Free Waterfront Festival Returns to Bradenton for 11th Year With Boat Racing & Live Music

The Bradenton Area River Regatta kicks off Friday, Feb. 20. Organizers expect over 100,000 visitors at the two-day powerboat races and waterfront celebration on the Manatee River. No tickets are needed.

This marks year eleven. High-speed boats tear across the water while bands play and families gather in Bradenton and Palmetto.

Friday night action begins at Rossi Park Stage on the Bradenton Riverwalk, according to WTSP.com. The Bella Garland Band opens things up at 5 p.m. Sweet Fleet, a Fleetwood Mac tribute group known across the country, takes over at 5:30 p.m. Drones and fireworks paint the sky at 7 p.m. Abba Nova, another national tribute act, wraps up the evening at 7:30 p.m.

Saturday morning starts with the LECOM 5K Run/Walk at 8 a.m. near Pier 22. From 10 a.m. until 6 p.m., the Publix Free Family Fun Zone opens on the Riverwalk Main Lawn. The "Moogician" Variety Show runs five times: 10:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m., 2:30 p.m., 4:30 p.m., and 6 p.m. at the Riverwalk Amphitheater.

Dogs catch frisbees and flip through hoops all afternoon. National Stunt Dog Shows happen at 11:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m., 3:30 p.m., and 5:30 p.m. National Frisbee Dog Shows go at noon, 2 p.m., 4 p.m., and 6 p.m. on the Great Lawn. Flyboard champion Kristen Smoyer and Jet Ski riders zoom between boat heats from noon to 4:30 p.m.

Powerboat testing across all three classes starts at 10 a.m. Opening ceremonies begin at 11:45 a.m. Qualifying heats: Formula Lights at noon, Tri-Hulls at 12:45 p.m., and Formula 1 at 1:15 p.m. Championship races roar through the afternoon — Formula Lights at 2:15 p.m., Tri-Hull at 2:45 p.m., and Formula 1 at 3:15 p.m.

Music pours from two stages all Saturday long. The Bradenton Riverwalk Rossi Park Stage brings Weeping Angels Band at noon, Francesca Tarantino at 1:30 p.m., Trop Rock Junkies at 3 p.m., and Burnouts at 4:30 p.m. Over at Palmetto Riverside Park Stage, Witch Trails, Sunbleached, Killjoy, and Black Mariah each take their turn.

The weekend closes with the Marriott Resort and Spa Palmetto Awards and Concert Gala. A DJ spins records while food trucks serve at 5 p.m. Francesca Tarantino performs at 5:30 p.m. America's Most Authentic Beach Boys National Tribute Band plays at 6 p.m. Powerboat awards get handed out at 7 p.m., then the Beach Boys tribute returns at 7:15 p.m. Parking and entry cost nothing.

Get there early since crowds are expected to be massive.