BayFest marks 25th anniversary despite afternoon rain

The Anna Maria Island Chamber of Commerce held its 25th annual BayFest on Saturday, Oct. 17, on Pine Avenue. Rain fell until midafternoon, forcing the cancellation of the planned car show. However, live bands and food and retail vendors continued operations. By late afternoon, the weather cleared, and attendees gathered under open skies.

The event featured a lineup of local musicians. Mike Sales served as the master of ceremonies. Other performers included Sycamore Shade, Memphis Rub, Jack’D Up, and The Karen and Jimmy Band. Jimmy Lally provided and set up the stage, closing the evening with a final performance. The music program ran throughout the day, with Jack’D Up playing a late-afternoon set.

Vendors lined the street offering food and retail goods. The food court included Freckled Fin, Sandbar Seafood & Spirits, and Topsail Steamer. Other participants were Poppo’s Taqueria, Oasis Pizza, Simply Greek by Winnberry, Gran Arepa Southwest, and Red Zeppelin Rocking Lobster. WDT Gift and Home Decor Division was also present among the dozens of vendors.

Chamber volunteer Laurie Shelton worked the merchandise and information booth around 4:30 p.m. She described the early part of the day as wet but positive. “There were several people that showed up even in the rain and everybody was happy,” Shelton said. She noted that families and pet owners stayed despite the weather. “It’s always picked up within the last hour,” she added.

George Guyon, a vendor from the WDT Gift and Home Decor Division, acknowledged the challenging conditions. “It was a tough day. It was raining like crazy,” Guyon said. He reported flooding in some booths but said the team remained persistent. “The sun came up after the rain quit and we’ve got a nice crowd,” he said.

Morgan Bryant, owner of Cool Beans A.M.I., described the shift in attendance around 6 p.m. “It started off really slow and rainy, but we made the best of it,” Bryant said. She said staff used a large umbrella to move down the street. “Now the sun’s out and now everybody’s walking around,” she said.

On Sunday, Chamber President Amber Tipton issued a written statement thanking participants. She cited the support of the city of Anna Maria and Mayor Mark Short. Tipton also thanked the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office and Sgt. Brett Getman for safety. She recognized volunteers Ed Moss and CrossPointe Fellowship Church for their help from setup to teardown. “It is your resilience, energy and community spirit that make BayFest so special year after year,” Tipton said.