Bradenton Area River Regatta celebrates 10 years. What’s planned for 2025 event?
As the Bradenton Area River Regatta returns for its 10th year, organizers retold the story of how the event came together — and how state leaders cleared the way for one of Manatee County’s biggest events.
More than a decade ago, sports promoter Mike Fetchko was heading back to Pittsburgh when his phone rang.
At his gate inside Tampa International Airport, Fetchko saw former Bradenton Mayor Wayne Poston calling.
It was about a roadblock that could prevent the Bradenton Area River Regatta from ever happening: the state-operated Green Bridge had to be closed.
Poston, though, shared good news in his phone call.
“Wayne Poston rang my cell phone and said, ‘I just spoke to the governor and we could close that bridge,’” Fetchko said. “And I was like, ‘Oh my.’ I said, ‘This thing’s real now,’ to myself.”
Ten years later, the regatta has grown into a two-day mega-event that draws as many as 100,000 spectators for speedboat racing and free family fun along the Manatee River.
The 10th edition of the regatta happens Friday and Saturday in Bradenton and Palmetto, and organizers say they hope to make the anniversary an “unforgettable” experience.
“You gotta regatta,” Fetchko said.
How the river regatta came to Bradenton
The Bradenton Area River Regatta sprang out of Bradenton’s close ties with the Pittsburgh Pirates and their home city.
Pittsburgh’s annual Three Rivers Regatta, a huge outdoor event that attracts 500,000 people over three days, inspired officials to bring something similar to Bradenton.
Fetchko, whose events and marketing group ISM-USA also produces the Pittsburgh regatta, said talks started in earnest after Poston and other Bradenton area representatives witnessed the Three Rivers Regatta firsthand.
“I came over and the quick conversation was, could we do elements of this in Bradenton,” Fetchko said.
Fetchko said he would visit Bradenton and see the Riverwalk, which had recently opened in 2012.
After two years of work, local officials and event organizers delivered the first Bradenton Area River Regatta in 2015. The event is free and open to the public.
“The objective was always ... how can we create a signature event that drives people to the urban core that have never been there before,” said Elliott Falcione, Manatee County’s tourism director.
“Whether they’re Manatee County residents or just people in the region, and once they’re there, the objective is, ‘Oh wow, I didn’t realize Bradenton had a riverwalk and an Old Main Street and a Village of the Arts,” Falcione added.
What to see
The fun kicks off Friday with concerts and a lighted drone and firework show. The regatta starts at 5:15 p.m., and the Friday Night Flash drone and firework show happens at 7:15 p.m.
Saturday’s action starts at 10 a.m., with powerboat racing on the Manatee River beginning at 10:30 a.m. Live music will play throughout the day on both sides of the river at the Rossi Park stage along the Bradenton Riverwalk and the Palmetto-Riverside Park stage.
Other Saturday entertainment will include stunt dog shows, “The Moogician Variety Show” and a family fun zone and food festival on the Bradenton side of the Manatee River, as well as performances by flyboard professional Kristen Smoyer.
On the Palmetto side, visitors can find a vintage powerboat exhibit, Tampa Bay Bucs and Tampa Bay Lightning fan areas and a food festival family fun zone with kid’s rides.
Two traditions, the LECOM 5K run over the Green Bridge and the DeSoto Little Anglers Fishing Derby, will precede Saturday’s main event. Both begin at 8 a.m.
For a complete lineup of events, visit BradentonAreaRegatta.com.
Where to park?
With as many as 100,000 people in attendance, parking options can be limited.
Parking is available in downtown Bradenton and Palmetto. The Riverwalk has two parking lots in Bradenton,as well as the Bradenton City Centre garage.
A full list of parking options can be found on the City of Bradenton’s website as well as Palmetto’s here.
The Green Bridge and various roads are scheduled to be closed, but the exact time and list of road closures has not been announced.
