Anna Maria Island is famous for its sandy white beaches, but that’s not all it has to offer. Throughout the year the island hosts events that offer a little something for everyone.
If you’re looking for a festival that’s packed full of activities for all ages, you’ll want to be sure to book one of our Anna Maria Island vacation rentals in time for Bayfest.
Bayfest brings one of the best car shows in the region to Anna Maria’s shoreline. This year, the car show and the start of the festivities will be on October 19 (the third weekend in October) at the city pier at the end of Pine Avenue. To find the best place to stay while you enjoy the car show, check out our Anna Maria Island rentals.
The Cars
The car show is projected to bring in a large crowd and for a good reason. Over 100 different types of vehicles from across the globe will be brought to the island and made available for viewing. So, whether you’re looking for antique models, custom vehicles, muscle cars, or street rods, you’re in luck! The car show this year is something that every true aficionado will want to carve out time in their schedule to see. You’ll be treated to rare sightings and restored versions of old favorites all surrounded by everything else that Bayfest has to offer.
The Music
The Anna Maria car show runs from the hours of 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., which will leave you with plenty of time to catch some live music. This year, Bayfest is bringing the tunes of six different bands that all span different genres, so there is sure to be something for you to groove to. You may even want to consider breaking up your time at the car show by catching one of these great sets in-between checking out all of the cool vehicles.
The music lineup includes:
- Emcee – Mike Sales 10 a.m. – 9 p.m.
- Trevor Bystrom Band: 10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
- Memphis Rub 12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.
- SoulRcoaster 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
- Dr. Dave Band 4:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.
- Karen & Jimmy Band 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Plan Your Vacation
There are all sorts of Anna Maria vacation rentals to choose from. We have an assortment of beachfront options and Anna Maria Island condos to rent at various locations throughout the island. No matter what you’re looking for in your vacation rental, we’ve got you covered!
The Food
Bayfest has great food every year, but 2019 is taking it to a new level. There will be 13 different vendors available to choose from, each with a different taste of the island to offer. You’ll be able to sink your teeth into international foods from Quality Food International, try coastal favorites from Eliza Ann’s Coastal Kitchen, and even tackle your barbeque fix by swinging through T&L Barbeque.
Additional food offerings:
- The Ugly Grouper
- The Feast
- Coastal Crab Co
- Subz N Grubz
- The Waterfront
- Gran Arepa
- Hurricane Hanks
- Tortilla Bay
After you make up your mind about what to eat, you can wash it all down with fresh coconut water from Tropi-CoCo or with just about whatever else you’re in the mood for. There will be an assortment of beer, wine, and liquor offerings alongside family-friendly festival classics like fresh lemonade, tea, and soda.
The Raffle
For only five dollars, you can enter to win the “Island Experience” raffle. The prize includes all sorts of perks that will allow you to enjoy all that Anna Maria vacations have to offer. Tickets can be purchased from the AMI Chamber of Commerce prior to and during Bayfest. If you’re visiting the island and want to purchase raffle tickets ahead of time, you can do so by phone.
All proceeds from raffle ticket sales go to support the economic relief assistance fund that is dispersed to eligible tourism industry workers. A portion of the profits made from the festival itself also goes toward supporting this important effort. So, if you’re looking for music and food events in Anna Maria that also do good for the community, you’ll want to be sure to check out everything that Bayfest has to offer.
