ANNA MARIA – Shops stayed open late offering food and drinks, bands played and people mingled around Pine Avenue businesses at the 2021 Holiday Walk of Treasures, an event that encouraged locals and tourists to get out and explore all that Pine Avenue has to offer.
“We’re so glad to have this back,” said Lauren Collins, owner of Island Charms. “I don’t think we’ve hit the busy holiday week just yet, but we can see it building up. We are seeing Canadians and our first Europeans coming in. After not having much going on last year, it feels ‘normalish’ with precautions.”
After the cancellation of events like this last year due to COVID-19, business owners are happy to see things returning to normal, even though they are aware that things are still different than the pre-COVID era.
“Thanksgiving week was a great week this year. Early December is always a little slow, then it picks up as people start coming back,” said Amy Fleece, owner of Pink and Navy on Pine Avenue. “Things will pick up the week before Christmas, that’s usually how it goes, and we’re excited for a great season.”
In addition to business owners, visitors were having a great time getting to know the area shops, restaurants and other businesses that make Pine Avenue one of the most exciting streets on Anna Maria Island.
“This is amazing, what a great turnout, we’re so happy to have everything coming back to normal,” said Maria Yatros, an Island resident.
“It’s so exciting to see we are all going in the right direction here,” said Island resident Gy Yatros.
The fact that gatherings like this are even possible after the past 20 months of just about every activity being canceled or scaled down seems to be on the top of the majority of people’s minds when attending gatherings such as the Holiday Walk of Treasures.
“I’ll tell you what, we’re happy to live in Florida,” said Jim Strathmeyer, who is visiting the Island from Jupiter, Florida. “I still travel a lot, and I go to a lot of areas in this country that are still basically locked down. They won’t let people go out unless they’re vaccinated, it’s just nice to be here in Florida where we’re living a normal life.”
