ANNA MARIA – Autumn was in the air Saturday morning as a cold front moved in. Anna Maria Elementary School’s PTO was holding its Fall Festival, and the fact that Halloween was coming meant the kids were wearing their scariest costumes.
This year, the PTO held the parade and Fall Festival in new venues – City Pier Park and The Center, where many of the students go after school.
Holmes Beach Police Chief Bill Tokajer still led the parade with AME Resource Officer Josh Fleischer and Holmes Beach Police Sgt. Vern McGowan.
The kids and their parents put effort into their costumes, and the winners were announced after the parade at The Center.
There was fun to be had after the parade disbanded. There were games, a bounce house, an inflatable slide and a tall rock-climbing wall and the haunted house, a masterpiece of terror built by the parents.
The Waterfront restaurant sponsored a hayride, and there were hot dogs and hamburgers available. Many of the kids will don their costumes again to participate in the Anna Maria Island Chamber of Commerce Trail of Treats, starting at 3:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 31.