FAQ

Bradenton Blues Fest Weekend

The Bradenton Blues Festival Weekend kicks-off on Friday, Dec. 1, 2017 and ends on Sunday, Dec. 3, 2017

Friday, Dec. 1, 2017

The free "Blues Appetizer" Concert is on Friday, Dec. 1, 2017, from 6–9 p.m.

Saturday, Dec. 2, 2017

The main event kicks-off at 10am Saturday, Dec. 2, 2017, with an outstanding lineup of talented blues musicians on the big stage. In addition to amazing music, our award-winning annual festival features local craft beer, delicious specialty food vendors, and more. The party continues with blues after-parties happening all evening. Purchase your Bradenton Blues Fest tickets here.

Sunday, Dec. 3, 2017

The weekend wraps up with a tasty and soulful Bradenton Blues Brunch featuring Damon Fowler & Matt Walker on Sunday, Dec. 3, 2017, from 11 a.m.–1 p.m., at Mattison's City Grille Bradenton Riverwalk. The Blues Brunch is a separately-ticketed event. Purchase your Blues Brunch ticket here. Come and experience the blues in Bradenton!

Where Is Bradenton?

The Bradenton Blues Festival and "Blues Appetizer" Concert are held in downtown Bradenton, FL, USA.

Bradenton is located on the west coast of Florida, just 8 miles east of the white sandy beaches of Anna Maria Island and Longboat Key, 10 miles north of the Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport, 40 miles south of the Tampa International Airport, 115 miles southwest of Orlando, and 240 miles northwest of Miami.

Where Is The Festival?

The Bradenton Blues Festival is held at the award-winning Bradenton Riverwalk overlooking the historic Manatee River.

The festival address is 452 3rd Avenue West, Bradenton, FL 34205.

Where Is The Brunch?

The Bradenton Blues Brunch is held at Mattison's City Grille Bradenton Riverwalk.

The brunch address is 101 Riverfront Blvd., Bradenton, FL 34205.

You bet! We were rated the Best Blues Festival in the United States for 2015 by Blues411.

The festival is produced by Realize Bradenton, a nonprofit organization that brings people together to create a vibrant and prosperous downtown area for residents, visitors, and businesses.

The proceeds from the Bradenton Blues Festival support Realize Bradenton’s youth, art, and music programs that are free to the community, including our Blues in the Schools program.

Friday: "Blues Appetizer" Concert

Tickets are not required for the Blues Appetizer concert on Friday, Dec. 1, 2017. Enjoy the blues for free!

Saturday: Bradenton Blues Festival

Tickets are required for the Bradenton Blues Festival on Dec. 2, 2017. Online pre-event ticket sales are:

• Reserved Seating, with a padded chair provided, in front of the stage tickets — $100 each
• General Admission Adult tickets — $35 each
• Group tickets (10 or more) — $30 each
• Students (with valid student ID) — $20 each
• Children, ages 5 to 11 — $10 each
• Children under 4 — Free
• Click here to purchase tickets online

Day-of ticket sales at the gate (if available):

• General Admission Adult tickets — $50 each
• Group tickets (10 or more) — $45 each
• Students (with valid student ID) — $20 each
• Children, ages 5 to 11 — $10
• Children under 4 — Free

Sunday: Blues Brunch

Tickets are required for the Blues Brunch on Sunday, Dec. 3, 2017, and are $50. Ticket includes a seated and served, three-course brunch prepared by award-winning Chef Paul Mattison, and a live performance by Damon Fowler & Matt Walker. Click here to purchase tickets.

Kindly Note

Online ticket sales close at 10 P.M. EST on Thursday, Nov. 30, 2017. Sorry, there are no refunds. The festival and brunch will be rain or shine.

Children 4 and under do not need a ticket. Children who are 5–11 must have a child’s ticket.

We encourage you to purchase your tickets early since the festival has sold out every year. In addition, day-of general admission tickets at the gate will be $50, but they are only $35 if you purchase your tickets early. You can purchase your tickets here. Kindly note that online ticket sales close Thursday, Nov. 30, 2017, at 10 p.m. EST.

Online ticket sales end Thursday, Nov. 30, 2017, at 10 p.m. EST. After this date, if available, tickets will be sold at the "Blues Appetizer" Concert on Friday, Dec. 1, 2017, and the main entrance to the festival on Saturday, Dec. 2, 2017.

Avoid the convenience fee by purchasing your tickets in-person Keeton's Office & Art Supply in downtown Bradenton before Thursday, Nov. 30, 2017, at 5 p.m. EST:

Keeton’s Office & Art Supply

• 817 Manatee Ave. W, Bradenton, FL 34205
• Phone: (800) 833-4735

After Thursday, Nov. 30, 2017, at 5 p.m. EST, if available, tickets will be sold at the “Blues Appetizer” Concert on Friday, Dec. 1, 2017.

Blues Appetizer Concert

• Friday, Dec. 1, 2017, 6–9 p.m.
• Bradenton Riverwalk Event Pavilion
• 452 3rd Ave. W, Bradenton, FL 34205

Reserved Seating

Reserved Seating provides you with the best seat in the venue! You’ll be guaranteed a comfy seat in a private area in front of the main stage. No more lugging those heavy chairs from your car to the venue, or worrying about getting the perfect spot.

General Admission

General Admission guarantees you access to the open, grassy lawn near the front and sides of the main stage on a ‘first come, first serve’ basis. You’re more than welcome to bring your blanket and collapsible chair. Please note that you may not leave chairs behind after the "Blues Appetizer" Concert on Friday, December 1, 2017, to ‘reserve’ your space (unattended chairs will be removed).

Yes, the festival is handicap accessible.

Handicap parking is available in all of the City of Bradenton public parking lots. A dedicated handicap entrance is located on 3rd Ave. W, just east of the railroad tracks. The main festival entrance on the Bradenton Riverwalk is also handicap accessible, and you have an amazing view of the Manatee River!

Will Call is available at the festival's main entrance on the Riverwalk, at the Help Desk.

Yes, re-entry is allowed; however, you must have your wristband. Sorry, no exceptions.

The following items ARE permitted:

• Blankets
• Chairs
• Cameras
• Sunscreen
• A personal bag
• Medically-required items (crutches, wheelchair, medications, snacks, etc.)

Kindly note that all bags and purses will be inspected by police or security upon entry.

The following items are NOT permitted and may be forfeited during the bag check:

• Outside food and drink, including alcohol
• Weapons of any kind
• Illegal drugs and/or drug paraphernalia
• Glass, metal, or plastic beverage/food containers
• Flasks
• Laser pointers
• Coolers
• Roller skates/blades, bikes, scooters, skateboards, and hoverboards
• Umbrellas, tents, and chairs with sun visors
• Pets of any kind (only service animals with appropriate credentials will be permitted; we kindly ask you to bring proper identification for your service animal).

Kindly note that all bags and purses will be inspected by police or security upon entry.

Although we'd really like to meet your furry (or feathered) friends, please leave them at home.

Only service animals with appropriate credentials will be permitted. We kindly ask you to bring proper identification for your service animal.

An ATM is located within the festival, but we recommend you bring cash and a credit and/or debit card with you. For security reasons, we use a ticket system for food and beverages. Tickets may be purchased for cash only. T-shirts, posters, and other merchandise is available for purchase with your credit/debit card, or cash. There are two ATMs available at local banks within a 10-minute walk of the festival:

• Wells Fargo Bank: 303 9th Street West, Bradenton, FL 34205
• SunTrust Bank: 1001 Third Avenue West, Bradenton, FL 34205

Unpack your bags in a renovated Roaring 20s hotel, on your yacht at the marina, in a quaint bed and breakfast, or in a hotel just steps from the festival and Riverwalk.

Check out what there is to do in Bradenton, and where you can stay by clicking here.

Camping and RV parking is available, but not on the festival grounds.

For a list of RV and campsites, please visit the Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau website, or call (941) 729-9177.

Please complete our vendor application. We will contact you if selected.

We are currently not accepting bands for our upcoming 2017 festival.

If you would like to be considered for future events, please complete our online band application. Only bands listed on the online band application are selected, we do not select bands who email us.

We ask that you be courteous to other festival patrons and smoke in the designated area near the roundabout.

Please keep our park clean and place your ashes and butts in the ashtrays.