GET READY TO ROAR ONCE MORE!
Regatta Returns Saturday, February 12, 2022!
Manatee County’s largest and FREE civic event.
BRADENTON, Fla.— The largest spectator event in Manatee County—the Bradenton Area River
Regatta—will return in 2022 to the banks of Manatee River along the Bradenton and Palmetto
shorelines. The 2022 event is scheduled for Saturday, February 12.
Led by Mayors Gene Brown and Shirley Groover Bryant, the Bradenton City Council and Palmetto
City Commission unanimously approved the return of the popular River Regatta, which was
postponed earlier this year in an abundance of caution due to the COVID pandemic.
The extravaganza has evolved into the region’s signature event, delivering major entertainment
on both land and water. Event manager, ISM-USA, promises the same jam-packed slate of
high-speed watercraft racing, family-fun interactive activities, and chart-topping musical
entertainment from dawn to dusk…and it again will be ALL FREE. An amazing pageantry of
kaleidoscopic imagery produced by the first family of fireworks—Zambelli International—will
cap the day’s events as it has in the past.
“The Bradenton Area River Regatta is returning to our beautiful shorelines in 2022, and we
cannot be more excited,” says Groover Bryant. “The postponement of the event earlier this year
left a definite void and the anticipation is already building for the 2022 event.”
“We are so happy for the return of the fabulous Bradenton Area River Regatta,” says Brown.
“It has been a long, difficult year and the return of this prestigious event has everyone looking
forward to the February 2022 event.”
“We are thrilled to see the return of one of the Bradenton Area’s top signature events,” said Elliott
Falcione, executive director of the Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau. “Historically,
the Regatta has brought upwards of 100,000 spectators to the streets and shores of downtown
Bradenton and Palmetto, while generating an economic impact of close to $10 million for the
region. Our seventh Regatta is shaping up to be our best event to date, and we cannot wait to
begin welcoming visitors back for all of the action.”
“It is with a deep appreciation to the overall leadership of Manatee County and the Cities of
Palmetto and Bradenton that we enthusiastically look forward to the ‘Return of the Regatta,’”
says Mike Fetchko, president and managing director of ISM-USA, the Regatta’s exclusive event
manager, who launched the inaugural in 2015.
“It is an honor and privilege to start the strategic planning and design for this major signature
event for the general public—You Gotta Regatta,” says Michael Dongilli, executive vice president
of ISM-USA.
Many of the fan-favorite attractions will return, including the featured attraction and marquee
event, high-speed racing of the F-2 powerboats. Powerboat Super League, the oldest and
most respected racing circuit in the
F-2 division, will rock the Manatee
River with these powerful and nimble
watercrafts for the largest single-day
racing event on the APBA Circuit.
The tentative Regatta musical lineup
include two national tribute bands,
saluting ABBA and the Blue Brothers;
Soul Circus Cowboys; the Andy Pursell
Band; and the American Made Band.
For more information visit www.bradentonarearegatta.com
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/www.bradentonarearegatta.com