6 Free Holiday Events Near Bradenton, FLHoliday season is in full swing! From dazzling parades to photo moments with Santa, there’s an abundance of free holiday events that you and your family will not want to miss. All the yuletide fun kicks off this weekend! Here are six free holiday events near Bradenton, FL!Jingle Paws JubileeDec. 3, Noon–5 p.m.Phillippi Estate Park, SarasotaEven the furry family members get to join in on this holiday season! This Sunday, head to Phillippi Estate Park for the annual Jingle Paws Jubilee. At the jubilee, you can get your holiday shopping done as there are many exciting pet vendors as well as dogs and cats available for adoption! Then, don’t miss the Holiday Costume Parade & Contest, live DJ music, delicious food vendors, raffle prizes, demonstrations and more! Holidays Around the RanchDec. 8, 6–9 p.m.Lakewood Main StreetEntering by a horse-drawn carriage, Santa Claus himself will make a grand appearance at Lakewood Main Street for the annual...
The 2017 Siesta Key Crystal Classic is This Weekend!It's that time of the year! Make sure to clear your schedules because the 8th Annual Siesta Key Crystal Classic is back again this weekend and ready to wow you with amazing sand masterpieces!Every year, professional sand sculptors from around the world come to Sarasota to participate in this international sandsculpting festival. Luckily, for us, the event is in our own stomping grounds, and we don’t have to travel too far to be a part of this exciting and unique annual event.Here’s everything you need to know about the 2017 Siesta Key Crystal Classic:This year, artists hail from Canada, Czech Republic, Amsterdam, Lithuania, Singapore and various states in the U.S.Kicking off this Friday, you can view and vote for the masterpieces crafted by master sand sculptors. For four days, there will be live music, a party tent and dining tent as well as shopping vendors. Looking to learn more about sandsculpting? There will be demonstrations and lessons...
6 Tips for Prepping for Hurricane SeasonDid you know that hurricane seasons runs through Nov. 30? Even if you don't live in the hurricane hot spots like Orlando or Jacksonville, it’s always good to keep in mind the precautions for hurricane season if you plan to vacation there. Here are six tips to make sure you’re ready for hurricane season.1. Plan ahead for emergencies.When you’re in the thick of hurricane preparation, it can be hard to gather your thoughts for what to do next. You’ll need emergency supplies for you and your family, insurance will need to be ready in case of an emergency, and you must have a plan for your vehicles in the event that you need to evacuate.2. Determine your hurricane season risk.How will your home stand during flooding or wind? Are there trees leaning toward your home? Flooding is known to cause the most damage to your home, and this is especially a greater risk during hurricane season. You can see how your...
Sarasota's Siesta Beach is the #1 Beach in the U.S.Sarasota's Siesta Beach has been awarded the No. 1 beach in the country by Professor Stephen “Dr. Beach” Leatherman! This is the second time that Siesta Beach has been acclaimed in the last seven years. It's no surprise to us here at Riviera Dunes Marina! With its glistening white sand, Siesta Beach is a beautiful beach to visit year-round! Visitors flock to the beach every year for the crystal clear waters, fantastic shelling opportunities and much more. The beach has also been renovated recently to offer more parking opportunities as well as a free trolley for beachgoers to utilize.Dr. Beach rates beaches from all over the country using 50 different criteria in order to score them for a total of 250 points. Siesta Beach scored a 238 out of 250 points! Some of the criteria included in the list are amenities, noise level, public safety, color of sand, number of sunny days and much more. The...
Siesta Beach Ranked No. 1 in the U.S.TripAdvisor just released their 2017 Travelers' Choice Awards and ranked our local beach No. 1 in the U.S.! Our own Siesta Beach, located just 20 minutes from Sarasota is ranked as the No. 1 beach in the country. It's no surprise to us as Siesta Beach is a lovely destination year-round! Runners up in the top five spots include Ka'anapali Beach in Hawaii and Florida's Saint Pete Beach, Clearwater Beach and the beach at Panama City.In addition to ranking No. 1 in the U.S., Siesta Beach also ranks No. 5 best beach in the whole world!With its white sand and nature areas nearby, Siesta Beach is a fantastic place to visit. Perfect for large families or as an intimate getaway for couples, this acclaimed beach does not disappoint. If you haven't visited Siesta Beach yet, here are some perks you'll get to enjoy:Cool beaches: Because the sand is comprised of 99 percent pure quartz, you don't have to...
Family-Friendly Winter Festivals in Central FloridaDon't miss all of the wonderful family-friendly winter festivals right here in Central Florida! See a circus performance, embrace Italian culture and food, and join thousands at our local fishing village for their annual extravaganza!Circus Sarasota Winter PerformanceWhen: Through Sunday, March 5Weeknights: 7 p.m.Wednesdays & Saturdays: 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.Sundays: 1 p.m. and 5 p.m.Where: The Ulla Searing Big Top, Nathan Benderson Park, SarasotaWhat: Join Circus Sarasota as they commemorate 20 years with their winter performance! This special show will feature circus legend Nik Wallenda as well as other international circus stars performing amazing acts that will surely dazzle you and the whole family! Make sure to purchase tickets ahead of time as they are known to sell out! More info here.Admission: $15–$55The 35th Annual Cortez Commercial Fishing FestivalWhen: Friday and Saturday, Feb. 18–1910 a.m.–6 p.m. daily.Where: Cortez Fishing VillageParking: G. T. Bray Park, BradentonWhat: Don’t miss the 35th Annual Cortez Commericial Fishing Festival honoring this...
3rd Annual Bradenton Area River RegattaAttention, thrill-seekers: Prepare to be amazed at boats racing more than 120 mph! Witness daring events like this and so much more when you join in for the 3rd Annual Bradenton Area River Regatta just a few weeks away on Feb. 4.If you haven’t been to the Bradenton Area River Regatta previously, you’re in for a real treat! The schedule is still not concrete, but there are many exciting surprises in store for all of the Bradenton and Palmetto locals.Head to the Manatee River for thrilling events including the Powerboat Super League Formula 2 events and the XHydro Cross Jet Skis and Disc Connect K9 show. You’ll also get to hear from the Nashville Yacht Club, Tampa’s own Soul Circus Cowboys and the ZBTB, the No. 1 Zac Brown tribute band, as the headliner. One thing’s for certain, the Powerboat Super Leagues will return for another spectacular performance that you do not want to miss....
Anglers, Download this App and Help Track Invasive FishFlorida recently partnered with the Swedish app, Fishbrain. Fishbrain allows fishermen to connect and share the best fishing spots, tide changes and any other fishing-related news that interest anglers.Though, the partnership between the state and the app stems from Florida's interest in locating invasive fish using the app's data. With approximately 250,000 Floridians using the app already, the data will assist the state and wildlife officials to track down freshwater exotic fish.Local fisherman, if you’re interested in joining the state in their research for invasive fish or simply connecting with fellow anglers, here’s how the free app works. You can follow another angler, a type of fishing or fish species as well as view other helpful tidbits of information including the local weather report. Users can view and post photos as well as leave comments. The map feature also provides accurate locations of where fish are being caught, which is where you can help, local anglers!In the...
Top 5 Places to Spend New Year’s Eve Near BradentonStill looking for the most exciting place to spend New Year’s Eve that's near Bradenton? We’ve got you covered here at Riviera Dunes Marina. Let’s ring in the New Year near Bradenton at one of these fabulous parties.1. The Seafood Shack Marina Bar & Grill in CortezHead to the Neptune Room at The Seafood Shack Marina Bar & Grill for a New Year’s Eve party with country music performances and more! The Eric Von Band will be bringing the tunes. Opening for country music stars including Kenny Chesney and Miranda Lambert, Eric Von is also a native of Cortez. Other features of the party include cash bars, drink specials and a special menu.Price: $15 (includes cover, fees and taxes).Time: 8 p.m. to 1 a.m.; Band begins at 9 p.m.Where: The Seafood Shack Marina Bar & Grill, Cortez.2. Fishermen’s VillageFor a family-friendly environment, head to Fisherman’s Village! Enjoy music and dancing with...
Where to Eat, Shop & Play in Sarasota, FLJust a short drive away from Riviera Dunes Marina is Downtown Sarasota with many places to eat, shop and play! From galleries to Vietnamese cuisine, here’s a list of fabulous recommendations when you’re thinking about taking a day trip to Sarasota.Where to EatDowntown Sarasota offers a splendid variety of cuisine, from Vietnamese to seafood. Enjoy a mouthwatering seafood stew or more casual bites at Marina Jack. Accompanied by live music, it’s a fun place to spend some time even after dinner’s well over.Pho Cali Vietnamese Noodle House is perfect for chillier days when you want to be comforted by a bowl of one of their homemade, signature noodle soups. They also have authentic dishes including rice vermicelli bowls and boba tea for an after-meal treat.For Latino cuisine, you won’t want to miss Selva, a modern spot where you can lounge and enjoy exquisite tapas, a variety of ceviche and other sensational bites.Where...
