ANNA MARIA – The city's main street, Pine Avenue, was all dressed up last Saturday for the Food and Wine on Pine and wearing its best hats for the Kentucky Derby.

The cooler than normal temperatures were perfect for walking up and down the street, shopping for vendors' items, smelling the food being served while visiting the shops along the city's commercial district. Chiles Group organizer Caryn Hodge estimated the crowd at more than 6,000.

"It couldn't have been better," said Chiles Group President and Owner Ed Chiles. "With over 200 volunteers, great food and music, we get to brag about Anna Maria Island."

The volunteers worked in shifts, the chefs worked all through the event and the aroma was inviting.

At Roser Church, there were chairs and benches for the weary visitors to sit and snack. The church set out a cooler with water for people and pets. Across the street, Rev. Ed Moss got his yearly ration of green slime, which he wore proudly as he entertained the kids. There was face painting and some of the kid painted pictures, which the Manatee Art Education Association displayed on the walls of their tent. The association is made up of art teachers throughout the county.

There were many genres of music from the folk sounds of Trevor Bystrom and Kristi Armas, the Island rock sounds of Scott Blum, Scott Pritchard and Chuck Caudill plus favorites like the Magic of Manatee Sweet Adelines and KoKo Ray with his ménage and John Rinell.

The group in the large tent waiting for the Kentucky Derby Hat Contest judging waited patiently, enjoying mint juleps as thy watched the pre-race show on the big screen TV. The hat winners were Bizzy Hart, of Tampa, who said she made her hat to reflect the derby and food. Second place went to Kathi Riddle, of Windermere, Fla., who came to enjoy the event.

After the event, Hodge said it might be the last Food and Wine on Pine.

"We're going to take another look at it and see if some other entity might want to organize it," she said. "We have a few people who are talented enough to produce a quality event."

Hodge said the Chiles Group has other projects it wants to investigate. Proceeds from the Food and Wine on Pine will be split between a number of local non-profit charities.