BRADENTON — The Bradenton Area River Regatta and Cortez Commercial Fishing Festival are two of the biggest annual events in Manatee County. This Saturday, and for the first time, they will take place simultaneously.
The annual Bradenton Area River Regatta will kick off on Friday with a “Friday Night Flash” drone light show at 7:15 p.m. The show can be viewed from Bradenton Riverwalk and Palmetto Riverside Park. Immediately following the drone show, Fleetwood Mac tribute band Sweet Fleet will perform at the Bradenton Riverwalk Pavilion.
Test runs for the races will begin at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, and the final race will start at 4:45 p.m. The day will start with an 8 a.m. LECOM 5K walk/run. Click here to see the full schedule.
The Cortez Commercial Fishing Festival will take place in the Village of Cortez on Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Admission is $5 (kids under 12 are free). The event celebrates fishing heritage with a mix of live music, nautical arts and crafts, children’s activities, environmental exhibits, delicious seafood, and plenty of cold beer. All proceeds benefit the FISH mission and the FISH Preserve.
Saturday Music Lineup
10:00 – 11:00 am: Shanty Singers
11:30 – 1:00 pm: Doug Deming & the Jewel Tones
1:00 – 2:00 pm: Introductions & Fishermen’s Fashion Show
2:00 – 4:00 pm: Eric Von Band
4:30 – 6:00 pm: Karen & Jimmy Band (KJB)
Sunday Music Lineup
10:30 – 12:00 pm: The Music on the Porch Gang
12:00 – 1:00 pm: Fishermen’s Fashion Show
1:30 – 3:00 pm: Billy Rice Band
3:30 – 5:00 pm: Jason Haram
Elsewhere in the region, Thunder By The Bay will take place at the Sarasota Fairgrounds, and the Gasparilla Music Festival will take place in Tampa.
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nellmcphillips
I would like to go to the Cortez event but with the Green Bridge closed it will take too long to get to Cortez for those of us north of Bradenton. Very disappointed
Friday, February 16 Report this