CLEARWATER, Fla. — The Sunsets at Pier 60 Festival returned to Clearwater Wednesday evening, seven weeks after it was paused due to damage caused by Hurricane Helene. 

"It feels amazing to see all of our participants returning," said organizer Lisa Chandler.

Almost as long as the festival has been a daily tradition, Angela Fuhrmann has set up shop there.

What You Need To Know

  • The first Sunsets at Pier 60 event since Hurricane Helene was held Wednesday in Clearwater 

  • The daily event features vendors and live entertainment

  • An organizer said the festival is an important source of income to local artisans

  • The fishing pier remains closed for repairs

"I've been out here 25 years doing this, and it's developed into a nice business," said Fuhrmann. "I get a lot of repeat tourists and local people that come, and it's been a blessing."

She said she designs and makes the jewelry that keeps customers coming back to her business, Angela's Jewels.

"Mostly, my rings are my specialty, but I do all kinds of bracelets, anklets," Fuhrmann said.

But since the end of September, business has been on hold. Fuhrmann's normal office space at the pier was seriously damaged by Helene.

"This was underwater, sand, roofs were ripped off," she said. "Being off for these couple months because of the hurricanes, it's been a little hard. So, we are so excited to be back."

"It's unbelievable where we've come," said Mayor Bruce Rector. "The sand in S. Gulfview was to my shoulder just seven weeks ago."

Rector credits the city's 1,800 employees, as well as community volunteers, with helping the city reopen. The return of the festival was the latest milestone.

 

"Out here on Clearwater Beach, you can see progress - from the beaches being reopened to the streets being reopened. The playground is open," said Chandler.

 

There is still work to be done. Vendors normally set up on the fishing pier, but that's blocked off by a chain link fence with "no trespassing signs".

"The water was up over the top of the boards during Hurricane Helene, so that caused damage underneath the pier, and then also damage to the actual pier itself," said Rector.

The mayor said an assessment is being done to determine what work is needed to make the pier safe. He said there's also still debris to be picked up and repairs to be made around the city but estimates Clearwater is about 75% back to normal.

"I think they're doing an amazing job," Fuhrmann said of the city's efforts. "I know the pier is going to take awhile because of structural damage, but we've made it work."

Sunsets at Pier 60 takes place everyday, weather permitting, in the Pier 60 Park area, from two hours before sunset until two hours after sunset.