BRADENTON BEACH – Sponsored by the Bridge Street Merchants and the Anna Maria Island Sun, the annual Christmas on Bridge Street holiday celebration will unfold on Saturday, Dec. 15.
This year’s family-friendly holiday celebration will start around 5 p.m. and take place at the east end of Bridge Street, near the Bridge Tender Inn and the historic Bridge Street Pier.
Santa will be making his rounds on a golf cart and stopping by the participating businesses to have his picture taken with the kids – and the grownups too. Children’s holiday crafts activities are being planned, and participating restaurants and bars will be offering special drinks and/or drink specials.
Live music and Christmas carols will be performed on a flatbed trailer parked along the east end of Bridge Street. At some point during the festivities, the stage and the performers will take a spin around the block.
And if all goes according to plans, Bridge Street will feature new Christmas decorations this year courtesy of the Bradenton Beach Community Redevelopment Agency. The decorations are being purchased from and installed by Christmas Designers, the firm that decorates University Boulevard and the University Town Center mall in Sarasota.
Drift In/Privateers’ fundraiser
Also taking place that night on Bridge Street will be the annual holiday fundraiser hosted by the Anna Maria Island Privateers and the Drift In. The Dec. 15 fundraiser and toy collection event will help provide Christmas gifts and holiday meals for this year’s adopted holiday families.
New toys can be dropped off at the Drift In, 120 Bridge St., before the Dec. 15 fundraiser as well as on the day of the event, and the Drift In bartenders can provide a list of toys and other needed items in advance.
