2017 Bradenton Area River Regatta: What To Know Before You Go

BRADENTON, FL – While the country’s largest spectator event will take place this Sunday, Manatee County’s largest spectator event will happen the day before.

The 2017 Bradenton Area River Regatta will once again feature Powerboat Superleague Racing and Hydro-Xross Racing around the waterways of Bradenton and Palmetto. The daylong festival also features live music, extreme sports exhibitions, two Family Fun Zones and a 5K run.

Here’s what area residents need to know before you go to the 2017 Bradenton Area River Regatta:

Date and Time

The 2017 Bradenton Area River Regatta is scheduled to take place Saturday, Feb. 4 from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Location

All of the main boating events will take place in the Manatee River, which separates Bradenton from Palmetto. The land-based events will take place on the Palmetto Pier on the north bank of the river and at the Bradenton Riverwalk on the south bank of the river.

Admission

Except for one activity in the Palmetto Family Fun Zone, admission to the Bradenton Area River Regatta and all its events is free.

Road Closures

Click here for information about road closures in Bradenton and Palmetto surrounding the 2017 Bradenton Area River Regatta.

Viewing Areas

The most popular viewing area for the water races and activities during Bradenton Area River Regatta is the Green Bridge, which is the Eighth Avenue West/Business U.S. 41 bridge over the Manatee River.

For views of the water activities and the fireworks, the best recommended viewing is the Bradenton Riverwalk and the Palmetto Pier and Riverside Drive in Palmetto.

Falcon 5K River Run

The 2017 Bradenton Area River Regatta will start off with the 13th Annual Falcon 5K River Run and 1-Mile Fun Run at 8 a.m. The event is hosted by the Saint Stephen’s Episcopal School Athletic Booster Committee. The community-coordinated event features runners of all ages starting on Main Street in Bradenton and ending at Sixth Street in Palmetto. The runners will cross the Green Bridge as the Formula 2 powerboats are warming up for the Regatta.

Family Fun Zones

Fun for all ages can be found at the River Regatta’s two Family Fun Zones at the Palmetto Pier and the Bradenton Riverwalk, open from 10 a.m. to 6:45 p.m. The activities scheduled for each zone are:

Bradenton Family Fun Zone

• South Florida Museum

Children’s activity and the sea life conservation promotion

Snooty the Manatee scientific and hands-on activities

• Bradenton Herald

Bradenton.com River Regatta Coloring & Design Contest Winners display and coloring activity

• Art Center Manatee

Family art activity at the art center

• IMG Academy

Interactive sports activities

Palmetto Family Fun Zone

• Early Learning Coalition Mobile Outreach Resource Vehicle

Interactive Wii games and ELC outreach

• Little Anglers Fishing Tournament (8:30 to 10 a.m.)

Fishing Poles and tackle will be provided and The De Soto Queen and Princess will be on hand to pass out awards.

• YMCA Family Fun Activities

Interactive soccer obstacle course

• Manatee County Sheriff’s Office

Preventive Crime Unit and friendly K-9 dog

• Pittsburgh Pirates/Bradenton Marauders

Interactive pitching machine and corn hole

• Tampa Bay Lightning Fan Engagement Team

Family friendly activities and giveaways

• Jumpy King

Bungee jumping with a trampoline, inflatable basketball and baseball games with prizes. There is a fee for the Bungee Jump.

All-Day Entertainment

Other all-day entertainment includes Disc-Connected K9s on the Manatee Riverwalk Great Lawn, the XPOGO Stunt Show on the west side of the Green Bridge in Palmetto, and the BMX Stunt Show at the Bradenton Riverwalk Amphitheater.

Budweiser Clydesdales

The famous Budweiser Clydesdales will make an appearance at the Bradenton Area River Regatta. Their performance schedule is:

• 11 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.: Harnessing, Green Bridge Base in Bradenton
• 12:15 to 12:30 p.m.: Green Bridge March, Bradenton to Palmetto
• 12:30 to 3:30 p.m.: Meet and greet, Green Bridge Base in Palmetto

Race Schedule

The races scheduled for the 2017 Bradenton Area River Regatta are:

• 10 to 11 a.m.: Formula 2 Powerboat Qualifying
• 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.: Formula 2 Powerboat Division 2 Races
• 12:30 to 2 p.m.: HydroXross Qualifying, Mayor’s Cup
• 2 to 4:15 p.m.: Formula 2 Powerboat Division 1 Races

Entertainment Schedule

The entertainment schedule for this year’s River Regatta is:

• 11 a.m. to noon: Del Couch Music Education Students, Bradenton Main Stage
• 11 a.m. to 1:15 p.m.: Soul R Coaster Concert, Palmetto Main Stage
• Noon to 1 p.m.: Crystal Eyes Concert, Bradenton Main Stage
• 1 to 2 p.m.: Under the Moon Concert, Bradenton Main Stage
• 1:30 to 3:45 p.m.: Zebron and James Concert, Palmetto Main Stage
• 2 to 2:30 p.m.: Mat Walden Concert, Bradenton Main Stage
• 2:30 to 3:30 p.m.: Andy Pursell Band Concert, Bradenton Main Stage
• 3:30 to 4 p.m.: Paige Merriman Concert, Bradenton Main Stage
• 4 to 4:45 p.m.: Soul Circus Cowboys Concert, Palmetto Main Stage
• 4 to 4:45 p.m.: Sam Woolf Concert, Bradenton Main Stage
• 5 to 6:45 p.m.: ZBTB, Zac Brown Tribute Band Concert, Palmetto Main Stage
• 5 to 6:45 p.m.: Nashville Yacht Club Band Concert, Bradenton Main Stage
• 6:45: Zambelli Fireworks Spectacular over the Manatee River
• 7 to 10 p.m.: Main Street Bradenton Awards, in front of O’Bricks, 427 12th St. W., Bradenton

For up-to-date information about the 2017 Bradenton Area River Regatta, visit https://www.facebook.com/RiverwalkRegatta.

Images courtesy of the Bradenton Area Convention and Visitor’s Bureau