Manatee County Fair returns, and other local events around Bradenton to start 2024
The first few months of the year bring some of the Bradenton-Sarasota area’s most anticipated annual events, starting with the Manatee County Fair.
Other big happenings coming soon include the Bradenton Area River Regatta, the Cortez Commercial Fishing Festival, Thunder by the Bay and the St. Barbara Greek Festival.
Here’s a look at local calendar highlights for early 2024.
Manatee County Fair
The Manatee County Fair returns in January for its 108th outing with the theme “Fun is in the Air.”
In addition to a midway, fried foods and other typical fair fun, the Manatee County Fair showcases the area’s agricultural lifestyle. 4-H and Future Farmers of America programs are a central part of the fair, and they include displays and competitions including cattle, swine, poultry, rabbits and plants.
The arts and crafts exhibits in the Chaires Building are a great place to see the best of the community’s creativity on display, including art, photos, needlework and culinary talent.
Daily entertainment attractions this year include Circus Hollywood, Universal Championship Wrestling, The Rye Road Family Farm Petting Zoo, Les McDowell’s Cowboy Camp and Cowboy Poetry and the always popular Hollywood Racing Pigs.
This year’s music headliners are HWY 41 South (bluegrass; Jan. 11), Carolina the Band (country and gospel; Jan. 12 & 13), Bayside Worship (contemporary Christian; Jan. 14), Micah Tyler (contemporary Christian; Jan. 14), The 301 Travelers (country rock; Jan. 15 & 17), The Petty Hearts (Tom Petty tribute; Jan. 18) and Rockland Road (Nashville pop country band; Jan. 19 &20).
For the first time, fair tickets are available to purchase online with a $1.50 discount.
Details: Thursday, Jan. 11 to Sunday, Jan. 21. Ages 13 and up: $10. Ages 6 to 12: $6. Active military with ID: $6. Children 5 and under: free. Parking: $10.
Info: Visit ManateeCountyFair.com for a full schedule of events.
Palmetto Multicultural Festival
Palmetto’s annual Multicultural Festival over the Martin Luther King Jr. Day holiday weekend will bring live entertainment and food vendors to Sutton Park.
The event also includes a kid’s zone with games and activities.
The 2024 music lineup features four groups of “musicians representing different heritages”: The Soul Crooners, Bajo Zero, The Beatdown Band and NuJazz.
“Building upon Palmetto’s rich history and traditions, the festival fosters unity and pride among various cultures,” Mayor Shirley Groover Bryant said in a news release.
Details: Saturday, Jan. 13. Sutton Park, 1036 Sixth St. W., Palmetto. Free.
Info: PalmettoFL.org
Bradenton Area River Regatta
Billed as “Manatee County’s Largest Spectator Event,” the Bradenton Area River Regatta will return with a splash in 2024.
In a new twist, this year’s regatta will have an opening night party on Friday, Feb. 16 featuring an illuminated drone show visible from Bradenton and Palmetto and a performance by Fleetwood Mac tribute band Sweet Fleet on the Bradenton Riverwalk.
The LECOM 5K Run and Walk will take place at 8 a.m. on Saturday in Bradenton and the annual DeSoto Little Anglers Fishing Tournament will return to the Palmetto Pier.
The main event on Saturday will bring high-speed watersports and powerboat races to the Manatee River, as well as live music and family fun in both Bradenton and Palmetto.
Regatta visitors can also enjoy family fun zones, a local food festival, stunt dog and daredevil shows and more.
Music performances will go all day on stages in Bradenton and Palmetto. This year’s lineup includes tribute acts to Fleetwood Mac, The Blues Brothers, Luke Bryan and Taylor Swift.
Details: Main events begin at 7:15 p.m. Friday, Feb. 17 and 10 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 17. Regatta takes place on both sides of the Manatee River, in Bradenton and Palmetto, near the Green Bridge. Free.
Info: BradentonAreaRegatta.com
Cortez Commercial Fishing Festival
Home to colorful cottages, popular seafood restaurants and sweet views of the Intracoastal waterway, Cortez is one of Florida’s few remaining active fishing villages. As such, the area is steeped in maritime history.
Started up in 1981, the Cortez Commercial Fishing Festival celebrates the community’s legacy with live blues, rock and country music, nautical arts and crafts, children’s activities, seafood and other tasty eats and drinks.
Educational marine science “Dock Talks” are offered all day, and this year’s festival will also include a “Fishermen’s Fashion Show.”
The festival benefits the Florida Institute for Saltwater Heritage, a Cortez nonprofit that supports one of the last undeveloped pieces of coastline in the area: the FISH Preserve.
Details: Saturday, Feb. 17 and Sunday, Feb. 18. Festival is held on 46th Avenue West at the end of 123rd Street in Cortez. Ages 13 and up: $5. Ages 12 and under: Free.
Thunder by the Bay
This annual bash at the Sarasota Fairgrounds celebrates motorcycles and rock ‘n’ roll in the name of charity.
The event features a full three-day lineup of live music. Grand Funk Railroad will headline the festival on Saturday, Feb. 17.
The festival grounds will have over 100 vendors, a bike show, freestyle stunt riders, a food court and a bar, organizers say. Crowds can also watch Universal Championship Wrestling and motorcycle-themed events including a “stereo sound-off” contest and a burnout contest. Inside Robarts Arena, also on the festival grounds, visitors will find “Thunder Alley,” a display of custom motorcycles, cars and trucks.
The final day of the festival includes a charity motorcycle ride that ends at the fairgrounds. The festival benefits Suncoast Charities for Children, which distributes funds to area nonprofits.
Details: Friday, Feb. 16 to Sunday, Feb. 18. Sarasota Fairgrounds, 3000 Ringling Blvd., Sarasota. $10 presale; $15 at the gate. Ages 12 and under: free.
Info: ThunderbytheBay.org
St. Barbara Greek Festival
Saint Barbara Greek Orthodox Church’s 40th annual “Glendi” (a festival celebrating Greek culture) will include a wide array of Greek food, drink and dessert.
The event is also known for its shopping vendors, live Greek music and traditional dances.
A lucky raffle winner will get to choose between a new car or $35,000 cash, and other prizes are also up for grabs.
The event benefits a different local charity each year.
Details: Friday, Feb. 16 to Sunday, Feb. 18. St. Barbara Greek Orthodox Church, 7671 Lockwood Ridge Road, Sarasota. $5 entry fee is good for all three days of the festival. Ages 11 and under: Free.
Info: StBarbaraFestival.org.
Sarasota County Fair
The Sarasota County Fair has all the bases covered for family fun. Find midway rides, live music and shows, food, exhibits featuring live animals and more.
Arts, crafts, horticulture and culinary skills will also be on display.
The event will celebrate its 100th anniversary in 2024. Details for this year’s fair are to-be-announced.
Details: Friday, March 15 to Sunday, March 24. Sarasota Fairgrounds, 3000 Ringling Blvd., Sarasota.
Info: SarasotaFair.com
Sarasota Film Festival
The Sarasota Film Festival draws audiences each year for a carefully curated line-up of independent and outside-the-box film, from international movies to local and regional projects. Screenings at Sarasota movie theaters and venues include narrative, documentary and short film.
Public talks featuring filmmakers and actors are another highlight of the festival. Past guests have included renowned directors and Hollywood actors.
The festival also promotes the future of filmmaking with Independent film contests; audiences can see the results during public screenings.
Details for this year’s festival, set for April, are to-be-announced.
Details: Friday, April 5 to Sunday, April 14.
Info: SarasotaFilmFestival.com
Circus Sarasota
The Circus Art Conservatory’s annual spectacular at Nathan Benderson Park, Circus Sarasota, will return in Feb. 2024 for its 26th year.
“Sarasota’s hometown circus returns under a brand new, custom-designed Big Top for another year of high-flying action, heart-stopping thrills, laugh-out-loud comedic antics, and acts that defy both expectations and the boundaries of physical limitations, performed by artists from around the globe,” an event preview says.
Performers for this year’s three-week showcase are yet to be announced. Past acts have included stunt artist and clown Bello Nock and international acts performing acrobats, juggling, balancing and horse riding.
Details: Friday, Feb. 16 to Sunday, March 10. Nathan Benderson Park, 5851 Nathan Benderson Circle, Sarasota. $24-$64. Children under two: free.
Info: CircusArts.org
Forks and Corks
This foodie festival brings several days of dining and drinking events to area restaurants and venues.
Forks and Corks raises funds for the Sarasota-Manatee Originals, a coalition of local and independent restaurants that promotes the area’s dining scene.
Events include curated tastings at member restaurants and food and wine seminars. The highlight of the festival is “The Grand Tasting,” a celebration held in the courtyard of The Ringling Museum in Sarasota; it offers the chance to try fine wines and beers paired with dishes from local restaurants.
Details: Thursday, Jan. 25 to Monday, Jan. 29.
Spring training and Bradenton Marauders return
The Pittsburgh Pirates will return to their home away from home at LECOM Park this February for spring training. That means locals and visitors will have a chance to head to the stadium and watch the team batter up against competitors like the Boston Red Sox, the New York Yankees and the Tampa Bay Rays.
Details: Spring training home games scheduled from Sunday, Feb. 25 to Monday, March 25. LECOM Park, 1611 Ninth St. W., Bradenton. Individual game tickets go on sale Friday, Jan. 19. Season and multi-game tickets available.
The Florida State League’s Bradenton Marauders will kick off their season at LECOM Park in April. The team’s home games feature frequent special events, including fireworks, themed nights, food and drink specials and giveaways.
Details: First home series begins Friday, April 5. LECOM Park, 1611 Ninth St. W., Bradenton. Ticket prices to-be-announced.
Info: MiLB.com/bradenton.
