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Sports & Leisure Services
Director of Sports & Leisure Services : Molly White
Sports and Leisure Services provides access to recreational and educational opportunities while remaining responsible stewards of valuable natural, historic, and cultural resources. This department’s prime focus is contributing to the overall wellness and prosperity of Manatee County residents and visitors.
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Divisions
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Recreation Division
The Recreation Division focuses on three key principles: delivering excellent customer service for top-quality park visits, protecting natural resources while ensuring public access to recreation, and prioritizing wellbeing and health. It operates two fully equipped recreation centers, nearly 40 parks, and provides diverse programs for both youth and adults, all aimed at promoting community wellness and social connection.
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Manatee County Public Library
The Manatee County Public Library System, with its seven convenient locations, is proud to support our growing and vibrant community while also welcoming visitors. We offer an extensive selection of materials, online resources, technology, and engaging programs. We would love for you to explore everything Manatee Library has to offer and join us in our shared love for reading and learning!
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Community Engagement Division
The Community Engagement Division brings Manatee County to life through events that celebrate our growth, connect neighbors, and showcase the places that make our community special. We team up with local organizations and businesses to create unforgettable signature events, introduce new facilities, and keep everything running smoothly with the right permits and protocols. From thrilling tournaments and fun 5Ks to family-friendly gatherings at our parks, beaches, and facilities, we make sure there’s always something exciting happening in Manatee County.
Interested in volunteering at our events? Please visit our volunteer page to learn more Volunteer at Manatee County
Interested in becoming a sponsor? Email [email protected] or call 941-324-5771 for more information.
Interested in becoming a vendor? Fill out our Manatee County Event Vendor Application. If you are selected to be a vendor, we will contact you!
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Manatee Movie Night at Mixon Farms
Mixon Farms is hosting a Movie Night on January 9, 2026 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Bring your family and friends, and a blanket or chair to enjoy a special screening of Lilo & Stitch under the stars.
Location: 2525 27th St E, Bradenton, FL 34208

Manatee Movie Night at Mixon Farms
Mixon Farms is hosting a Movie Night on December 12, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Bring your family and friends, and a blanket or chair to enjoy a special screening of Grinch (2018) under the stars.
Mark your calendars for more upcoming Movie Nights!
- January 9, Lilo & Stitch (2025)
Location: 2525 27th St E, Bradenton, FL 34208
Additionally, Parrish Community Park will be hosting Movie Nights. Click here for more information.

Manatee Movie Night at Mixon Farms
Mixon Farms is hosting a Movie Night on November 14, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Bring your family and friends, and a blanket or chair to enjoy a special screening of IF under the stars.
Mark your calendars for more upcoming Movie Nights!
- December 12, Grinch (2018)
- January 9, Lilo & Stitch (2025)
Location: 2525 27th St E, Bradenton, FL 34208
Additionally, Parrish Community Park will be hosting Movie Nights. Click here for more information.

Manatee Movie Night at Parrish Community Park
7550 Ft. Hamer Rd
Parrish, FL 34219
Mixon Farms is hosting a Movie Night on January 2, 2026, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Bring your family and friends, and a blanket or chair to enjoy a special screening of Inside Out 2 under the stars.
Location: 2525 27th St E, Bradenton, FL 34208
Additionally, Mixon Farms will be hosting Movie Nights. Click here for more information.

Manatee Movie Night at Parrish Community Park
7550 Ft. Hamer Rd
Parrish, FL 34219
Mixon Farms is hosting a Movie Night on December 5, 2025, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Bring your family and friends, and a blanket or chair to enjoy a special screening of Wish under the stars.
Mark your calendars for more upcoming Movie Nights!
- January 2, Inside Out 2
Location: 2525 27th St E, Bradenton, FL 34208
Additionally, Mixon Farms will be hosting Movie Nights. Click here for more information.

Manatee Movie Night at Parrish Community Park
7550 Ft. Hamer Rd
Parrish, FL 34219
Mixon Farms is hosting a Movie Night on November 7, 2025 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Bring your family and friends, and a blanket or chair to enjoy a special screening of Wild Robot under the stars.
Mark your calendars for more upcoming Movie Nights!
- December 5, Wish
- January 2, Inside Out 2
Location: 2525 27th St E, Bradenton, FL 34208
Additionally, Mixon Farms will be hosting Movie Nights. Click here for more information.

ADApt & Play Expo
3675 53rd Ave E
Bradenton, FL 34203
Family Fun Night at GT Bray
Family Fun Night at GT Bray Recreation Center on Friday, August 1, 2025, from 4:00 to 8:00 PM, and one of the event highlights will be our Back-to-School Backpack Giveaway for local students.
This free, family-friendly evening will feature:
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🎶 Live entertainment
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🎯 Games & inflatables (including water and foam fun!)
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🍔 Food vendors
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🏊 Pool access for all attendees
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🎪 Local exhibitors and community resources
Adopt-A-Palooza 2025
1 Haben Boulevard
Palmetto, FL 34221
The largest one-day pet adoption and expo-style event in Manatee County is back this year at the Bradenton Area Convention Center, Saturday, May 31, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.! Find a new pal among over 100 adoptable pets from Manatee County Animal Welfare, local shelters and animal rescues. Visit with over 40 pet vendors. Auctions & raffles!
Lasting Manatee Community Input Meeting

Lasting Manatee's first of multiple Community Input Meetings has been scheduled. The meeting will take place on Thursday, April 24, from 6pm to 7:30pm at Eternity Temple Church - 716 29th St E, Palmetto, FL 34221.
Manatee Music Series 2025 - G.T. Bray Park May 15
The Manatee Music Series showcases local performers monthly during the spring March, April and May on the third Thursdays at our G.T. Bray Park and from 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. at our Amphitheater. There will be food trucks and family-friendly activities at all of these events. May 15 artist will be Monkey Finger Band.
Live Music Presented by

Interested in becoming a sponsor? Email [email protected] or call 941-324-5771 for more information.
Interested in becoming a vendor? Fill out our Manatee County Event Vendor Application. If you are selected to be a vendor, we will contact you!
Manatee Music Series 2025 - G.T. Bray Park April 17
The Manatee Music Series showcases local performers monthly during the spring March, April and May on the third Thursdays at our G.T. Bray Park and from 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. at our Amphitheater. There will be food trucks and family-friendly activities at all of these events. April 17 artist will be Kettle of Fish Band.
Live Music Presented by

Interested in becoming a sponsor? Email [email protected] or call 941-324-5771 for more information.
Interested in becoming a vendor? Fill out our Manatee County Event Vendor Application. If you are selected to be a vendor, we will contact you!
Manatee Music Series 2025 - Parrish Community Park May 2
The Manatee Music Series showcases local performers monthly during the spring March, April and May on the first Fridays at our Parrish Community Park from 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. There will be food trucks and family-friendly activities at all of these events. May 2 artist will be Sweet Fleet Band
Live Music Presented by

Interested in becoming a sponsor? Email [email protected] or call 941-324-5771 for more information.
Interested in becoming a vendor? Fill out our Manatee County Event Vendor Application. If you are selected to be a vendor, we will contact you!
Manatee Music Series 2025 - Parrish Community Park April 4
The Manatee Music Series showcases local performers monthly during the spring March, April and May on the first Fridays at our Parrish Community Park from 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. There will be food trucks and family-friendly activities at all of these events. April 4 artist will be Trevor Bystrom Band
Live Music Presented by

Interested in becoming a sponsor? Email [email protected] or call 941-324-5771 for more information.
Interested in becoming a vendor? Fill out our Manatee County Event Vendor Application. If you are selected to be a vendor, we will contact you!
Manatee Music Series 2025 - G.T. Bray Park March 20
The Manatee Music Series showcases local performers monthly during the spring March, April and May on the third Thursdays at our G.T. Bray Park and from 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. at our Amphitheater. There will be food trucks and family-friendly activities at all of these events. March 20 artist will be Jesse Daniels Band
Live Music Presented by

Interested in becoming a sponsor? Email [email protected] or call 941-324-5771 for more information.
Interested in becoming a vendor? Fill out our Manatee County Event Vendor Application. If you are selected to be a vendor, we will contact you!
RUN MANATEE - TOM BENNETT PARK 5K
400 Cypress Creek Blvd
Bradenton, FL 34208

The RUN Manatee 5k series offers THREE adventures to celebrate ONE community. Participants will discover Manatee County's parks, beaches and preserves... on the run! The inaugural kickoff event will be held on Saturday, April 12, at Tom Bennett Park in Bradenton, FL. The 5K run/walk presented by Run With Purpose Nutrition includes a scenic route around ponds and along mixed terrain such as grass, crushed shell and asphalt.
Participants of all age and activity levels are welcome to this day of fitness, food and family fun! Grab a healthy breakfast/lunch, shop local vendors in the marketplace, climb on the Bradenton Kiwanis Playground, or cool off in the new splash pad. There's tons of fun to be had, even if you're not racing!
Registration, Schedule & More Details
Interested in becoming a sponsor?
Email [email protected] or call 941-324-5771 for more information.
Interested in becoming a vendor?
Fill out our Manatee County Event Vendor Application.
If you are selected to be a vendor, we will contact you!
Manatee Music Series 2025 - Parrish Community Park March 7
The Manatee Music Series showcases local performers monthly during the spring March, April and May on the first Fridays at our Parrish Community Park from 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. There will be food trucks and family-friendly activities at all of these events. March 7 artist will be Rye Road Band
Live Music Presented by

Interested in becoming a sponsor? Email [email protected] or call 941-324-5771 for more information.
Interested in becoming a vendor? Fill out our Manatee County Event Vendor Application. If you are selected to be a vendor, we will contact you!
RUN MANATEE - RYE PRESERVE 5K
905 Rye Wilderness Trl
Parrish, FL 34219

The RUN Manatee 5k series offers THREE adventures to celebrate ONE community. Participants will discover Manatee County's parks, beaches and preserves... on the run! The final event of the series will be held on Saturday, November 22. The 5K run/walk, presented by Run with Purpose Nutrition will allow runners to explore this beautiful slice of old Florida on mixed terrain. The preserve's trail system leads visitors through four distinctive ecosystems, including sand pine scrub, xeric oak scrub, oak hammocks and the river community. Look closely for a glimpse of the variety of interesting creatures that can be seen in these areas including the rare gopher tortoise and Florida scrub-jay.
Participants of all age and activity levels are welcome to this day of fitness, food and family fun! Grab a healthy breakfast/lunch or shop local vendors in the marketplace. there’s plenty to do even if you're not running!
Registration, Schedule & More Details
Interested in becoming a sponsor?
Email [email protected] or call 941-324-5771 for more information.
Interested in becoming a vendor?
Fill out our Manatee County Event Vendor Application.
If you are selected to be a vendor, we will contact you!
HHW / E-SCRAP COLLECTION
Special One-Day Household Hazardous Waste & E-Scrap Collection - Saturday, October 4, 2025
Who: Manatee County Residents
What: Household Hazardous Waste & Electronic Scrap Remote Collection
When: Saturday, October 4, 2025, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Where: 4520 66th Street W, Bradenton, FL 34210
For more information on HHW/E-Scrap, click here.
Manatee County Utilities will host a special Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) and Electronics Scrap (E-Scrap) collection event on Saturday, October 4, 2025, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Utilities Building located at 4520 66th St W, Bradenton, FL 34210.
This event is FREE for Manatee County residents.
NO commercial materials accepted.
Regular Collection Hours:
Outside of this one-day event, HHW and E-Scrap can be dropped off Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., and every 3rd Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., at the Lena Road Landfill, 3333 Lena Road, Bradenton.
Important Notice
The Lena Road Landfill will be CLOSED for HHW/E-Scrap drop-off on Saturday, October 4, 2025, during the special collection event.
RUN MANATEE 5K - COQUINA BEACH
2650 Gulf Drive
Bradenton Beach, FL 34217

The RUN Manatee 5k series offers THREE adventures to celebrate ONE community. Participants will discover Manatee County's parks, beaches and preserves on the run! The second event of the series will be held on Saturday, July 12th at Coquina Beach in Bradenton Beach, FL. The 5K run/walk presented by Run With Purpose Nutrition includes a scenic route along Coquina Beach asphalt trail under the trees with a gulf breeze.
Registration, Schedule & More Details
Interested in becoming a sponsor?
Email [email protected] or call 941-324-5771 for more information.
Interested in becoming a vendor?
Fill out our Manatee County Event Vendor Application.
If you are selected to be a vendor, we will contact you!
G.T. Bray Park
Recreation Center hours:
Monday -Thursday 5:30 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Friday: 5:30am -7:00 p.m.
Saturday & Sunday: 7:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
John Marble Recreation Center
Friday 5:30 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Saturday & Sunday 7:00 a.m. -4:00 p.m.
Central Library
Friday - Saturday: 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Sunday: CLOSED
Lakewood Ranch Branch Library
Friday - Saturday: 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Sunday: 1:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.