The cities of Bradenton and Palmetto, as well as Manatee County received something on Tuesday that no other venue has received in 103 years of the American Power Boat Association’s existence.

Co-president of the APBA, Sherron Winer, presented the cities and county with the first-ever APBA Presidential Commendation.

“It’s the only time we felt a site deserved this kind of recognition,” Winer said at the Regatta’s press conference ahead of Saturday’s big return, after the event was canceled last year due to COVID concerns.

Those concerns have been put to rest and the “Return of the Regatta” is jam packed with free family entertainment in the day long event.

From Formula 2 boat racing to world champion fly boarders and jet pack daredevils to an amazing musical line up, as well as so much more, it’s not an event you want to miss.

Bradenton Mayor Gene Brown called the APBA recognition an, “Honor. Eight years ago when all this came up, I didn’t know if it would come together because it required a lot of government collaboration and government doesn’t always collaborate well.”

Brown said the key to making it work was the community coming together to make it happen.

Regatta organizer Mike Fetchko, president of ISM USA said, “This regatta is all about excitement in the air, on the ground and on the water. We are proud to be here again. The regatta returns and as it returns, it has three things: partners, professionals and power.”

The regatta is, by far, the largest spectator event in Manatee County, averaging between 75,000 and 100,000 visitors from across Florida and abroad.

Due to the magnitude of the event and an $8 million economic impact, the regatta has become the Tampa Bay region’s signature event surpassing some longstanding Bay area traditions.

And you only need to bring a little money if you want some great food from a plethora of food options and the event’s two beer gardens. All of the racing action, entertainment, concerts and Zambelli International Fireworks regatta finale show are free.

Palmetto Mayor Shirley Groover Bryant said the unfortunate cancellation of last year’s regatta, “left a definite void and the anticipation has been building for this year’s event for more than a year. We are grateful to have it back.”

The event spans the Manatee River in both Bradenton and Palmetto. Three free trolleys will run the Green Bridge throughout the day for easy access to both cities. The bridge itself will be closed throughout the day and will reopen Saturday night.

It’s a perfect viewing site for all the racing action, as well as the closing fireworks, which begins after the final concerts at dusk.

“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.”

Many of the fan-favorite attractions will return, including the featured attraction and marquee event, high-speed racing of the F-2 powerboats. Powerboat Superleague, the oldest and most respected racing circuit in the F-2 division, will rock the Manatee River with powerful and agile watercrafts for the largest single-day racing event on the APBA Circuit.

In addition to the powerboat racing, returning to the waves of the Manatee River in 2022 is World Flyboard Champion Kristen “The Destroyer” Smoyer, who will entertain spectators throughout the day with her incredible and improbable stunts that have garnered her world-wide accolades.

On land, top musical acts are always a staple for the River Regatta, and this year there will be multiple headliners, including the Blooze Brothers (4:45 p.m.) and Almost “Abba” (5:45 p.m.) tribute bands on the Bradenton Riverwalk Pavilion Stage; and Florida-native son, Andy Pursell—and the Andy Pursell Band—in Palmetto (5:45 p.m.).

Other featured entertainment generating diverse soundwaves throughout the day include: Bradenton’s Sam Woolf; the Randy McNeeley Band; the American Made Band; Happy Few; Under the Moon; Citrus Ave; Moxy: and Bella Garland. Talented musicians from the Del Couch Foundation — representing the newest “up-and-comers” — kick off the music on both stages beginning at noon.

New to the regatta on Saturday are the uniquely powerful and sleek SST-45 Powerboats.

These 13-foot boats weighing about 600 pounds fly across the water at about 85 mph.

Five of the nation’s Top 10 contenders are participating: Jose Mendana Jr, J.W. Nelson, Ricky Sober, Thomas Schlarb, and Randy Partch. Mendana, Sober and Partch are from the greater Bradenton area.

In the meantime, the F-2 racers always bring the action. Many of Super League’s top pilots, including former-champion Ashton Rinker of Tampa, FL, and Bradenton’s Mike Quindazzi, who moved from Arizona to Bradenton, right after the 2020 race because he loved the Bradenton area, will be on hand.

They join a talented field of highly skilled drivers, who will have to negotiate the tight turns and tricky Manatee River surf to win the day. The racing is an electrifying demonstration of speed and maneuverability in watercrafts capable of climbing from 0-100/mph in less than four seconds, all of which leads to another promising day of breathtaking drama in one of the most explosive spectacles on water.

A series of qualifying runs and time trials for each class precede championship racing. Spectators can also get an up-close look at some of these awesome watercrafts on display all day near the Riverside Park Area in Palmetto.

Mike “Thrasher” Traster, from Fort Lauderdale, FL, joins Smoyer between races with his jaw-dropping, championship-caliber jetpack flips and stunts. Currently ranked number-one in the world, Traster has flown jetpacks for nearly a decade, gaining national and international acclaim.

Almost ABBA, Blooze Brothers Tribute Bands lead an impressive collection of headliners on the regatta stages.

Powerboats and top-charting musical acts have been staples of the River Regatta in years past, and the 2022 event promises even greater brilliance.

Full details, schedule and additional information are available at bradentonarearegatta.com. Follow all the fun and activities on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BradentonRR