Anna Maria Islands Trolley Scavenger Hunt...
On September the 8th we ran a post about how, "Merchants on Anna Maria Island, members of the local business community, groups and organizations are helping to plan 30 events between September 29th and November 16... in an effort to draw people out to the island during bridge renovations."
The series of events has been coined "Bridging the Gap", and the local community has been working overtime to get it all organized before the bridge closure of the 29th.
Well, when the bridge goes up, the Island will be alive with activity on the weekends as Bridging the Gap, a grassroots effort to attract visitors onto the Island, steps up to the plate.
One of the more interesting events will be the first ever Trolley Scavenger Hunt on Saturday, Oct. 11, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Trolley Scavenger Hunt
As part of the "Bridging the Gap” efforts, a Scavenger Hunt using the Anna Maria Island Trolley system is planned for Saturday, October 11, from 9 am -3 pm. Over $15,000 in prizes will be given away and a portion of the proceeds will benefit an island charity or family in need. There will be prizes for the winners including prize baskets, overnight stays, spa visits, boat trips, kayak rentals and other Island treats. Registration is between 9:00 am -11:30 am at the Sandbar overflow parking lot on Gulf Drive at the North end of Anna Maria Island across from Ginny’s and Jane E’s at the Old IGA.
Teams consisting of individuals, families, best friends, girlie groups, organizations, couples, buddies, kids, church or school groups or any affiliation are invited to participate. The trolley will be available from Manatee and Cortez roads and groups are encouraged to park their cars at Albertsons, K Mart(Manatee Ave before 75th) or Bonefish Grille(Cortez Road AND 75th) and ride the trolley to the island. Once on the island take the trolley to the North end by the Sandbar where signs directing participants to registration will be displayed.
"They will be directed to go into a business or to a certain spot," she said. "They will be looking for clues in the form of items or information to tell them where to go next." They are not taking reservations, you will have to check-in the morning of the event from 9 –to11:30 a.m. and then head out on the trolley. Entrants will be expected back to the starting point around 2:30 or 3 p.m. where their efforts will tabulated and prizes given. We are told there will be complimentary food and refreshments for them when the get back.
The fee for the Scavenger Hunt is $5.00 per team. The $5.00 also gets each team a canvas bag in which to collect scavenger hunt items. Each team can purchase as many bags as they like.
Organizers of the Trolley Scavenger Hunt, which include Linda Haack of BridgeWalk, and Billi Stuckart, of Memories By Billi, said that contestants will be given reusable cloth bags to put their loot in and there are openings for sponsors who want to have their names on the bags.
They said that prize donations would be gratefully accepted.
Part of the benefit of promoting the island is that residents can save gas while they still feel like they are on vacation. It is right in line with the newly coined term, “Staycation”. Everyone is looking for ways to save gas. One purpose of having a Trolley Scavenger Hunt is to show people that they can save gas by parking their cars at Manatee and 75th street or Cortez and 75th street in town and taking the trolley or MCAT bus to the island to go virtually anywhere on the island for free. There are 80 trolley stops on the island, it comes to each stop every 20 minutes, it has air conditioned and open air sections, it runs from early morning to late night, you can load up your bicycle and best of all - it is free. Longboat Key and Sarasota have recently been added to the route for a mere 75 cents. No matter what kind of car you have or even motorcycle you cannot drive to Sarasota for 75 cents.
Refreshments will be served at the prize giveaway at the end of the hunt approximately 3:00 PM. The prize giveaway is located at the same location as registration.
For more information call Caryn Hodge at 941-713-3105.
Preliminary List of Events for Bridging the Gap (includes event chairs and their phone numbers)
Volunteers are welcome.
• Tennis tournament, Kip Lalosh, 778-5446
• Realtor progressive open house, Sandy Rich, 778-0426
• Dog costume contest, The Sun newspaper, 778-3986
• Anna Maria block party, Ed Spring, 778-9399
• Sand castle tournament, Pam Fortenberry, 778-0436
• Skim Board Bash, Ronee Brady, 778-1001
• Artwalk, Nancy Ambrose, 518-4431
• Fishing tournament, Jake Spooner and Dana Snell, 778-3400
• Mini-golf tournament, Jake Spooner and Dana Snell, 778-3400
• Progressive raffle, Sandy Rich, 778-0426
• Trolley scavenger hunt, Linda Haack, 779-2545, ext. 1130, and Caryn Hodge, 778-8705
• Key Royale Golf Tournament, Tom Tollette, 779-1888
• Bicycle tour, Lauren Sato, 352-514-6545
• Motorcycle run, Laura McAdams, 792-6366
• Five-Mile Flea Market, Ginny Dutton, 778-7370
• Concert in the Park, Mark Kimball, 518-6329 and Steve Bark, 720-3200
• Holly Trolly, Sabine Musil, 778-5405
• Pickle Ball, Robert Taylor, 778-6465
• Three-mile Run/Walk, Irene Pearman, 518-9806
• Wing eating contest and karaoke contest, Tom Siwa, 419-341-1035.
Stay tuned to the Anna Maria Island Life blog for up to date information about the Bridging the Gap Events, and the 2009 Anna Maria Island Wedding Festival!
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