As Florida goes from a simmer to a summer boil, you might find yourselves visiting the beach less and less during the day. But when the sun sets and the temps begin to cool is when revelers start to really turn up the heat.
Each Sunday night, Treasure Island is filled with peace, love, and the sound of music. The T.I. drum circle has been a weekly fixture for about a decade. A diverse group of elderly drummers, twenty-something bellydancers, and giggling children move to the beat as the sun dips into the Gulf. Tourists stand on the circle’s outskirts, snapping pictures and capturing video. Bashful onlookers recline on beach chairs, close to the action but not quite willing to get up and shake their moneymakers with the experts.
My favorite part of the weekly get-together, though, is the sense of neighborhood. People hug and greet each other by name; clearly this is “the” meet-up for a lot of these folks, and they look forward to the Sunday sunsets to picnic together and catch up with old friends. Everyone here is so happy and free; judgment doesn’t exist, everybody is welcome, and it is truly a come-as-you-are party.
The Treasure Island drum circle happens each Sunday night, rain or shine. (In case of rain, head to the pavilion across the street from the beach. Follow the sound of the drums.) From St. Petersburg, take Central Avenue west until it dead-ends into Gulf Blvd. at the Bilmar Beach Resort. Hang a left, park wherever you can find a spot, and hit the beach. The group starts to form about one hour before sunset, and people come and go until around 10 PM. Tonight is a full moon so it should be a lovely evening to take photographs.
Drumming on Treasure Island. Photo by Sarah Lancaster
Comments
i must say that in my 3 1/2yrs living in tampa bay area i truly found my personal happieness by attending the sunday music circle @ treasure island/sunset beach ,even though i did not hav a musical instrument-it was something always looked foward to,cause it was not a judgemental gathering and i was not there to impress anyone but to accelerate my spiriual happieness an to seek peace within my soul and spirit,i want to thank everyone {drummers/dancers} for making my life alot better and see-ing thins in a clearer perspective.
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