Weekend Adventures in Bradenton: October 19-21, 2012

BRADENTON -- Start your weekend early, as Bradenton's Riverwalk opens tonight with a special event that will unveil the city's new crown jewel of the waterfront. Halloween starts early at the annual Goblin Gathering, or take in the spooky theatrics of Spirit Voices of Old Manatee at the Historical Village. And it's fall, which means there's always football. Don't be a scaredy cat: let's go on a Weekend Adventure in Bradenton!

Tonight's Riverwalk Grand Opening Celebration starts at 4:30pm with refreshments and music. The ceremony starts promptly at 5:00pm with a re-dedication of the First Responders’ Memorial including an Honor Guard, bagpipers, and the National Anthem. At 5:15pm the program begins with speakers followed by a community ribbon cutting of an 800-foot long ribbon made by over 140 groups and people.

After the ribbon cutting, the Riverwalk comes alive with art talks, walking tours, and skateboard, volleyball, and tai chi demos. State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota’s Music Program will enliven the festivities with their Chamber Choir, Jazz Combo, Guitar Ensemble, Percussion Ensemble and Brass Choir. Refreshments are catered by Renaissance on 9th and sponsored by NDC Construction.

Attendees will receive a free copy of the recently published 100-page Riverwalk Grand Opening Guide and 2012 Bradenton Blues Festival Program. This commemorative magazine includes a brief history of the riverfront, a map of the new features, and descriptions of downtown Bradenton’s arts and culture assets. With a theme of “something for everyone,” over 25 photographs of the Riverwalk and a Gallery of Outdoor Art illustrate the diverse aspects of Bradenton’s new showpiece that will be a destination for generations to come.

The Postcards from the Friendly City section illustrates the nine large-scale art panels that are placed along the Riverwalk to illustrate the community’s history, including agriculture, fishing, boating, and early life on the Manatee River. The Blues Festival Program is a preview of the December 1 festival including an article on the region’s expanding blues scene. This keepsake publication was created by Realize Bradenton to celebrate the community’s work together on the redeveloped Riverwalk.

On Friday night, catch the final performance of Spirit Voices from Old Manatee. Near one of the oldest interior settlements of Florida, not far from the mystic “Singing River,” exists one of the oldest organized burying grounds on the Gulf Coast of Florida. Your rendezvous with the past awaits...

Tour the Old Manatee Burying Grounds and witness an original artistic production as costumed thespians bring to life those interred. Hear graveside dialogues based on narratives from archives, descendants, diaries, military logs, books and legend. Leave culturally enriched, moved by haunting tales of Florida’s pioneers.

The Manatee County Historical Commission, R.B. “Chips” Shore, Manatee County Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller and the Department of Historical Resources present a ghoulishly delightful, interactive experience on the grounds of the Manatee Historic Village with Artistic direction by Actor, Musician and Stage Director Preston Boyd. Not recommended for viewers under 10 years old. Tickets are $17 at the door.

This year’s annual Goblin Gathering has been paired with another popular event, National Night Out, to bring Manatee families a double dose of fun and information. The Goblin Gathering and National Night Out will be held Friday tonight from 6:30-9:30 p.m. at G.T. Bray Park, 5502 33rd Ave. Dr. West.

Kids and families will have their usual choice of fun stuff at the Goblin Gathering: a costume contest, face painting, a hayride, bounce houses and an 18-foot inflatable slide. Admission is $5 for the bounce house, hay ride and face painting.

Concessions will be available for purchase. There will be costume contests in four age categories (ages 4 and under; 5 to 8; 9 to 12; and 13 and older) and one family category.

Manatee County public libraries are also hosting National Night Out events on Oct. 19. Braden River Library at 5 p.m. will present Escape School on how to avoid fear, common abductors’ lures and escape techniques; Palmetto Library at 6 p.m. will host a crime prevention discussion by Palmetto Police Department Lt. Scott Tyler. Rocky Bluff Library on Sat. Oct. 20 at 10:30 a.m. will host a show of comedy, magic and Halloween safety tips.

Several other National Night Out events will also take place in Pride Park on Oct. 19. Manatee County Housing Authority and Manatee County Neighborhood Services have coordinated more than 40 service providers and agencies to visit Pride Park neighborhoods and help connect residents to jobs, child care resources, parenting tools, public services, vocational training and healthy activities for children and families. Games and other fun activities are planned at the following locations in Pride Park:

·        Pine Village at 5631 11th Street East
·        57th Avenue and 10th Street East
·        56th Avenue Drive and 8th Street Court East
·        South East Resident’s Association at 1108 61st Avenue Terrace East
·        61st Avenue & 1st Street East

The events in Pride Park will be held from 5 – 7 p.m. in the neighborhoods, followed by a free movie sponsored by Manatee County Parks and Recreation and the YMCA in the Pride Park ball fields at 9th Street and 63rd Avenue East. For more information on the Pride Park events, call Elizabeth Sibell-Field, resident opportunities & self-sufficiency coordinator with Manatee County Housing Authority at (941) 756-3974 ext. 135

High School Football
Friday, 7:30 p.m.

Manatee @ Venice
Palmetto @ Hardee
Bayshore @ Southeast
Braden River @ Sarasota
Lakewood Ranch @ Dixie Hollins

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