MANATEE COUNTY, FL (June 23, 2025) - In celebration of Independence Day, all Manatee County Government offices and Manatee County Public Library System locations will be closed Friday, July 4, 2025.

“Independence Day is a time for celebration and reflection,” said Manatee County At-Large Commissioner Jason Bearden. “As the birth of the nation is celebrated, we must also remember the sacrifices made to protect and preserve freedoms.”

All trash, recycling and yard waste collections will be postponed one day: Friday’s collection will be collected on Saturday, July 5. Regular collections will resume on Monday, July 7. There will be no Manatee County Area Transit (MCAT) fixed-route or Handy Bus service July 4. The Anna Maria Island Trolley will operate normal daily routes, and the Manatee Avenue Beach Express will operate on a holiday schedule.

Manatee County parks and beaches will be open to the public. Manatee County and Buffalo Creek Golf Courses will be open. The G.T. Bray Recreation Center and John Marble Recreation Center will be open from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. The Walton Racquet Center will be closed, and all check-ins will occur at the main building.

The cities of Bradenton and Palmetto are joining forces with the County to host a riverfront celebration that spans both sides of the Green Bridge. Festivities will begin at 5 p.m. on Friday, July 4, with both Rossi Park in Bradenton and Riverside Park in Palmetto serving as activity hubs offering a full evening of live entertainment, family-friendly activities, local food and a dazzling shared fireworks finale over the Manatee River at approximately 9 p.m.

The Green Bridge will close to traffic at 8 p.m. on July 4 and reopen two and a half hours later at 10:30 p.m., following the fireworks finale. Road closures and parking limits are expected in both cities.