‘You gotta Regatta:’ Bradenton’s biggest event returns. Here’s a look at the lineup

After a rain check due to COVID-19 last year, the Bradenton Area River Regatta is back and ready to make a splash once more in 2022.

The free event returns Saturday, Feb. 12, bringing high-speed water sports to the Manatee River. And on land, there’s family fun to enjoy with festival activities in Bradenton and Palmetto.

“It feels tremendous to be back,” festival organizer and ISM USA president Mike Fetchko said. “We’re energized. It’s such a great event for the drivers and the spectators. You gotta regatta.”

Here’s what’s in store for the 2022 Bradenton Area River Regatta.

Powerboat races

The regatta kicks off the powerboat racing season in the United States, Fetchko said, and it has also grown to become the largest racing event on the American Power Boat Association’s circuit.

The main event is the SST/120 F-2 class powerboat races, also known as Formula 2. The boats can reach speeds of around 120 mph as they rip down the river and make laps against fluctuating wind and water conditions. Racers from around the country will compete for a chance in the final on Saturday afternoon.

In 2022, the regatta will also add a new class of racing with SST-45 Formula Lights powerboats.

“In our exit surveys from the last regatta in 2020, we asked people what they would like to see more of,” Fetchko said. “And what came back loud and clear was: we want more boat races.”

While they may not go quite as fast as their bigger counterparts, topping out at speeds of 70 mph, the smaller and even more agile SST-45 boats make for lively races.

“They’re able to turn on a dime and make the racing even more exciting,” Fetchko said.

Another new addition that regatta goers may notice at this years event: filming crews and lots of cameras. That’s because the regatta is being televised for the first time ever in 2022.

Racer H20, part of the Pennsylvania-based Romesberg Media Company, will record the racing events, which will be broadcast on television networks across the U.S. The race will also be available with on-demand viewing on YouTube.

“It’s going to really portray the cities and the county and Longboat Key and Anna Maria Island in a pretty, top production manner,” Fetchko said.

Visit romesburgmedia.com/racerh2o/tv.shtml for a list of participating networks.

In person, the races can be watched from both sides of the Manatee River as well as from atop the Green Bridge, which will be closed to auto traffic from 4 a.m.-11 p.m. on regatta day.

Powerboat racing schedule:

• 10:30 a.m.-noon: Test runs
• 1 p.m.: Formula 2 qualifying heats
• 2 p.m.: SST-45 qualifying heats
• 4 p.m.: Formula 2 final
• 5 p.m.: SST-45 final

Live music

Another major draw of the regatta is all-day live music in Bradenton and Palmetto.

On the Bradenton music stage, tribute bands Almost ABBA and The Blooze Brothers will headline. In Palmetto, country acts the Randy McNeeley Band and the Andy Pursell Band will play.

Live music schedule in Bradenton:

• Noon: Del Couch Music Education Foundation students
• 1 p.m.: Happy Few (pop and alternative rock)
• 2 p.m.: Under the Moon (contemporary pop and smooth jazz)
• 3 p.m.: American Made Band (rock and pop hits of the ‘60s-’80s)
• 4:15 p.m.: Sam Woolf (singer-songwriter)
• 4:45 p.m.: The Blooze Brothers (The Blues Brothers tribute band)
• 5:45 p.m.: Almost ABBA (ABBA tribute band)

Live music schedule in Palmetto:

• Noon: Del Couch Music Education Foundation students

• 1 p.m.: Citrus Ave. (pop rock)

• 1:30 p.m.: Moxy (Fleetwood Mac cover band)

• 2:30 p.m.: Bella Garland Band (singer-songwriter)

• 4 p.m.: Randy McNeeley Band (country)

• 5:45 p.m.: Andy Pursell Band (country)

Family festival fun

The regatta brings free family fun to both sides of the Manatee River.

The De Soto Little Anglers Fishing Tournament will start off the regatta activities at the Green Bridge Fishing Pier. The youth fishing event is free to enter and lasts from 8:30-10 a.m.

On the Bradenton side of the regatta, visitors will find shows featuring dogs that leap for flying disks and perform stunts and a daredevil variety show. World champion flyboard athlete Kristen Smoyer will perform over the Manatee River between boat races. And a family fun zone and food festival on the Bradenton Riverwalk main lawn will be open from 10 a.m.-7 p.m.

In Palmetto, a display of vintage powerboats will be out at the Riverside Boat Ramp, and another family fun zone with kids rides will be open at Riverside West Park from 10 a.m.-7 p.m.

The day will conclude with a fireworks spectacular over the Manatee River from Zambelli Fireworks around 7 p.m.

With crowds at the last event estimated at over 100,000 people, safety is also a big concern. Fetchko says that local agencies coordinate far in advance of the regatta to make sure that the day goes off without a hitch.

“It’s almost comparable to a Super Bowl for this size of event space,” Fetchko said. “You can feel very proud as a community in the effort behind this event.”

This story was originally published February 8, 2022 at 5:00 AM.