Free event features boat races on Manatee River with entertainment in Bradenton and Palmetto
By Jimmy Geurts
Bradenton Area River Regatta: 8 a.m. Saturday; Manatee River; bradentonarearegatta.com
Organizers called the 2015 debut Manatee County's largest ever spectator event, and this year, they hope to hit six-digit attendance numbers.
The third annual Bradenton Area River Regatta takes place Saturday on and along the Manatee River. The free event brings powerboat races, concerts and other entertainment to both Bradenton and Palmetto.
The regatta brought out an estimated 80,000 people in 2015, but suffered lower attendance last year due to rain. But Mike Fetchko, managing director of the Pittsburgh-based Integrated Strategic Marketing USA company that organizes the event, said if the weather is good as expected they plan on big numbers.
"I think this event will crack the 100,000 spectator mark," Fetchko said.
Pittsburgh connection
The Bradenton Area River Regatta originated because of the Pittsburgh-Bradenton connection that comes from the Pirates' spring training site. Discussions started between the city and ISM/USA, which had managed the Pittsburgh Three Rivers Regatta, to bring a similar event to Manatee County.
Bradenton also wanted to showcase its Riverwalk. And in a press conference held for the regatta in January, Palmetto mayor Shirley Bryant said this year will serve as "a grand opening for us in a sense" for the city's own upgrades to its gateway.
"It's really complemented the renovations to the waterfront of both cities," Fetchko said.
This year features a greater emphasis on entertainment on both sides of the river. Each city will have its own concert stage with acts of varying musical styles, coordinated so each headliner plays at the same time.
Nashville Yacht Club Band, featuring "The Voice" finalist Cody Belew, will headline Bradenton's lineup, which also includes local "American Idol" finalist and hometown hero Sam Woolf. Zac Brown Band tribute group ZBTB tops Palmetto's music stage devoted to country acts.
Each city will also have their own early-day activities, including the St. Stephen's Falcon 5K Run in Bradenton and De Soto Little Anglers Fishing in Palmetto. Both will feature family fun zones and food vendors.
Palmetto will have a secured-area beer garden, while attendees on the Bradenton side of the event will have to get alcohol at Pier 22, Mattison's City Grille Bradenton Riverwalk, or other nearby establishments.
The regatta's sponsors include Budweiser, which will bring its Clydesdale horses to the event at 11 a.m. in Bradenton, where the public can watch as they prepare for a march across the Green Bridge at 12:15 p.m. A meet and greet with the horses will be held from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. in Palmetto.
On the river
Then of course, there are the races on the river between the two cities. The event features Formula 2 Powerboat Superleague and Hydrocross jet ski racing.
The competitors include Jeff Reno, who lives in Okeechobee but was born and lived for 13 years in Bradenton. He will have competed in every year of the Formula 2 powerboat races and hope to take the top spot this year after placing third in 2016.
"It's a good race course," Reno said. "It's a little choppy, which I like. The weather conditions can sneak up on you because it's so open."
Reno likens the experience of riding a powerboat to simultaneously driving an IndyCar and piloting a small plane, as he is often flying inches over the top of the water.
"That's very much an adrenaline rush," Reno said.
Besides the races, flyboard world champion Kristen Smoyer and Winter Haven world record-holding water-skier Geno Yauchler will make appearances, while Uva Perez will try to beat his previous world record for fastest speed on a personal watercraft of 114.6 mph.
Then at 6:45 p.m., the event concludes with a musically choreographed fireworks display over the Manatee River courtesy of Zambelli Fireworks from Pennsylvania.
Here's a schedule of this year's activities.
The races
10-11 a.m.: Formula 2 Powerboat Qualifying
11 a.m.-12:30 p.m.: Formula 2 Powerboat Div. 2 Races
12:30-2 p.m.: Hydrocross Qualifying Mayor's Cup
2-4:15 p.m.: Formula 2 Powerboat Div. 1 Races
The music
Bradenton
11 a.m.-noon: Del Couch Music Foundation Band
Noon-1 p.m.: Crystal Eyes
1-2 p.m.: Under the Moon
2-2:30 p.m.: Matt Walden
2:30-3:30 p.m.: Andy Pursell Band
3:30-4 p.m.: Paige Merriman
4-4:45 p.m.: Sam Woolf
5-6:45 p.m.: Nashville Yacht Club Band
The band brings together several accomplished musicians to pay homage to the genre of yacht rock. The lineup features co-lead singers in "The Voice" finalist Cody Belew and New York City singer-songwriter Brianna Sage, along with guitarist Jay Barclay (Ben Kweller), bassist Matt Wigton (Christopher Cross), drummer Ramsey Roustom (The Blue Man Group), multi-instrumentalist Ryan Link ("Rent," "Once") and keyboardists James Farrell (Matt Nathanson) and John Pahmer (Terence Trent D'Arby).
Palmetto:
11 a.m.-1:15 p.m.: SoulRCoaster
1:30-3:45 p.m.: Zebron and James
4-4:45 p.m.: Soul Circus Cowboys
5-6:45 p.m.: ZBTB
The Brooklyn tribute act plays the music of country-rock group the Zac Brown Band, known for hits such as "Toes," "Homegrown" and "Knee Deep."
The rest
Budweiser Clydesdales will arrive at 11:15 a.m. in Bradenton and hold preparations, which are open to the public. Then they will march at 12:15 p.m. across the Green Bridge from Bradenton to Palmetto, where they will hold a meet and greet from 12:30-3:30 p.m.
Both Bradenton and Palmetto will feature food and family fun zones throughout the day. Then at 6:45 p.m., a musically choreographed fireworks display by Zambelli International will take place over Manatee River.
Bradenton:
8-11 a.m.: St. Stephen's Falcon 5K Run
All day: Frisbee dog show
All day: BMX stunt show
7-10 p.m.: Main Street Bradenton Awards
Palmetto:
8:30-10 a.m.: De Soto Little Anglers Fishing
All day: XPOGO stunt show
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Bradenton:
11 a.m.-noon: Del Couch Music Foundation Band
Noon-1 p.m.: Crystal Eyes
1-2 p.m.: Under the Moon
2-2:30 p.m.: Matt Walden
2:30-3:30 p.m.: Andy Pursell Band
3:30-4 p.m.: Paige Merriman
4-4:45 p.m.: Sam Woolf
5-6:45 p.m.: Nashville Yacht Club Band
The band brings together several accomplished musicians to pay homage to the genre of yacht rock. The lineup features co-lead singers in "The Voice" finalist Cody Belew and New York City singer-songwriter Brianna Sage, along with guitarist Jay Barclay (Ben Kweller), bassist Matt Wigton (Christopher Cross), drummer Ramsey Roustom (The Blue Man Group), multi-instrumentalist Ryan Link ("Rent," "Once") and keyboardists James Farrell (Matt Nathanson) and John Pahmer (Terence Trent D'Arby).
Palmetto:
11 a.m.-1:15 p.m.: SoulRCoaster
1:30-3:45 p.m.: Zebron and James
4-4:45 p.m.: Soul Circus Cowboys
5-6:45 p.m.: ZBTB
The Brooklyn tribute act plays the music of country-rock group the Zac Brown Band, known for hits such as "Toes," "Homegrown" and "Knee Deep."
The rest
Budweiser Clydesdales will arrive at 11:15 a.m. in Bradenton and hold preparations, which are open to the public. Then they will march at 12:15 p.m. across the Green Bridge from Bradenton to Palmetto, where they will hold a meet and greet from 12:30-3:30 p.m.
Both Bradenton and Palmetto will feature food and family fun zones throughout the day. Then at 6:45 p.m., a musically choreographed fireworks display by Zambelli International will take place over Manatee River.
Bradenton:
8-11 a.m.: St. Stephen's Falcon 5K Run
All day: Frisbee dog show
All day: BMX stunt show
7-10 p.m.: Main Street Bradenton Awards
Palmetto:
8:30-10 a.m.: De Soto Little Anglers Fishing
All day: XPOGO stunt show
