Treasure Island’s ‘Back to the Beach’ festival to welcome visitors after back-to-back hurricanes

TREASURE ISLAND, Fla. - The wind on Thursday was the perfect weather to test kites out before Treasure Island’s Back to the Beach: Sand & Kites & Coastal Delights festival this weekend. 

It comes after Hurricanes Helene and Milton forced the city to cancel the Sanding Ovations and kite festivals in the fall. 

"It was devastating to not have the event, and we weren't the only event that was canceled," said sculptor Meredith Corson-Doubleday, who runs Sanding Ovations with her husband. "It just physically was impossible to do. Every city vehicle was being used for the recovery process and the cleanup process."

What they're saying:

"It’s a smaller version, but it's almost more exciting than Sanding Ovations in November because we've been without it for so long," Corson-Doubleday said about this weekend’s festival. "I haven't carved sand in almost two years, and so it feels so good to get back in the sand." 

READ: Treasure Island working to help small businesses still recovering from hurricanes

The storms badly damaged Corson-Doubleday’s home, like so many others.

"The island has changed overnight. It happened overnight, and it'll never get back to what it was as far as, you know, the structures and the buildings. But we're resilient people, and we are going to get through this," Corson-Doubleday said. 

Big picture view:

Corson-Doubleday and event organizers said this weekend’s festival welcoming people back represents a light at the end of the tunnel as so many are still rebuilding. 

"It's a little surreal and kind of weird that we're out here, you know, having fun, but it's a lot of work building, and you can hear in the background, you can hear the workers, all the machines and all the clanging of all the tools and everything back there because we are being put back together," Corson-Doubleday said. "We are building, and they're building. It's almost like this weekend is a turning point." 

"Come enjoy the sculptors, the vendors, the kites, and to show that we’re still here and doing things, trying to get back to a little whatever normal is," Joe Fala, who is in charge of the kite portion of the festival, said. 

The backstory:

Reopening favorite spots on Treasure Island, like VIP Mexican Restaurant and Ricky T’s, helps restore some normalcy. Caddy’s on Sunset Beach also reopened Thursday morning.

READ: Treasure Island mayor sends letter to President Donald Trump about FEMA rules

They’ll operate out of a massive enclosed tent for about a year while waiting for permits to rebuild their restaurant next door. 

"It has been a tough road and, you know, to see something happening and being able to open, it makes it feel really good," Randy Esponda, CEO of SunPubs Hospitality Group that owns Caddy’s, said. 

Esponda said the structure itself is structurally sound.

"We don't have to tear the building down. We're not bulldozing it. We're rebuilding it, refurbishing it, and getting it as open as soon as possible," Esponda said. "It means a lot to a lot of people. A lot of memories were created here, and we're just happy that we're able to restore it to continue making more memories."

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Esponda said the storms forced four to five feet of sand into the original Caddys, and sand was in every crevice of the restaurant. 

"It was astonishing, the amount of damage and surreal to see it in person," Esponda said. 

"It's just devastating," Stephen Santasieri, General Manager of the Treasure Island location, said. "Even right now, going around and looking at the neighborhoods, they're still not fully back. And it's sad to know that there are people still that are without homes. And it really has brought the community together. But our building also, it's so sad to see, but it just means better things in the future and rebuild and making it great." 

They’ll cook their staples in a food truck beside the tent. 

"I'm glad that we were able to get this up and running. It's not ideal, but we will be back in our building soon, and for now, it's just perfect," Santasieri said. 

Santasieri said the timing of Caddy’s reopening right before spring break is also perfect. 

"Tourism is huge for this area. I mean, it's such a beautiful beach and such a nice area, and I'm hoping that the hurricanes didn't scare off the tourists for the season, and so far, it doesn't seem like it has," Santasieri said.

READ: Husband of St. Pete Rep. charged with stealing state funds and owing over $100,000 in taxes

They’re also looking into getting cabanas again while the rebuild happens. 

"At the end of the day, it was a parking lot in the sand, and we were able to operate a restaurant and a bar out of it. And I just want to thank everyone for all the hard work. (I'm) really looking forward to a great season and a great year," Santasieri said.

What's next:

The Back to the Beach: Sand & Kites & Coastal Delights festival runs Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day. 

Pets aren’t allowed on the beach, although leashed pets are allowed on the Beach Trail. 

"This is kind of their Super Bowl over the next couple of months," said Jason Latimer, the Director of Public Relations for Visit St. Pete-Clearwater. 

Latimer said that with the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg last week, Treasure Island’s festival this weekend, and many other events across Pinellas County coming up show the area is ready to welcome everyone back.

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Pinellas CountyHurricane MiltonHurricane Helene