The Sandbar, Beachhouse and Mar Vista Restaurants owner, Ed Chiles, is a local guy. He lives, works and plays on Anna Maria Island. His roots and his commitment to the area run as deep as the waters he fishes in every Tarpon season. Ed has always been community minded. That is why he tries to give back to the community that gives him so much by doing annual fireworks shows. Over a couple of beers one hot summer night, Ed and his Chief Operating Officer, Steve Ananicz decided a fireworks show at the Sandbar might be a fun thing to do. That was in 1986. How time flies! Twenty-four years later the Sandbar still hosts the annual event with people coming from as far as Orlando to see the sparks fly over the beautiful Gulf of Mexico. Once Ed bought the old Harbor House in 1993 and opened the Beachhouse Restaurant having a fireworks show there seemed only logical. On July 3rd 1994, the Beachhouse began hosting fireworks shows on the 3rd of July making it a two day fireworks event on the island. Last year, Mar Vista Dockside Restaurant, the third Chiles Group entity, joined in the action and began hosting a show on July 2nd. This year will be their 2nd annual fireworks show. When you add up all the years Ed and the restaurants have been lighting up the night sky for the pleasure of locals and visitors that equals 42 spectacular years.
It started with a friend of Ed’s, Terry Dorman, who had a federal license and was in the habit of putting on shows at his condo in the Keys. Jim Taylor began assisting Terry and both worked together to put on the first show at the Sandbar in 1986. Jim Taylor took over in 1988 and coordinated all the shows until him untimely death in 2005. He did not die from a fireworks related accident and always put on a first class show. He once said the biggest reward were the smiles on people’s faces when they saw the fireworks.
Since 2005, the Chiles Group has used a local company to perform and coordinate the shows. Each year they seem to get better and better. The costs have also risen. In 1986 the cost of the Sandbar show was $500. Today each of the restaurant shows cost $10,000 each. The cost does not deter Ed from continuing the tradition though. Ed proclaims “The fireworks are without a doubt some of my favorite days of the year. It really is a unique thing to have, what this year, and hopefully on an annual basis, will be three great shows. We appreciate the companies and individuals who buy our sponsor tables and help us yearly to be able to put on such quality shows. Where else can you see three straight nights of fireworks shows on a beautiful beach?”
This year, Cannon’s Marina and the Longboat Key Club have joined Mar Vista, Moore’s and the Longboat Observer Group as sponsors of the 2nd Annual Mar Vista show. There are approximately 20 sponsor tables at the Beachhouse and this year we will have 11 sponsor tables at the Sandbar. All shows start at dark thirty and are weather permitting.
For more information on this year’s fireworks shows contact the Chiles Group corporate office at 941-778-1696 or the individual restaurants. Mar Vista – 941-383-2391, Beachhouse - 941-778-8718 or the Sandbar – 941-778-8709.
You must log in to post a comment.