The destination’s springtime schedule includes a slate of popular monthly favorites, including the Village of the Arts’ Artwalk, the Bridge Street Market, Get Down Downtown, Mixon’s Concerts in the Grove and Yoga on the Beach.
The calendar is filled with major annual events as well, including the De Soto Heritage Festival, Visions of the Future Film Series, Gulf Coast Rhythm & Ribfest, Manatee Jazz Fest, Arts Fashion Show & Brunch, Geckofest Preview Party and the Real Florida Festival.
Catering to families, history buffs and music and food lovers, the events calendars for Anna Maria Island, Bradenton and Longboat Key appeal to people of all ages and all interests.
MONTHLY EVENTS
ArtWalk
Enjoy time with fellow art lovers as you discover affordable fine art, jewelry, ceramics, small furniture, bookshops, clothing, collectibles, gourmet cafes and more in the Village of the Arts in Bradenton, Friday evenings and all day Saturdays. Food, drinks and entertainment. Visit www.villageofthearts.com for details.Bridge Street Market
Held the first and third Saturdays of every month, the outdoor Bridge Street Market in Bradenton Beach lets visitors peruse produce, jewelry, local artwork, wood art, metal art, apparel, sunglasses, cut flowers, music, food and more. For more information, call (941) 518-4431.Get Down Downtown
Join Bradenton’s free street party the third Thursday evening of every month for live music, food, and arts and crafts along Old Main Street. Dance in the street to live music on two stages from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m.Mixon’s Concert in the Grove
Enjoy live local entertainment the second and fourth Thursday evenings under the Garden Oasis Pavilion at Mixon Fruit Farms in Bradenton. Food and beverages are available for purchase. Chairs are available, or bring your own. Parking is $5. For more information, visit www.mixonevents.com.Yoga on the Beach
Bring a beach towel and join fellow yogis for vinyasa in the sand every Saturday beginning at 8:30 a.m., weather permitting. Appropriate for beginners, this free class meets at the Pine Avenue Gulf-side public beach access in Anna Maria. Donations are encouraged. For more information, call (941) 794-6723.ANNUAL EVENTS
De Soto Heritage Festival
Enjoy the annual series of events hosted by the Hernando de Soto Historical Society, celebrating the historical significance of Spanish explorer Hernando de Soto’s landing near the mouth of the Manatee River in May 1539. De Soto, along with his 600 conquistadors, claimed possession of La Florida on behalf of the Spanish crown and then began exploring what is now the southeastern United States. The De Soto Heritage Festival, hosted by the organization’s 225 volunteer conquistadors, begins with a three-day Seafood Fest held along Bradenton’s downtown riverfront, featuring outstanding cuisine and multi-stage entertainment. Next is the annual Children’s Parade, followed by the Easter Egg Hunt, the Bottle Boat Regatta and the Grand Parade. For more information, visit www.desotohq.com.‘Visions of the Future’ Film Series
The South Florida Museum’s spring film series, “Visions of the Future,” peeks into the future with classic films from some of the most visionary filmmakers of our time. The schedule includes presentations of “A Space Odyssey,” “Forbidden Planet,” “Metropolis,” “Sleeper,” “Fahrenheit 451,” “Planet of the Apes,” “THX 1138” and “Alien” in the state-of-the-science Bishop Planetarium Theater. For more information, visit www.southfloridamuseum.org.
Gulf Coast Rhythm & Ribfest
Join the best rib masters in the nation at the Gulf Coast Rhythm & Ribfest, held at the Manatee County Fairgrounds. Sample the best ribs from Florida, Alabama, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia – all carrying the titles of “Greatest Ribs in America,” “Golden Ribs Award” and “Best Sauce in the Nation.” Live entertainment has included The Charlie Daniels Band, as well as R&B and country bands. Tickets are $5 in advance, and children 12 and under are free. Visit www.gulfcoastribfest.com for more information.
Manatee Jazz Fest
Join the South Florida Museum, in affiliation with the Smithsonian Institution’s Jazz Appreciation Month, for the Manatee Jazz Fest, celebrating jazz music, culture and history. Events are held at the South Florida Museum, ArtCenter Manatee, Manatee Players, Village of the Arts, Manatee Village Historical Park, Palmetto Historical Park, Palmetto Art Center and others. For more information, visit www.manateejazzfest.com.Arts Fashion Show & Brunch
Visitors have the rare opportunity to experience an arts fashion show in Bradenton’s Village of the Arts. Enjoy a delicious brunch in the garden at Bits & Pieces Gallery and witness exciting spring fashions from Hearts Desire, plus accessories from several Village galleries on the catwalk. Bonnie Gray will entertain with live jazz music as part of Manatee Jazz Month, and there will be visual arts on display, plus a silent auction. Tickets are $20. For more information, visit www.villageofthearts.com.Geckofest Preview Party
Get your gecko on and view the colorful, six-foot fiberglass geckos that are crawling on buildings throughout Bradenton and Palmetto during the Geckofest Preview Party at Rossi Park. Then, bring your blanket or lawn chair and enjoy a free show by Reels at Rossi Park of one of the largest geckos around, Godzilla. Food and drinks are available. For more information, visit www.bradentongeckofest.org.Real Florida Festival
The Anna Maria Island Chamber of Commerce, along with the Anna Maria Island Community Center, the Bridge Street Merchants, and the cities of Anna Maria, Bradenton Beach and Holmes Beach host the Real Florida Festival. Featuring live music, a kayak festival, karaoke, skateboarding competitions, beach yoga, a treasure hunt, arts and crafts, food and drinks and much more, the festival supports local efforts to keep the popular Anna Maria Island Trolley free for all visitors. Activities take place throughout Holmes Beach and Bradenton Beach. For more information, visit www.realfloridafestival.com.Orange Blossom Festival
Mixon’s in the Grove celebrates its annual Orange Blossom Festival in East Bradenton. Visitors can celebrate the peak of Florida’s citrus season with this all-day event featuring games, gem mining, live entertainment and plenty of fun for the kids with rides, ponies, bounce houses, a rock climbing wall and trampoline. The festival also includes arts and crafts and great food. Free admission and parking. For more information, visit www.mixon.com/orangeblossomfestival.
Other events happening in the spring include the Palmetto Heritage Day, Manatee Heritage Days, Gamble Plantation Spring Open House and Manatee Village Historical Park Open House. So get to Anna Maria Island, Longboat Key and Bradenton this spring and enjoy some fresh Florida fun!
Click here for our complete Calendar of Events.
