotary Club of Anna Maria Island meets, BeachHouse Restaurant, 200 Gulf Drive N., Bradenton Beach. Information: 941-794-8044.

 

Coming up

• Dec. 13, 2-4 p.m., Artists’ reception, Signature Show exhibit, Studio at Gulf and Pine, 10101 Gulf Drive, Anna Maria.

• Dec. 14, 5-8 p.m., the Anna Maria businesses host a Christmas Walk, Pine Avenue and Gulf Drive.

• Dec. 15, noon, the Women of the Moose No. 1601’s annual Children’s Christmas Party, Anna Maria Island Moose Lodge 2188, 110 Gulf Drive S., Bradenton Beach.

• Dec. 15, 3-7 p.m., Christmas on Bridge Street, Bridge Street, Bradenton Beach.

• Dec. 15, 6:30 p.m., Bethlehem Walk, Roser Memorial Community Church, 512 Pine Ave., Anna Maria.

• Dec. 16, 2 p.m., Anna Maria Island Concert Chorus and Orchestra concert, Island Holidays, CrossPointe Fellowship, 8605 Gulf Drive, Holmes Beach.

 

Save the date

• Dec. 25, Christmas.

• Dec. 29, the Manatee Players’ presents “Two on Tap.”

• Dec. 31, New Year’s Eve.

• Jan. 17, the Island Players’ opening of “A Little Murder Never Hurt Anybody.”

Send calendar announcements to calendar@islander.org. Please include the time, date and location of the event, a brief description and a contact via email and phone. The deadline for submissions is the Wednesday before publication.

 

AME Calendar

December

        Monday, Dec. 10-Friday, Dec. 14: 8-8:30 a.m., Holiday Shopper, school store.

Tuesday, Dec. 11: 8:45 a.m., Parent Teacher Organization board meeting, conference room.

Monday, Dec. 17-Tuesday, Dec. 18: kindergarten and first-grade holiday decorating centers, K-1 classrooms.

Tuesday, Dec. 18, 5-7 p.m., PTO dinner by Moore’s Stone Crab in the cafeteria followed at 7 p.m. by the fifth-grade play, “The Legend of the Poinsettia,” in the auditorium.

Monday, Dec. 24-Monday, Dec. 31, winter break.

 

January

Tuesday, Jan. 1-Monday, Jan. 7, winter break continued, and Tuesday, Jan 8: students return.

Saturday, Jan. 12: Dolphin Dash, 8 a.m.

Thursday, Jan. 24, FCAT Parent Night: time to be determined.

Anna Maria Elementary School, 4700 Gulf Drive, Holmes Beach, 941-708-5525, www.manatee.k12.fl.us/sites/elementary/annamaria.