Santa celebrates holidays with community center kids

Santa Claus waves to children Dec. 2 as he arrives at the 21st annual Lester Family Fun Day at the Center of Anna Maria Island, 407 Magnolia Ave., Anna Maria. The event is an annual celebration of the holiday season that was conceived and hosted by longtime center supporters and Holmes Beach residents Chuck and Joey Lester. Islander Photos: Ryan Paice

Center recreation director Tyler Bekkerus’ son, Deacon, 7, of Bradenton, embraces a rabbit Dec. 2 in the petting zoo at Lester Family Fun Day. Islander Photo: Ryan Paice

Olivia Farmer, 6, of Bradenton, left, and her sister, Marley, 3, smile while sitting Dec. 2 on Santa’s lap at Lester Family Fun Day at the Center of Anna Maria Island.

Family friend Kala Garner, left, sits Dec. 2 alongside Joey and Chuck Lester, sponsors of the old-fashioned holiday event they initiated 21 years ago, as community center executive director Chris Culhane, back, drops into the photo.

Anna Maria Elementary first-grader Nina Comkowcz, 7, of Bradenton, rides Philly the pony Dec. 2, led around the center athletic field by Addi’s Pony Parties employee Brittany Bailey.

DJ Dwayne “Bishop Freeze” Parker leads a group of kids in the Cha-Cha Slide Dec. 2 at Lester Family Fun Day at the community center.

People watch as a drumline, consisting of Manatee High School alumni, performs Dec. 2 at the 21st annual Lester Family Fun Day.

Anna Maria Elementary pre-K student Keegan Reuter, 4, of Bradenton, smiles Dec. 2 on meeting the Grinch.

Center customer service director Morgan Blackburn’s daughter, Elle, 8, a third-grader at Anna Maria Elementary, fishes for stuffed animals Dec. 2 in the center gym during Lester Family Fun Day. Anna Maria Island Kiwanis Club member Roger Domme, right, helps supervise the game, another tradition of the old-fashioned holiday event.