Weekend Adventures in Bradenton: March 1-3, 2013

BRADENTON – It's a busy weekend with big events happening all over Manatee County. Out in Parrish, they're gearing up for the annual parade and chili cook-off, or you can get some exercise and some sun at Rye Preserve, while pitching in to help restore this local slice of ecological paradise. Here in Bradenton, the Village of the Arts will be putting on their monthly Artwalk and the world-famous Budweiser Clydesdale horses will trot along the Riverwalk. Grab your chili spoon or pull out your pruning shears: it's time for a Weekend Adventure in Bradenton!

Since 1992, the Parrish Civic Association has hosted the Heritage Day Parade, and it has come to be associated with another fun family event. Come and join your friends at the annual Parrish Florida Chili Cook-off, 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The event will take place on the grounds of the Florida Railroad Museum in Parrish, where the parade ends.

Bring your biggest pot, bring your Grandma's chili recipe, and Bring It ON! Or you can just bring all of your friends and try out the best chili in Florida! All proceeds will go to The Parrish Foundation, a non-profit 501 (c) 3 organization who provides grants to groups who serve the residents of the Parrish community.


Get Ready to Rock and Roll at Rye Preserve! Are you ready to work out those muscles and have some fun? Then join Tampa Bay Estuary Program and the Manatee County Department of Natural Resources on Saturday, March 2nd from 8:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. to help restore Rye Preserve in Parrish.

Volunteers will work primarily to remove exotic plants, while also maintaining the trails that wind through the preserve. If you have loppers and pruners, please bring them (label your property, so there will not be any confusion of who owns what). Afterward, celebrate with a delicious picnic lunch provided by Tampa Bay Estuary Program for all volunteers! Rye Preserve is located at 905 Rye Wilderness Trail, Parrish, FL 34219.

Charisma Cafe in the Village of the Arts

The March Artwalk in the Village of the Arts features "A Taste of the Village." Artwalk will be held Friday, 6-9:30 p.m. and Saturday, 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. Experience all the Village of the Arts has to offer, with great Food, local art, and great music. With 25 galleries and shops and 5 distinctive restaurants, the Village is the Gulf Coast's largest art and culinary community.

The March Artwalk features culinary delights at Arts & Eats Restaurant and Gallery, Charisma Cafe, Downs Bradentown Lunch & Dining House, Ortygia Restaurant, and Sweets Bakehouse. Each is nestled in quaint 1920's cottages throughout the Village. The Village also features Sweets n' Treats from Bonni Bakes and Gourmet Teas at The Tea Nook. 

After dining, enjoy live music as you stroll through colorful galleries filled with one of a kind creations by local artists. This promises to be a truly unique experience encompassing all the arts. The Village of the Arts is located 4 blocks South of Manatee Ave. between 9th Street West. & 14th Street West in Bradenton. For more information call 941-746-4556 or visit the Village on the web at www.villageofthearts.com.


Budweiser Clydesdales were first introduced to Augustus A. Busch, Sr. on April 7, 1933. The hitched team and wagon were a gift from Busch’s son, Augustus A. Busch, Jr., in celebration of the repeal of the Prohibition. The sight of the first Budweiser Clydesdales thundering down Pestalozzi Street in St. Louis delighted Busch, Sr., as well as a crowd of onlookers.

The wagon pulled by the original Clydesdale hitch contained the first cases of post-prohibition beer. 77 years and several generations later, the sight of these horses continues to please crowds across the United States and this weekend is your chance to see them here. The horses will be at the Tower Plaza on Bradenton's Riverwalk, Sunday from 3-6 p.m.

“This is another great opportunity for our loyal customers to come out and see the Budweiser Clydesdales without traveling to St. Louis, Missouri,” said John Saputo, President and Owner of Gold Coast Eagle Distributing, who's sponsoring the event. “Just like Budweiser is the Great American Lager, the Budweiser Clydesdales are unique in their effect on Americans. They invoke nostalgic images of home and hearth."  

The Clydesdales have been a part of American history, making appearances at Super Bowls, the World Series, Thanksgiving Day Parades, New Orleans’ Mardi Gras, and have even appeared in Presidential Inaugural Parades. They have most recently appeared on several military bases where they welcomed home American Warriors from Iraq and Afghanistan.