St Patrick’s Day | Anna Maria Island Living

Holmes Beach restaurateur Sean Murphy of the Beach Bistro hosted the 17th annual St. Patrick’s Day parade on Sunday. The popular parade attracts over 15,000 celebrators to enjoy the free event consisting of floats, bands, cars, animals, boats and walkers. It is open to all-comers.

The parade participants assembled at the Holmes Beach City Hall field at 2 pm and began moving at 4 pm north up Marina Drive and Palm Drive to 78th Street. Large crowds lined the route on the mild, sunny day. Local area school bands and pipe bands pumped out their music, floats’ riders threw out candy and beads, and decorated golf carts, cars and trucks carried local business owners.

It doesn’t take only an Irishman to enjoy the sounds and sights of a St. Patrick’s parade, and the animals and ornaments thrilled children and adults alike. Green was the theme but the celebration was for everyone.

There is no better place for a family to enjoy spring break than on Anna Maria Island. Many vacation rental companies can accommodate groups of any size and of any ages. The activities offered by the island also accommodate people of all ages.

March 15 was a peak day for Spring Break, 2009, the dates of which vary a little from school to school, but usually they fall somewhere in the first two thirds of the month. The fact that Anna Maria Island is a perfect place for a family spring break was very obvious on the 15^th, when people of all ages gathered to watch a St. Patrick’s Day parade.

Sponsored by the Beach Bistro, the parade started at the corner of Gulf and Marina Drives in central Holmes Beach. It proceeded up Marina Drive and Palm Drive to 81^st Street, where it ended. The streets were lined with people of all ages: tiny children, teenagers, young adults, “Boomers,” and the elderly.

Participants in the parade also were of all ages. The Grand Marshall was John Castelli, a World War II veteran who served with Patton in Europe. A contingent of gray-haired people on bicycles from the vacation rental and resort Playa Encantada rode in the parade. Also showing some gray hair were the Privateers on their pirate ship float. Two high school marching bands were very impressive, as was the Dunedin bagpipe band.