Manatee County Government offices closed July 5 for Independence Day but AMI Trolley, Beach ConneXion to run additional services over holiday weekend

Manatee County Government offices closed July 5 for Independence Day but AMI Trolley, Beach ConneXion to run additional services over holiday weekend
Posted on 06/25/2021

MANATEE COUNTY, FL (June 25, 2021) – In an effort to help drivers avoid heavy beach crowds over the Fourth of July weekend, Manatee County Area Transit will offer free rides onto and off of Anna Maria Island via Manatee Avenue next week.

The special fare-free zone allows passengers to board the Beach ConneXion Shuttle to Manatee Public Beach on from July 2 - 4 at any MCAT stop between 75th Street West and Anna Maria Island.

The AMI Trolley and the Beach ConneXion Shuttle will operate on Independence Day but regular fixed route and Handy Bus services are suspended on July 4. Regular fixed route and Handy Bus services are available on Saturday, July 3 but not July 4. They will resume Monday, July 5.

Anna Maria Island's annual Independence Day Privateers Parade will be held Saturday, July 3 at 10 a.m., proceeding along Gulf Drive until about noon. Gulf Drive and some side streets will be closed until the northbound parade marches past.

Manatee County's public beaches will remain open for the Independence Day weekend and there will be additional law enforcement on Anna Maria Island to assist with the influx of residents and visitors to the Island during a busy holiday weekend. The County will place additional public port-a-lets near the public beaches and have them serviced daily during the holiday weekend. Trash will be removed more frequently from public beach areas during the weekend.

County Government offices will be closed Monday, July 5 to observe the holiday.

All trash, recycling and yard waste collections will take place one day later than normal during the week of July 5.

Manatee County parks and beaches will be open to the public. Manatee County-owned golf courses will be open. G.T. Bray Recreation Center will be closed but playgrounds and green spaces will remain open. Blackstone Skate Park and G.T. Bray Skate Park will be open.

Manatee County’s publicly owned natural preserves will remain open.

Downtown Central Library, the only County library branch typically open on Mondays, will be closed on July 5.