Changes are coming to this year's annual The Taste of Manatee event.
The Taste of Manatee will take place at Sutton Park in Palmetto once again. However, instead of being held in November like in previous years, it will be held this weekend.
Members of the Rotary Club of West Bradenton, who put on the event, decided to move it up by a month because of the weather.
“We’re always looking to have good weather,” said Mark H. Sticht, Former President of the Rotary Club of West Bradenton. “For the last couple of years, we’ve had a couple rainy days there in November. So, we moved it up a month to the first weekend in October.”
Sticht and others are hoping the change will bring warm and sunny days, so everyone can enjoy it.
Organizers are bracing for record crowds, which they say is a good thing, because the more money they raise, the more people they help.
All of the proceeds of the event go to local charities and non-profits in the area.
This year's event will also feature a classic car show on Saturday and will include some of the finest restored cars in existence.
On Sunday, the Gulf Coast Corvette Club members will be displaying all model years of Corvettes.
The club has invited other sports car clubs to participate and bring their sports and specialty cars to the Taste of Manatee.
Celebrations kick off on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. and continue through Sunday from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Along with the car shows, the event will include two days of tasting fine cuisine from more than 20 local restaurants and live entertainment from area bands, arts and crafts, and other activities.
Sam Woolf, the local American Idol sensation, will be the music headliner on Saturday night at 7:30 p.m.
Prior to Woolf performing, the local Bradenton Idol winners will be performing.
Taste of Manatee is fun for the entire family and free to attend.
During the event, the nearby Palmetto Historical Park and Manatee County Agricultural Museum will be open. While touring the park, visitors can see the 1880 Post Office, an old Schoolhouse, chapel, military museum, and the 1914 Carnegie Library.
Also, sports fans will be able to catch their favorite football games on large screen TV's in the Sports Bar Tent.
A children's amusement area will have rides and other activities. There is something for everyone at The Taste of Manatee.
This year’s event sponsors include the Bradenton Herald, Bright House Networks, Budweiser, Tropical Cadillac, Gettel Auto, and Mosaic.
The full band schedule:
Saturday October 3:
- 11:30am – 12:15pm Community Acts
- 12:30pm – 1:15pm Music Foundation
- 1:30pm – 2:30pm Hit n’ Run Band
- 2:30pm – 3:00pm Paige Merriman
- 3:00pm – 4:15pm Soul R Coaster
- 4:30pm – 5:15pm Western Sons Band
- 5:15pm – 6:00pm Wake the Neighbors (with Brooke Bonderer)
- 6:00pm – 7:00pm Matt Walden
- 7:00pm – 7:25pm Bradenton Idol Winners
- 7:30pm – 9:30pm Sam Woolf
Sunday October 4:
- 11:30am – 12:15pm The Wright Band
- 12:15pm – 1:00pm Gabriel Storm (12 yr. old performing sensation) and Music Foundation performer.
- 1:00pm – 2:15pm Dig Daddy
- 2:30pm – 3:30pm Kooky Ray
- 4:00pm – 4:30pm Andy Pursell
- 4:30pm – 6:00pm Shaman