To support local Bradenton, Florida businesses, Realize Bradenton recently launched Bring It Home Bradenton, a website that features an updated list of downtown restaurants offering take-out service and other businesses that are open and offering online sales during the coronavirus outbreak. The website is located at RealizeBradenton.com/BringItHome.
The eighth annual Bradenton Blues Festival has sold out of tickets to the Saturday, Dec. 7, 2019 show.
Realize Bradenton, a nonprofit organization that promotes cultural and physical development, as well as economic growth in downtown Bradenton, recently appointed Karen Corbin as the organization’s first development director.
The Bradenton Farmers’ Market returns to downtown Bradenton on Saturday, Oct. 5, 2019, 9 a.m.–2 p.m., and continues every Saturday through May 30, 2020.
It’s going to be a fabulous weekend in December. National and regional musicians will be heading to Bradenton, Florida for one of the biggest Blues Festivals of the year. Every year the event is sold out, so purchase your tickets early!
Downtown Bradenton has a diverse, high quality collection of over 60 pieces of public art. The new City Centre Garage will soon be home to a mosaic mural titled, The Magic River.
Downtown Bradenton’s Old Main Street will be transformed into an interactive art zone during Realize Bradenton’s 10th annual ArtSlam, March 2, 2019, 9 a.m.–4 p.m. The free event features live performances, site-specific installations, and engaging art exhibits by Manatee County students and professional artists.
The Bradenton Blues Festival weekend returns to downtown Bradenton, bringing three days of events and acclaimed blues musicians, Dec. 6–8, 2019. Kicking off the blues weekend is the “Blues Appetizer” Concert, a free event, Friday, Dec. 6; followed by the Bradenton Blues Festival, Saturday, Dec. 7; and wrapping up the weekend is the Blues Brunch, Sunday, Dec. 8.
Bradenton’s longest table event returns to downtown to celebrate local chefs, cars, cuisine, and history at the Long Table at Jake’s Automotive, Saturday, April 13, 2019, 6:30–9:30 p.m. Hosted by Realize Bradenton, the event will feature Chef Rich Knowles of EnRich Bistro, Chef Richard Demarse of Chiles Group, and Chef Paul Mattison of Mattison’s City Grille Bradenton Riverwalk. Each chef will prepare two courses of locally-inspired cuisine to 150 guests at a 100-foot long table in a historical automotive landmark, surrounded by classic and exotic cars. Vegan alternatives for each course are available. Tickets are $175 per person and are available at www.BradentonLongTable.com . Proceeds from the event will benefit the downtown Bradenton Farmers’ Market.
The Bradenton Farmers’ Market is hosting Howl’ween, an annual pet costume contest and parade on Old Main Street, Saturday, Oct. 27, 2018. Dress your pet in their best Halloween costume and participate in a fun-filled parade in Downtown Bradenton. “Howl’ween is one of the more popular events held Bradenton Farmers’ Market,” said Peg Haynes, market manager for the Bradenton Farmers’ Market. “The creative costumes that are worn by the dogs—and owners—always bring smiles to market-goers’ faces. Even if you’re not participating, it’s a fun day to visit the market to watch the pooches strut their stuff.”
The annual Bradenton Blues Festival is only seven weeks away and has created quite a name for itself in the blues community. Known for consistent sellout crowds and stimulating the local economy, the festival draws thousands of attendees from across the state, country, and globe. The blues weekend kicks off with a free Blues Appetizer concert on Friday, Nov. 30, the Bradenton Blues Festival on Dec. 1, and the Blues Brunch on Dec. 2, 2018. Now in its seventh year, the Bradenton Blues Festival has put Bradenton on the map as a hub for the blues. Blues musicians, like Doug Deming from Detroit, MI, are moving to the area, Blues Music Magazine is located in Bradenton, and blues live-music venues like Blue Rooster are at capacity nearly every evening.