Holiday happiness comes to Anna Maria

Malia Chichande, 5, of Cortez, giggles with Santa Dec. 9 at the Santa Stops Here event at City Pier Park, 103 N. Bay Blvd., Anna Maria. The event was sponsored by the city and was followed by the Holiday of Treasures Open House along Pine Avenue and Gulf Drive. Islander Photos: Ryan Paice

Palma Sola Elementary students Bryer and Brynn Zaffina Lamb, twins at age 4-and-a-half, sit Dec. 9 with Santa during St. Nicholas’ stop at City Pier Park in Anna Maria.

Emilia Petersen, 9 months, of Australia, reflects Dec. 9 as Santa asks how her family vacation to Anna Maria Island is going.

The line to see Santa Claus during Santa Stops Here at City Pier Park, 103 N. Bay Blvd., Anna Maria, stretches from under the park’s sail shades to the Pine Avenue sidewalk.

Holly Ray Review performs Dec. 9 outside the Pineapple Marketplace, 425 Pine Ave., Anna Maria, during the Holiday of Treasures Open House.

Duncan Real Estate employees hand out wine Dec. 9 outside the office, 310 Pine Ave., Anna Maria, while Anna Maria Oyster Bar employees pass out oysters during the Holiday of Treasures Open House.

People walk Dec. 9 along Pine Avenue in Anna Maria, which was closed by the city for the Holiday of Treasures Open House, an evening of open houses and free food, drinks and trinkets, with merchants’ doors open past normal business hours for visitors.

Santa Claus greets people Dec. 9 on the porch at the Anna Maria Island General Store, 503 Pine Ave., chosen by guest judge Ingrid McClellan of the Anna Maria Island Chamber of Commerce as the year’s best lighted commercial shop in Anna Maria’s holiday lighting contest.

Holiday lights, including a light-up Santa in a sleigh on the roof, glow the night of Dec. 9 at the home of Anna Maria resident James Stepan, who was selected as this year’s residential winner of the city’s holiday lighting contest.