The Third Annual Bradenton Area River Regatta is this Saturday

[Serious News]

The Bradenton Update - January 31, 2017

From: City Of Bradenton
Regatta III is this Saturday

The Third Annual Bradenton Area River Regatta is scheduled for this Saturday on the Manatee River just east of the Green Bridge. Watch the boat races from either the Bradenton or Palmetto river*fronts or on the bridge itself. There will be plenty of activities hap*pening on land, too, along with food and beverage vendors.

With the large crowds of people expected to attend, we thought we’d take a moment to pass along safety reminders and infor*mation about road closures, alternate traffic plans and public park*ing in the downtown area to our citizens and tourists alike. The Green Bridge will close from 4 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday.

[Serious News]

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
Eat like a local at these 10 spots during Bradenton Area River RegattaMore Video: Bradenton City Council checks decibels of amplified 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

[Serious News]

Stage is set for third annual Bradenton Area River Regatta

By Mark Young

With good weather forecast, the third annual Bradenton Area River Regatta’s stage is set for a full Saturday of free family fun, featuring the largest field of competitors yet in both the Formula 2 powerboat and Hydrocross racing events.

“We are excited and delighted for the third annual Bradenton Area River Regatta and ready to thoroughly entertain families on the water, land and in the air,” regatta organizer Mike Fetchko said. “The partnership and support of the cities, county, state and all respective agencies and the U.S. Coast Guard have been outstanding and we are ready for a super Saturday of free family fun.”
Overnight lows on Friday night may mean some cooler weather for the first two events of the day, which are the Saint Stephen’s 5K Falcon Run and One-Mile Fun Run. The Hernando De Soto Historical Society’s Little Anglers Fishing Tournament begins at 8 a.m. on the Palmetto Fishing Pier. Entry forms are still available on the society’s website at desotohq.com.

The tournament is free and open to children ages 5-12. The first 150 participants will receive a free rod and reel, and representatives from Fish Florida will be on hand for personalized instruction.
While the kids are baiting hooks in Palmetto, runners will be gathering in Bradenton on the corner of 12th Street West and Barcarrota Avenue at the entrance of Pier 22 for an 8:30 a.m. start to both the 5K competitive event and the family-oriented Fun Run. The course will take runners over the Green Bridge into Palmetto and back again.
Visit the Saint Stephen’s website at saintstephens.org for registration through Friday afternoon. Fees are $15 for runners younger than 18 and $20 for 18 and up. Race-day entries also will be accepted for $30.

Green Bridge closures and rules
The Green Bridge will close at 4 a.m. Saturday morning and will reopen around 11 p.m. Saturday night. Regatta spectators can obtain prime viewing spots for the Formula 2 racing on the east side of the river and Hydrocross racing on the west side on a first-come, first-serve basis. Coolers are allowed on the bridge, but according to Bradenton Public Works Director Jim McLellan, “are subject to inspection by law enforcement.”

The regatta is alcohol-free with the exception of the beer garden on the Palmetto side of the river. Water also will be sold on the bridge during the event.
The regatta will offer two 35-seat, open-air trolleys that will make a constant loop over the bridge between Bradenton and Palmetto throughout the event following the conclusion of the 5K run. The bridge will be cleared prior to the fireworks show at 6:45 p.m.

Traffic, parking and road closures
With pleasant weather expected for Saturday’s event, organizers are expecting the third annual event to match or exceed the 2015 event, which drew an estimated 80,000 people throughout the day.
“We encourage motorists who are attending the regatta to carpool or use public transportation,” states a release from the city of Bradenton.
Road closures in Bradenton during the regatta include 12th Street West between Manatee Avenue West to Barcarrota Boulevard, Ninth Street West between Manatee Avenue West and the Green Bridge, and the westbound lane of Third Avenue West between Ninth Street West and U.S. 301. Palmetto will close down Riverside Drive between Eighth and Ninth avenues west.
Traffic maps and race course maps are at the Bradenton Area River Regatta website. Parking maps for the cities of Bradenton and Palmetto can be found on Bradenton’s website at cityofbradenton.com.
A limited area for watching the races from boats will be set on the east side of the CSX Railroad bridge. A map of the site can be found at cityofbradenton.com. Drones are prohibited at the regatta. Marine wildlife observation helicopters will be in the air throughout the racing, as well as helicopter tours.
Mark Young: 941-745-7041, @urbanmark2014

Read more here: http://www.bradenton.com/news/local/article130362444.html#storylink=cpy

[Serious News]

Bradenton Area River Regatta will have large security presence

PALMETTO, Fla. (WFLA) – More than 80,000 people are expected to line up around the Manatee River for this weekend’s Bradenton Area River Regatta, accompanied by a large security presence.

This Saturday, the Regatta will be offering high speed thrills on the beautiful backdrop of the Manatee River. There will be fast, dangerous boat races, with a really great view.

(Source: Bradenton Area River Regatta)
“This is a unique event, where the event is kind of right below the bridges, and everyone can kind of get a birds eye view of the races on the bridge there,” said racer Eric Lagopoulos.

The Green Bridge will be closed to cars, soguests can walk between Bradenton and Palmetto.

For a massive event like this, a huge security presence is needed.

“We started a couple of months in advance on all the emergency services that are going to be involved in this,” said Palmetto Police Chief Scott Tyler. Police departments from Bradenton and Palmetto are working overtime to monitor the Regatta.

“For our agency, everybody works in these events,” said Chief Tyler.

Officers will be looking for suspicious activity and may even do checks on coolers.

Drones should be left at home. Officials said they could harm spectators and disrupt the event. *Officers will be looking out for them.

While plenty of people will be watching the event on land, many will be out on the water, too.

The US Coast Guard has designated specific areas for boaters to watch, and law enforcement will be on the water to make sure they comply with the rules.

“A day off is nice, but we want to have a great event that people enjoy and want to come back to next year,” said Chief Tyler

Officials stress that alcohol is not allowed in, but there will be a designated area where it can be purchased and drank.

The Regatta is a free, family friendly event, and officials are working extra hard to make sure it’s safe, too.

http://wfla.com/2017/02/03/bradenton-area-river-regatta-will-have-large-security-presence/