Thousands flock to Bradenton Blues Festival. Here’s how one man almost didn’t make it
The annual Bradenton Blues Festival draws Blues fans from all over the country and this year, 10 foreign countries.
An elderly man from Germany came all the way to Bradenton specifically for the festival, but almost didn’t make it to the show.
He drove his car to Riverwalk on Friday to find a good place to park on Saturday, and while he was there, decided to get out of his car and enjoy the scenery of the city’s riverfront park on the Manatee River.
When he finished his walk, he got turned around and spent the next four hours walking around trying to find his car that had his passport and festival tickets inside.
He came upon the Bradenton Police Department and the panicked, exhausted man asked if there was anyone there to help him. All of the officers were out on patrol, so Chief Melanie Bevan rounded up her entire command staff and they hit the road in search of his vehicle.
Twenty-five minutes later, it was found.
“He was so thankful,” Bevan said Saturday as Blues band Zac Harmon’s music filled the air. “He had come all this way and he was so upset, but we were happy to help because we are the Friendly City.”
Since 2012, the Blues Festival has grown in leaps and bounds, now selling out months before the main Saturday concert begins. It has been listed as the country’s top blues festival for the past two years, according to Bradenton Mayor Wayne Poston.
And why?
Yes, the level of talent is a reason. Yes, it’s hard to beat the atmosphere on Riverwalk next to the Manatee River. Yes, chances are good that December weather in Florida will be pretty good.
“But the main reason is because we are the Friendly City,” said Johnette Isham, executive director of Realize Bradenton, which organizes the annual event through a talented staff and a small army of 175 volunteers.
“You know why we do it? We do it for the students at Manatee High,” Isham said. “We work with Blues in Schools with our young inspiring musicians that are getting to meet professionals. That’s why we do it. People are coming here from all over the world.”
All the hard work benefits great causes in the Bradenton area. But for those who traveled thousands of miles like Sandy Kraft, from Canada, who literally put on her dancing shoes, “It’s a blast. I absolutely love it. You can’t beat this weather or scenery, and this festival draws some amazingly talented Blues bands. We came last year, and we’ll come next year. It’s kind of our thing now.”
For anyone wanting to make sure they don’t get left out of what will surely sell out again next year, tickets for the 2020 Blues Festival next December go on sale this Dec. 20 on realizebradenton.com.
Each year the public is treated to a free Friday mini concert event and Saturday is always the main event. The festival wraps up Sunday with the Blues Brunch at Mattison’s Riverwalk Grille, which also is a ticketed event.