A week ago I visited the Sunday Evening Drum Circle on Siesta Key and blogged about it. This Sunday I went to the Drum Circle on Treasure Island Beach (104th Ave). Below are some photos of the Treasure Island event and above is a short video clip. Which one is better? I dunno. Depends. Here’s an unscientific comparison:
Parking facilities: Siesta Key has plenty of parking and it’s free. Treasure Island (T.I.) has very limited parking and it costs $1.25 per hour. When beach parking is full, you have to cross the street and park at the city lot. Some people park illegally in the shopping center lots. Good luck with that. Arrive by 5pm for the best parking choices on T.I.
Size of crowd: I didn’t make an official count, but it seemed to me that the Siesta drum circle had a slightly larger crowd.
Audience participation: Without a doubt, more of the Treasure Island group got in on the action with hoola hoops being the major dance accessory. Lots more kids getting in on the dancing on T.I. as well.
Drumming: The T.I. drummers seemed to have a more sophisticated drum set up, but the quality of the drumming sounded about the same in both places. I preferred the rhythms they played on Siesta Key, but that’s a matter of personal taste.
General ambiance: To say that Siesta Key Beach is much nicer than Treasure Island Beach is a major understatement. The sand is softer, the water is clearer, and the beach is darker at night. T.I. Beach is lit up like Las Vegas at night. If you’re planning to bring the family and spend the afternoon, Siesta Key has excellent lifeguards and a very good food concession. Both Siesta and T.I. have restrooms.
Other observations: Siesta Key is a smoke-free beach–at least it’s supposed to be. I did smell a little tobacco here and there and I’m pretty sure I got a whiff of some weed–but overall, smoke was minimal. Treasure Island, on the other hand, is a major smoke fest. It’s like being in a smoky bar. I finally had to retreat to the water’s edge to get away from the smoke. I’m pretty sure alcohol is allowed on Siesta Beach, but I really did not see anyone imbibing in a conspicuous way. Alcoholic beverages are allowed on Treasure Island beaches, but glass containers are prohibited.
Overall the crowd at both beaches is relaxed and friendly with folks of all ages and races. Bring your kids. No problem. If you’re a photographer and like to get shots of interesting (and I do mean interesting) people, you can quickly fill up a flash memory card at either one of the drum circles.
UPDATE: August 14, 2012: Due to the behavior of some bad actors at the Treasure Island drum circle, the City of Treasure Island has ruled that drumming activities must end and the crowd must disperse by sunset. There was some mention of suspected gang activity, but no specific incidents involving gang members was cited in any of the articles I read. The biggest complaint seemed to be that 4 police officers were needed to keep order (resulting in the payment of $1,200 overtime each week) and that the large crowds (400 or so, estimated) were responsible for damage to some property along with increased maintenance needs.
Treasure Island beach regulations as posted.
