Signs of Santa and Christmas pop out all over AMI, Cortez

The third annual Bradenton Beach Boat Parade saw 21 boats traveling the Intracoastal Waterway from Longboat Pass Bridge, to the Historic Bridge Street Pier — the finale to Christmas on Bridge Street — a day of festive activities. The events were part of Holidays in Paradise. “It’s like nothing that’s ever happened on the island. It’s the community coming together. If you’d been here 20 or 30 years ago, you would never believe something like this could happen here in Bradenton Beach on Anna Maria Island,” said Bradenton Beach Mayor John Chappie. Islander Photo: Marianne Ellis

Carter, 4, of Bradenton gets his face painted with reindeer antlers at the Bridge Street Bistro by Winter Kelly of Darling Little Faces. Islander Photo: Tomas Gomez

The Anna Maria Island Privateers board Santa’s sleigh at the Drift In, where they hosted a celebration that included raffle prizes and a potluck supper. Islander Photo: Tomas Gomez

Performers, left to right, Torrie Pate, Kathryn Parks, Eileen Earnest and Patrick Croce from the Crosley Theater Company sing Christmas carols during the Christmas on Bridge Street event.

Shawn Warner and Zeke provide shuttle rides for visitors who parked along Gulf Drive and headed to Holidays in Paradise on Bridge Street.

The 40-foot tall Christmas Tree lit up the parking lot of the Bradenton Beach Post Office and provided a photo backdrop for Santa’s sleigh and festivalgoers on Bridge Street.