Weekend Adventures in Bradenton, December 31

BRADENTON – First, the bad news... New Year's Day falls on a Saturday, so most of you won't get the day off work. The good news is Friday night makes for a rockin' New Year's Eve and you'll have a full Sunday to kick back and recover afterward. Grab your noisemakers, it's time for a New Year's Eve Adventure in Bradenton!

Downtown Bradenton will host its first New Year’s Eve celebration on Old Main Street Friday night with music on two stages, special drink sales by major sponsor Stella Artois and a ball drop at midnight! The event will include a charity drive to collect coats, blankets and dog ”outerwear“ for the poor in Manatee County.

The event kicks off at 7 p.m. and the band Shinola will perform from the stage near Manatee Avenue  at around  8:30 p.m. until 12:30 a.m. There will be another musical act on the 4th Avenue stage until 11 p.m.

A lighted ball will descend from a crane behind the Manatee Avenue stage during a countdown to midnight. The event is being organized by the Old Main Street Merchants Association and there will be a bounce house and other activities for kids earlier in the evening.

The charity drive is being led by Cork’s Cigar Bar and Lucky Dogs restaurant. Bring donations to the event and drop them off at Lucky Dogs restaurant, 1207 3rd Ave. W., or drop them off at any of these locations before the end of the year: ArtCenter Manatee, 209 9th St. W.; Westminster Courtyard, 222 Old Main St.; Bradenton Fire Department Station 1 (Gene Gallo Fire Station), 1010 9th Ave. W.; Om Gaia, 312 Old Main St.; or First Presbyterian Church, 1402 Manatee Ave. W.

Old Main Street New Year's Eve Bash
Friday, 7 p.m.
Main Street
Bradenton
website

Sarasota is again hosting its big New Year's Eve Party downtown on Friday night. The party starts early with family events beginning at 2 p.m at the Kids' Fun Zone.

For adults, dancing and partying will continue until the wee hours in Downtown Sarasota at Main Street and Lemon Avenue. There will be live music with the bands Big T & the Tornadoes, Cherry Bombs, and New Justice.

Beer, wine and cocktails will be available and the Budweiser Party Express Bus will be on the scene. The Magic Midway and Carnival will be on State Street and the Pineapple Drop to ring in the New Year will be at Main and Lemon.

Sarasota New Year's Eve Celebration
Friday 2 p.m. – 1 a.m.
Downtown Sarasota
website

St. Pete will once again host "First Night," a laid back, family-friendly event that rings in the new year, while celebrating the visual and performance arts of the community. Things get kicked off at Baywalk around 5 p.m., when there will be a host of child-oriented activities including puppet theater, a musical petting zoo, and mask making.

Joe Hall and the Louisiana Cane Cutters and Have Gun, Will Travel are among the bands scheduled to appear at various venues, but at 11 p.m. the headliner, St.Pete's own Michael Lynch from American Idol takes the main stage. Food and Drinks will be available through multiple vendors and stamps for access to all ticketed shows are available at $12 for adults and $6 for kids.

First Night
Friday, 5 p.m. -- Midnight
Downtown St. Pete
website