Family Fun Easter Events on Anna Maria Island! Events are held on both Saturday, March 31 and Sunday, April 1.

Easter Events on Saturday, March 31:

The Sandbar Restaurant and Pine Avenue Restoration host the festivities in the City of Anna Maria. The 32nd Annual Sandbar Easter Egg Hunt starts sharply at 9:00 am., on Saturday, March 31st with refreshments served in the Pavilion next to the restaurant starting at 8:30 am. (The Pavilion will not be accessible until 8:30 am.) The hunt will take place on the beach directly next to the restaurant with sections set up for children aged 0-2, 3-6 and 7-10. Each child is responsible for bringing their own basket to collect eggs (a beach sand bucket works great for this and makes for colorful photos)!  Parking is available in the restaurant lot, across the street and at city hall. We encourage folks to take the free island trolley or monkey bus.

After the Sandbar fun, the Easter Bunny leads a walking parade down Pine Avenue where the 9th Annual Easter Egg Roll and Easter Bonnet Contest takes place. There is plenty of fun for the whole family with games, face painting, egg rolling and coloring. Complimentary mimosas, sausage biscuits and frittatas are provided by the Sandbar Restaurant along with cupcakes from Hometown Desserts. Take home an Easter keepsake – a framed picture with the Easter Bunny with pictures taken by the amazing Dara Caudill of IslandPhotography.org. Music is provided by the very talented Chuck Caudill. A fabulous gift basket will be raffled off to one lucky winner.  The roll will take place 9:30am-12: 00 pm.

Prizes for the best bonnet include a two-night stay at the Anna Maria Guest Houses for first prize. The competition is fierce for this contest. I entered last year and had a decorated hat complete with lights and a working train, and did not win a single prize! Did you hear the part about my hat having a moving, running train? The winner was in a full chicken costume, which my children told me they would disown me and not to get any ideas for doing that. There are also be prizes for second and third place. First prize for the best kid’s bonnet is a Sandbar lunch for the winner and three of their BFF’s complete with hot fudge sundaes. There are also prizes for second and third place. For more information on the Sandbar Easter Egg Hunt and Pine Avenue Easter Egg Roll contact Tina Chiles at 941-778-8710 or [email protected]

Mar Vista Easter Egg Hunt on Longboat Key

If you are on the south end of the island or Longboat Key, the Mar Vista Dockside Restaurant is a great place to spend your Easter morning. The 30th Annual Mar Vista Easter Egg Hunt will take place on Saturday, March 31st at 10:00 am sharp. Bring your basket and meet the Easter Bunny. Light refreshments will be served. We like to arrive by boat! For more info on the Mar Vista Easter Egg Hunt call 941-383-2391

April 1, Easter Sunday

The 54th annual Easter sunrise service, sponsored by the Kiwanis Club of Anna Maria Island, is held on Sunday, April 1 at Manatee County Public Beach, 4000 Gulf Drive, Holmes Beach. The service starts at 6:30 am. All six churches on the Island participate in the service, and about 2,000 attendees celebrate as the sun rises. 

You will need to bring your own chairs, and we recommend bringing a blanket or a jacket as the morning can be cool. 
 

The new Waterline Resort, located at 5325 Marina Drive in Holmes Beach, is hosting "the most egg-cellent Easter Brunch on Anna Maria Island"! A visit from the Easter bunny, face painting, crafts and games will make the day extra fun for your little bunnies. In addition to the already fabulous brunch menu at Eliza Ann's Coastal Kitchen, their chefs have prepared specialty items just for the occasion.
Reservations recommended. Please call (941) 238-6264.
Easter Fun: 
Date: Sunday, April 1, 2018
Brunch from 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Visit & Photos with the Easter Bunny 10:00AM - 11:00AM
Games on the Promenade 10:00AM - 11:00AM
Face Painting 10:00AM- 12:00PM 
Crafts in Cobb’s Corner 10:00AM - 3:00PM