Coronavirus postpones St. Patrick’s Day parade, Manatee Pride Festival, other events
Local organizations are responding to concerns related to the outbreak of the novel coronavirus by canceling events in the Bradenton area.
Here is a list of local gatherings that have been canceled.
As of March 17, please see our new list for the latest on closures, cancellations and changes to business hours due to COVID-19.
Community events
▪ Realize Bradenton has canceled the opening concert of its Music in the Park series scheduled for Friday, March 13 at 7 p.m. and the Bradenton Farmers’ Market scheduled for Saturday March 14 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
“This decision was not taken lightly,” said executive director Johnette Isham in a press release. “We recognize our market vendors and musicians rely on the concerts and the farmers’ market for their financial health, however, we feel this is the right decision for the well-being of the entire community. We will continue to evaluate whether further events will occur as new information becomes available.”
▪ Main Street Live, a concert and street party scheduled for this Saturday in downtown Bradenton, has been canceled, according to Morgan Bettes, creative director with event planner Independent Jones.
▪ The annual Anna Maria St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Holmes Beach on Anna Maria Island, scheduled for March 15 at 4 p.m., has been canceled. The event may be rescheduled to a future date, according to Holmes Beach Chief of Police William L. Tokajer.
▪ The Manatee Community Foundation announced Thursday that its Spirit of Manatee Awards Luncheon scheduled for March 25 has been postponed.
“We are taking this step to keep everyone healthy at a time when we will be working together to ensure continued philanthropic support for local nonprofits,” MCF Executive Director Susie Bowie said in an email announcement Thursday morning.
▪ The Manatee County Leadership Prayer Breakfast scheduled for March 19 at the Bradenton Area Convention Center has been canceled.
“All sponsorships, table sponsorships and ticket purchases will be valid for the 2021 Leadership Prayer Breakfast which will be held on Thursday, April 8, 2021,” From Cradle to College Foundation announced in a press release.
▪ Manatee Tiger Bay Club has canceled a luncheon scheduled for March 19. Those who have prepaid for the event can apply the funds to the next luncheon or receive a refund.
▪Manatee Black Chamber of Commerce has postponed its annual awards gala and fashion show, which had been scheduled for March 21. Contributions from ticket holders and sponsors can be carried forward to a rescheduled event or they may request a full refund.
▪ Sarasota County is canceling all events with anticipated attendance of 250 individuals or more at county facilities for 30 days beginning Friday, March 13.
▪ The Sarasota County Fair, which was set to run March 13 to March 22, has been canceled.
▪ The Manatee Pride Festival, which was slated for March 21, has been postponed to May 23rd at the Bradenton Riverwalk.
Concerts and shows
Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall in Sarasota has announced that it has suspended all events through March 31, 2020 due to the public health emergency.
Affected shows include:
- Sarasota Orchestra Masterworks (March 13-15)
- An American in Parish (Marsh 16 at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m.)
- The Choir of Man (March 17 at 8 p.m.)
- John Pizzarelli & Catherine Russell: A Tribute to Nat King Cole and the Ladies of Song (March 18 at 8 p.m.)
- America (March 19 at 8 p.m.)
- Harry Connick, Jr. True Love: An Intimate Performance (March 20 at 8 p.m.)
- Ringling Town Hall: Lisa Genova (March 23 at 10:30 a.m. and 7:30 p.m.)
- Up, Up and Away starring Marilyn McCoo & Billy Davis, Jr. (March 24 at 8 p.m.)
- Sarasota Ballet: Romeo & Juliet (March 27 and 28)
- An Evening with Bruce Hornsby (March 29 at 7 p.m.)
Van Wezel’s Box Office will follow-up with ticket holders affected by cancellations.
▪ The America concert scheduled for March 19 has been canceled with plans to reschedule at a future date. The band’s show scheduled for March 20 at Ruth Eckerd Hall in Clearwater has also been indefinitely postponed.
▪ Itzhak Perlman in Recital with pianist Rohan De Silva, a concert scheduled for March 21, 2020, has been rescheduled to March 8, 2021.
Fogartyville Community Media and Arts Center, a music and events venue operated by local radio station WSLR in Sarasota, announced a two-week closure on Thursday.
The venue will shut down from March 16 through March 30, and eight events have been canceled. Events scheduled for the March 13-March 15 weekend will go on as planned with outdoor seating available to maintain “recommended distancing requirements,” a press release from Fogartyville said.
▪ March 17 – Activist Tuesday: Primary Watch Party
▪ March 19 – Diana Rein and Steve Arvey
▪ March 20 – Ellis Paul
▪ March 22 – Logan Ledger
▪ March 24 – Activist Tuesday: Putting Forth a Progressive Vision for Sarasota
▪ March 27 – Hudost and Hymn for Her
▪ March 28 – Nellie McKay
▪ March 29 – McKasson & McDonald
The Sarasota Cuban Ballet School announced the cancellation of its annual springtime dance performance that was scheduled for March 29 at the Venice Performing Arts Center.
The Lakewood Ranch Wind Ensemble was scheduled to give a concert March 15 at Our Lady of Angels Church in Lakewood Ranch, but the event has now been postponed to an undetermined date.
▪ The remainder of the Sarasota Jazz Festival has been canceled. The event began on March 8 and was schedule to continue through March 14.
The Sarasota Opera announced that it is canceling all opera performances and other concerts or events. Patrons may choose to donate their tickets as a tax-deductible contribution or recieve credits for single tickets.
Sports
▪ Major League Baseball is suspending all operations, including spring training games, as of 4 p.m. Thursday.
Teams affected locally include the Pittsburgh Pirates, who train in Bradenton, the Baltimore Orioles, who train in Sarasota, and the Tampa Bay Rays.
▪ The Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg will be closed to spectators and all associated public events will be canceled, St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriseman announced Thursday. The race is scheduled for 3 p.m. Sunday and will be televised on NBC stations.
▪ All Tampa Bay Lightning games are postponed after the National Hockey League announced the suspension of its 2019-2020 season.
Do you have information about a canceled community event? Send an email with details to rballogg@bradenton.com.
This story was originally published March 12, 2020 at 4:06 PM.
