Thank you for visiting The islander Newspaper Online.

We are currently updating our website to provide you better service and function.
If you would like to access the new site, please, click here: The islander Newspaper

Sorry for any inconvenience. Our new site and service will resume shortly.

Web Master

The Award Winning & Best News on Anna Maria Island, FL Since 1992

"The Award Winning & Best News on Anna Maria Island, FL Since 1992"

Tuesday, Mar, 19, 2024
Florida Press Assn. Award-Winning Web Site
Home Latest News Weather Sports Real Estate Classifieds Island Guide islander Store

 SECTIONS

 • 

Main News

 • 

Classifieds

 • 

Opinions

 • 

Streetlife

 • 

Calendar

 • 

Fishing

 • 

Sports

 • 

Real Estate

 • 

Obituaries

 • 

Weather

 Features

 • 

Cortez Cook Off: The Results

 • 

Anna Maria Island Bridge FDOT replacement bridge

 • 

National Hurricane Center (Atlantic)

 • 

Advanced Search

 • 

I love AMI

 • 

Mystery Story

 • 

Fishing Laws

 Classifieds

 • 

Classifieds Page

 • 

Place An AD

 • 

Items for Sale

 • 

Garage Sale

 • 

Estate Sale

 • 

Announcments

 • 

Lost & Found

 • 

Pets

 • 

Transportation

 • 

Boats & Boating

 • 

Fishing

 • 

Kids 4 Hire

 • 

Help Wanted

 • 

Health Care

 • 

Services

 • 

Lawn & Garden

 • 

Landscaping

 • 

Home Improvement

 • 

Business Opportunities

 • 

Rentals

 • 

Real Estate

 Weather

 • 

Today's Forecast

 • 

10 Day Forecast

 • 

Today's Tides

 • 

Emergency e-mail

 • 

Storm Watch

 Archive

 • 

News Archive

 • 

2009 Top Notch Gallery

 • 

2008 Top Notch Gallery

 • 

2007 Top Notch Gallery

 • 

2006 Top Notch Gallery

 • 

2005 Top Notch Gallery

 • 

2004 Top Notch Gallery

 Useful Links

 • 

Island Links

 • 

i.wed

 • 

islander Store

 • 

About this Site

 Contact Us

 • 

islander Store

 • 

Subscribe

 • 

About Us

 • 

e-mail us

Story Tools

Island books Santa visits

/12-3-08/christmas.jpg
Santa heads south
Santa Claus pays a visit to the mainland Nov. 21, stopping for a preview party at Sarasota Jungle Gardens' Holiday Lights and Jungle Nights extravaganza and to ask Florida vacationer Jackie Mutter what's on her wish list. The event continues through Dec. 28. This month, Santa will make at least five trips to Anna Maria Island. islander Photo: Lisa Neff

Seasonal residents are on the return.

Holiday vacationers are growing in number.

And one traveler has Anna Maria Island on his December itinerary at least five times.

Islanders can catch up with Santa Claus on Dec. 5 in Holmes Beach, where the downtown merchants will usher in the Christmas season with an annual holiday walk, providing refreshments, entertainment and some deals for shoppers.

At The islander office, Santa will visit with youngsters and offer treats with the help of the Anna Maria Island Privateers.

The next day, Dec. 6, Santa Claus is expected to put in an appearance at Lester—The islander Family Fun Day at the Anna Maria Island Community Center, 407 Magnolia Ave., Anna Maria.

Santa Claus also will spend much of the day on the Island on Dec. 13, when he will star in the Anna Maria Island Privateers Christmas Parade, hand out gifts at the post-parade party at Coquina Beach and then put in an appearance at Christmas on Bridge Street from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. in Bradenton Beach.

The parade is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. at Bayfront Park in Anna Maria City and head south, traveling through Holmes Beach and Bradenton Beach to conclude at Coquina Beach.

After the parade, children and adults are invited to attend the Privateers’ party with Santa at Coquina, where Santa holds court on the group’s ship.

Later in the day, merchants will open their doors for extended hours to welcome Santa and visitors for the Christmas on Bridge Street, which this year may include the outdoor screening of a holiday movie.

That evening, from the Historic Bridge Street Pier, people can watch the Cortez Yacht Club’s lighted boat parade.

Santa’s fourth scheduled appearance on the Island is from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Dec. 16 at the Sandbar Restaurant for the annual Lawton Chiles Christmas for Kids Party.

Organizers of the party, which welcomes about 100 children from Head Start and Healthy Families Manatee, are collecting cash donations to put toward the purchase of gifts for kids.

Attending children have a turkey dinner and then receive a pair of shoes, an outfit and a toy from Santa, who arrives on West Manatee Fire Rescue truck.

And the fifth scheduled appearance?

That would be Islandwide on Christmas Eve, Dec. 24.

Get breaking news

Follow the islander on TwitterBecome a fan of The islander on Facebook

Sign up to receive breaking news alerts via e-mail. We'll send you a notice when the news and classifieds appear online every week, before the print edition hits the streets.

Click here for Gulf oil spill updates related to Anna Maria Island.

Historic Anna Maria City Pier Plank Walk

Put your name, your message, your memorial on the Historic Anna Maria City Pier prior to the Pier Centennial Celebration! And join the fun!

CLICK HERE for Stoltzfus e-mails and related court documents.


FREE Island
Vacation Guide:
get it here

Cortez Cookoff

Click here for 2010 Cortez Cookoff Winner and recipes

To advertise here, please
visit our rates page
or contact us at:
sales@islander.org
Phone: (941) 778-7978
Fax: (941) 778-9392

Back to top of Page

Home | Weather | Real Estate | Classifieds | Archives | Contact | Island Links
islander Store | Subscribe About this site | Classifieds Page | Place an Ad
For Sale | Garage Sales | Announcements | Lost & Found | Pets | Transportation
Boats & Boating | Fishing | Kids for Hire | Help Wanted | Health Care | Services
Lawn & Garden | Landscaping | Home Improvement | Business Opportunities | Rentals | Real Estate

Our Privacy and Copyright Statements © 1992 - 2009, The islander