Fall Events on AMI: 2024 Edition
Get ready to fall into a great time and plan your autumn adventure on Anna Maria Island. Serendipity has put together some of our favorite fall events on AMI during your stay with us on our island paradise.
September Events on AMI
Greg LaPensee Bowling Tournament | September 14th
Get ready to dust off those bowling shoes, grab your buddies, and prepare to fill those frames with strikes. This yearly bowling tournament is a unique experience that you don’t want to miss. And the best part? All proceeds go directly to supporting The Center of Anna Maria Island, a community staple that provides fitness, youth activities, continuing education, and connection for both locals and visitors alike. This tournament includes a team costume contest, raffles, food, and more!
Don’t miss out on limited lane sponsorships, priced at $750, are a great way to show support and get some fantastic perks. Each player (up to six) will receive a tumbler, a Center Fishing Shirt with your business logo on it, and a pitcher of beer at the lane. These lanes are limited and won’t last long!
Take in a Play performed by the Island Players | September 19th -29th
Is there anything better than a night out at the theatre after a nice dinner? Anna Maria Island has just the solution for you. The Island Players are getting ready to open the theatre doors again this September with their first play for the season calendar (and their 76th season), Crimes of the Heart.
According to their website, this 1981 Pulitzer Prize-winning comedy follows Lenny, Meg, and Babe Magrath who return to their small hometown in Mississippi to care for Old Granddaddy and to help the youngest sister who recently shot her husband because “she didn’t like his looks.”
Crimes of the Heart runs from Sept 19- Sept 29; tickets can be purchased here.
Bonus: Visiting later in the season? The Island Players will be performing A Doublewide, Texas Christmas, November 14-24. The description of the play, according to the website, is as follows: It begins to look a lot like trouble in the newest – and tiniest – town in Texas! After the county double-crosses them, the residents of Doublewide (friends, enemies, and neighbors)must work together to save their particular way of life.
October Events on AMI
St. Pete Yoga Festival | October 13th
The health and relaxation benefits of yoga are nearly endless. Given the paradise that encapsulates our community it is no surprise that the yoga community is thriving on Anna Maria Island. For those curious about yoga and those who have been practicing for years, The St.Pete Yoga Festival is an excellent opportunity to connect with others who are passionate about the practice. Just a short drive to the mainland in St. Petersburg, Florida, at the historic Sunken Garden, this festival brings workshops, speakers, vendors, giveaways, and more!
Bayfest 2024 | October 19th
Get ready for one of the island’s favorite annual events, Bayfest! Bayfest welcomes hundreds of people a year to the island for a day of music, food, and fun. Featuring a kids’ zone of family friend games, activities, and prizes, Bayfest is an event sure to have something for the whole family. Take a look and vote on your favorite classic cars, enjoy something delicious from the curated food court featuring everything from freshly caught seafood to street tacos, treat yourself to something from the numerous vendors, or take in some of the live music, all with the beautiful ocean backdrop.
Hunsander Farms Annual Pumpkin Festival | Oct. 12-13, 19-20, 26-27
Florida generally calls up visuals of open oceans and summer vibes and does not immediately conjure thoughts of fall. But who says you can’t have both? Suppose you are looking for that particular fall feeling during your stay on AMI. In that case, there is no better way to encapsulate that than by visiting the Husander Farms Annual Pumpkin Festival. The farm offers pick-your-own pumpkins, a petting zoo, vendors, and even a corn maze! Things get even crazier with the visiting circus, stunt motorcyclists, and pumpkin cannon! There really is something for everyone. This festival takes place over the course of three separate weekends, making it even easier to attend. Hunsander Farms is just a short drive to the mainland in Bradenton.
Bonus: Halloween FunAnna Maria Island is within driving distance of some of Florida’s favorite theme parks, many of which have extraordinary fall and Halloween events. Check out our previous blog on theme parks near AMI for additional fall fun. Disney’s Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party is one of our favorites!
Conquina Beach Market | Starting October 2nd
The Coquina Beach Market is reopening for the season on October 2nd. Market days are Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday from 10-2. This market is located at Coquina Beach in Bradenton Beach on the island’s south end. The market is a great place to pick up souvenirs for friends and family while supporting and taking in the local art scene.
November Events on AMI
Sarasota Int’l Chalk Festival– November 8th – 10th
Located in Sarasota and just a short drive from the island, the Sarasota Int’l Chalf festival is one of the coolest art festivals the state has to offer; this festival was originally founded in 2007 and became the very first international festival of its kind in 2010 that led it to form its non-profit. Over 120 artists from across the world attend each year to create 3D illusions and works of chalk art. This year, that includes:
- Pavement Painting – Master Artists using chalk as their medium and the road surface as their canvas
- 3D Immersion Rooms – Corner rooms that 3D Master Artists turn into interactive illusions
- 3D Pavement Illusions – Master 3D Illusion Artists create images that make the road surface rise above or dip below
- Flower Tapestries – Master Flower Carpet Artists use Flowers and natural materials to create ground tapestries
- Digital Murals – Artists fuse art, technology and architecture transforming cityscapes into a canvas of ephemeral art
- Interactive Zone – A section of the festival where the ‘Young and Young at Heart’ can interact with chalk
- Puppet Parade and Closing Ceremonies – Parade of human puppets and stilt walkers along with the community created a fantastical celebration using Florida flora and fauna.
Looking for more fall vibes during your escape to AMI ? Follow along with our blog for travel tips & contact Serendipity to book your home and start planning your dream AMI vacation today.