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VOL 26 No. 4
Fun in the sun: It's back
October 22, 2025
LESLIE LAKE | SUN
Three beloved AMI events were canceled last year by Hurricanes Helene and Milton, but all three roared back to life on Saturday, kicking off the season. Above, the Anna Maria Elementary Fall Festival at The Center of Anna Maria Island featured a costume parade, rides, games, food and a pumpkin patch.
Crowds welcome back Bayfest Perfect weather added to the festival’s successful return.
Hurricanes Helene and Milton forced the relocation of the 2024 Halloween party.
BY JOE HENDRICKS SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com
ANNA MARIA – Beautiful weather, classic cars, live music, a wide array of vendors and great attendance made for a successful Bayfest celebration after last year’s festival was canceled due to the damage caused by Hurricanes Helene and Milton. The 24th Annual Bayfest celebration on Saturday was hosted and organized by the Anna Maria Island Chamber of Commerce, with assistance provided by the city of Anna Maria, the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office and the event sponsors and participants. “Bayfest was a great success for Anna Maria Island,” Chamber President Terri Kinder said. “Part of the proceeds go toward our scholarship program. Our community was
Kids’ Halloween party returns to AMI Moose Lodge BY JOE HENDRICKS SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com
JOE HENDRICKS | SUN
Pine Avenue was filled with Bayfest attendees. ready to embrace Bayfest after last year’s hurricanes. A big thank you to everyone who participated, came out to enjoy themselves and helped us make it an outstanding festival; and thanks to everyone who volunteered their time to help us make it one of the best Bayfests ever.” Earlier in the day, Chamber board member Eric Cairns said, “It’s noon and the street is already packed.”
SEE BAYFEST, PAGE 19
BRADENTON BEACH – Anna Maria Island Moose Lodge 2188 was filled with the sights and sounds of Halloween during the annual kids’ Halloween party on Saturday. This year’s party took on greater significance for lodge officers and volunteers because last year’s party had to be held at Bradenton Moose Lodge 1223 due to the extensive damage Hurricanes Helene and Milton caused at the beachfront lodge in Bradenton Beach. For the youngsters, it was simply a fun-filled Saturday morning that in-
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The Island’s award-winning weekly newspaper
cluded French toast sticks for breakfast, games, a costume parade, a dance party, story time, a jelly bean guessing contest and a bag of treats for each youngster to take home with them. “This is home,” Moose volunteer and party organizer Sandra Zenzel said as the party began. “We’re thrilled to be back at our lodge for our parties again. We’re finally back home where we need to be for our parties. Enjoy, and happy early Halloween.” She also thanked the other Women of the Moose who helped organize the party. When speaking to The Sun, Lodge Administrator Byron Dalton said, “Today’s our annual kids’ Halloween party the Women of the Moose put on for our members. We’ve got about a hundred kids here.”
SEE MOOSE, PAGE 12
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