Longboat Key Facebook group hosts summer happy hours

Longboat Key has been on island time since the season finished. With few events happening during the summer, year-round residents have been looking for social events to fill their schedules. 

A Facebook group has taken it upon itself to host mingling events during the summer at every Longboater's favorite time of day: happy hour. 

The We Love Longboat Key group held a happy hour on June 20 at the Chart House. People showed up by themselves or with friends. 

Michele De Luce and Leighton Allenby began the We Love Longboat Key Facebook group as a way to share the progress of their shell art on the beach and meet other Longboaters who recently moved to the island as well. 

In the group, they created a space for people to see the happenings on the island and see what other residents are up to. People introduce themselves, post photos of the beach or interesting findings and details about their businesses or events. 

After a year of leading the group, De Luce and Allenby held the group's first happy hour as a way for people to meet in person and have something to look forward to throughout the week. 

De Luce and Allenby loved seeing people mingle and form new friendships. They hope to host this happy hour once a week to grow community throughout the summer and into the season.