BRADENTON – There's no shortage of thrills, live music, and festivities this weekend, not to mention highly competitive beanbag games. The 2013 Kiwanis Cornhole Classic will have teams competing for prizes at McKechnie Field on Saturday. On Saturday and Sunday, the West Marine Nautical Expo and MCS Band Slam will thrill and fatten with boat shows, live music, great food and more. The Sunset Grill in Ruskin will host a magical dinner for charity on Friday that will literally light up the skies. The 3rd Annual Food and Wine on Pine Festival takes place out west on Anna Maria Island on Saturday, and the 6th Annual AMI Wedding Festival will be on Sunday. Practice your beanbag throwing skills, get ready for a feast for your eyes, ears and tastebuds, and get in on the fun of planning for your Big Day: It's time for a Weekend Adventure!
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Get your two-person team ready for the 2013 Kiwanis Cornhole Classic, May 4 at McKechnie Field. The all-day tournament will benefit the Kiwanis Club of Bradenton's Christmas in August event.
The mission of Christmas in August is to help outfit homeless children and teens in Manatee County with things they will need as they get ready to return for the school year. Although exact numbers are hard to identify, it is estimated that Manatee County has over 1,000 students who do not have access to permanent housing.
In the past, as many as 500 pre-registered students have been able to receive new backpacks filled with school supplies, haircuts, eye screenings, dental and medical checkups, vaccinations, and gift cards to use for clothing and food. The effort costs Kiwanis around $40,000 and the club is hoping that the Cornhole Classic can help cover some of the expense.
In addition to the tournament, which has a $500 grand prize, there will be mini-golf, a bounce house and even hot air balloon rides! Register your team today. Registration is only $20 a person ($40 per team of two). Student teams can register for only $20. For those that want to watch, tickets are only $5 (kids under 10 are free with an accompanying adult).
The tournament will take place from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. with teams instructed to arrive by 9:30 a.m. Click here to download a registration form.
2013 Kiwanis Cornhole Classic
May 4
10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
McKechnie Field
1611 9th Street West
Bradenton
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On May 4th and 5th, come to the Regatta Pointe Marina at Riverside Park, which will host Manatee County's biggest boating and nautical event this year, the West Marine Nautical Expo and the MCS Band Slam.
The Expo will feature the area's hottest local talent, fishing and boating seminars, Nautical & Vendor expos, Fashion Shows, food & beverage, free fishing stations for children led by local charter captains, a boat show (in and out of the water), and live drills by the US Coast Guard. The MCS Band Slam will have a total of 15 live bands playing over the course of the two days.
For more information on the Expo and Band Slam, go to www.thenauticalexpo.com.
West Marine Nautical Expo and MCS Band Slam
May 4 & 5, 9 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Regatta Pointe Marina
1005 Riverside Drive
Palmetto
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Tampa Bay's premier waterfront restaurant and tiki bar, Sunset Grill in Ruskin, will raise money in a way that you would only expect to see in a Disney film.
Every Friday night staring in May, patrons can purchase their own biodegradable Flying Wish Lantern for $3 and make a difference in someone's life. All proceeds for May will benefit the Mary & Martha House. This unique weekly charity event will ensure a festival of lights Tampa Bay has not seen yet.
Come enjoy a fun filled evening for the whole family - including live music, great food, and ice cold drinks at a Caribbean-style beach. The lighting and releasing of the wish lanterns will be at 9 p.m. The lanterns will rise up to over 3,000 feet and can be seen for roughly 12 minutes, promising to be seen all around Tampa Bay.
The Sunset Grill is located at the beautiful Little Harbour Resort, 602 Bahia Del Sol Boulevard in Ruskin, 33573 (Southshore). For more information, please contact Jurgen Wochnik at 941-929-4572.
Sunset Grill's “Lighting Up the Sky for a Cause”
May 3
Little Harbour Resort
602 Bahia Del Sol Boulevard
Ruskin
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The 3rd Annual Food and Wine on Pine event is scheduled for May 4 from 11:00 am - 6:00 pm and will take place on historic Pine Avenue in the City of Anna Maria. The event is much anticipated every May for several reasons including its unique strolling style presentation, the outstanding food selection from more than 20 locally owned independent restaurants, the variety of art and music as well as the fine wines and craft beers all in the beautiful setting of Anna Maria Island. Organizers describe the event as more of a cultural and culinaryexperience rather than an event.
The event, which will have over 30 musical performances and more than 30 local artists, is expected to draw 3000 people interested in experiencing this upscale culinary and cultural event. Entrance to the event is free with wine glasses and plates available for purchase for a total of $3.00. Tickets for food and beverages are $1.00 each. Most items will be priced between 2-8 tickets. Event parking at the Anna Maria Island Community Center and at Crosspoint Fellowship church is free with complimentary trolley rides to Pine Avenue.
Event proceeds will go to benefit local art and children’s charities such as the Anna Maria Island Concert Chorus and Orchestra, Anna Maria Island Community Center, Cultural Connections, the Artists Guild of Anna Maria Island, the Anna Maria Island Historical Society and Anna Maria Island Preservation Trust. Information on the event can be obtained by contacting Caryn Hodge at 941-778-8705 or chodge@chilesgroup.com or by visiting www.foodandwineonpine.com.
3rd Annual Food and Pine on Wine Festival
May 4, 11 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Pine Avenue
Anna Maria Island
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The Anna Maria Island Chamber of Commerce Wedding Merchants will present the 6th Annual Anna Maria Island Chamber of Commerce Wedding Festival on Sunday, May 5.
Join them for a fun and informative event on beautiful Anna Maria island. With over 60 wedding related vendors positioned at beautiful locations, planning all the aspects of your dream beach wedding will be a piece of cake.
The Anna Maria Island Wedding Festival is a strolling-style, island-wide, fun and informative festival where you can visit with wedding professionals in the natural settings of their businesses with over $10,000 in prizes.
Pre-registration is $7.00 per person; $10.00 per person the day of the event. You can pre-register up to Saturday, May 4th at 11 PM. The registration fee along with visiting all host vendor location sites automatically enters you into the prize drawings.
For more information on the festival, visit amiweddingfestival.com
6th Annual Anna Maria Island Chamber of Commerce Wedding Festival
May 5
(Check in at) Anna Maria Island Chamber of Commerce
5313 Gulf Drive
Holmes Beach