Not only is this the perfect time of the year for outdoor events, but there are also a ton of options for getting a jump start on supporting local this holiday season!
Check out our round-up of 25 cool things to do in Bradenton during the month of November.
1. Tanner’s Turkeys Fundraiser
Wednesday, November 2nd from 5:30 pm to 9 pm
The Meadows Country Club, 3101 Longmeadow Sarasota, FL 34235
Help Tanner’s Turkeys raise money to provide Thanksgiving dinner to local families in our community. Each ticket sold feeds a family in need!
During the event, you’ll enjoy live music, a silent auction, and a 50/50 drawing. There will be a cash Bar, and heavy hors d’oeuvres will be served. Get your tickets today!
2. Empty Bowls
Thursday, November 3rd from 11 am to 1 pm
Manatee Performing Arts Center, 502 3rd Ave W, Bradenton, FL 34205
Come and join Meals on Wheels PLUS of Manatee as they celebrate the 22nd Anniversary of their annual Empty Bowls Fundraiser at the Manatee Performing Arts Center. During the event, you will be able to pick a beautiful handcrafted bowl to bring home while enjoying delicious soup, bread, and desserts donated by local restaurants.
Tickets are on sale for $30. All proceeds from this event will go directly to The Food Bank of Manatee, a PLUS program of Meals on Wheels PLUS of Manatee. Get your tickets here. Your support will be a tremendous help to all children, families, and seniors in need in our community.
3. Business at the Ballpark (Chamber Expo)
Thursday, November 3rd from 4 pm to 7 pm
LECOM Park, 1611 9th St. W. Bradenton, FL 34205
Join the Manatee Chamber of Commerce for a remarkable networking and showcase event at LECOM Park. There will be complimentary lite bites from area restaurants, entertainment, door prizes, and the opportunity to socialize and make valuable connections while learning more about local businesses so we can “support local.”
This event is open for everyone to enjoy. Tickets are $5 for members and $10 for non-members. Get your tickets here.
4. WCR Manatee Music Bingo and Thanksgiving Dinner
Thursday, November 3rd from 5:45 pm to 10 pm
Palm Aire Country Club, 5601 Country Club Way Sarasota, FL 34243
Head on over to Palm Aire Country Club and join the Women’s Council of Realtors Manatee Network for a traditional Thanksgiving dinner prepared by the amazing Palm Aire Chef to kick off this holiday season. This meal will include desserts and drinks of your choice. A vegetarian option and a cash bar will also be available.
Doors will open at 5:45 pm and dinner will be served at 6:15 pm, so come early! You will enjoy a Chinese Auction, 50/50 tickets, and additional bingo cards for purchase. This event is open to everyone, so bring your partner, friends, co-workers, neighbors, clients, and business associates to let’s celebrate Thanksgiving together. Get your tickets here.
5. Festival of the Skeletons
Friday, November 4th from 6 pm to 9:30 pm
Saturday, November 5th from 11 am to 4 pm
Village of the Arts, 1227 12th St. W Bradenton, FL 34205
Experience the largest and most popular event held at Bradenton’s Village of the Arts! Don’t miss out on the 18th Annual Festival of the Skeletons. This event is a celebration of life and remembering our departed loved ones in the tradition of Dia de los Muertos.
During the festival, you’ll have the chance to explore VOTA’s shops, galleries, and restaurants while celebrating with music, food, and drinks. This is an event you surely don’t want to miss!
6. All Aboard for Literacy
Saturday, November 5th from 12 pm to 3 pm
Manatee Village Historical Park, 1404 Manatee Ave E, Bradenton, FL
Don’t miss the 3rd Annual Flavors of Literacy event at the Manatee Historical Village. Manatee Literacy Council is hosting this family-friendly event with great food, live entertainment, and a silent auction.
Your ticket includes meals, parking, entrance to the Village, and more. Get your tickets here!
7. Friendsgiving Wine & Dessert Auction
Saturday, November 5th from 6:30 pm to 9:30 pm
Bradenton Elks (B.P.O.E.) 1511, 2511 75th St W Bradenton, FL 34209
Friends of Manatee County Animal Services (FOMCAS) will be celebrating its annual Friendsgiving Wine and Desert Auction.
Come and join them in celebrating a night filled with wine and desserts. There will also be food, drinks, and live & silent auctions. Everyone is welcome to join and have some fun! This is a FREE event, but RSVPs are required, so sign up today!
8. Manatee Performing Arts Center Open House
Wednesday, November 9th from 3 pm to 6 pm
Manatee Performing Arts Center, 502 3rd Ave W, Bradenton, FL 34205
Experience a fun and exciting backstage tour of the Manatee Performing Arts Center! See all the different spaces and unique features, meet with their team members, and learn more about this space built for our community in 2013.
This is a 𝗙𝗥𝗘𝗘 event and all are welcome
9. Pets! at Manatee Performing Arts Center
November 9th through 20th
Manatee Performing Arts Center, 502 3rd Ave W, Bradenton, FL 34205
If you’re a fan of musicals and pets, then you don’t want to miss out on this one! Catch Pets! a fun and charming musical featuring some of our favorite furry creatures such as dogs, cats, and even parakeets. This is show is fit for all ages.
This will sell out fast, so get your tickets here.
10. Falling for Vintage
Friday, November 11th, and Saturday, November 12th from 11 am to 4 pm
Bradenton Area Convention Center, 1 Haben Blvd Palmetto, FL 34221
Are you on a hunt for some unique gifts, trinkets, and treasures? Check out Falling for Vintage at the Bradenton Convention Center! Inspired by their love of vintage and hand-made, the American Vintage Markets assembled curated local vendors and makers to showcase their best vintage-inspired, re-purposed, handcrafted, and re-imagined treasures.
Tickets sell for $4 – $20. Get your tickets here and let the treasure hunting begin!
11. Palmetto Market
Saturday, November 12th from 9 am to 2 pm
433 10th Ave W Palmetto, FL
If you’re planning to do some early holiday shopping, check out the Palmetto Market!
Catch 50+ local vendors showcasing their goods and services, food sales by the Palmetto High Athletic Boosters, and live music by Party Pro DJs. This shopping event will be fun for everyone.
12. Friendly City Flea
Saturday, November 12th from 9 am to 2 pm
Oscura Café & Bar, 816 Manatee Avenue East Bradenton FL 34208
Another great shopping event! Come to the Friendly City Flea at Oscura Café & Bar and explore goodies from local makers, musicians, and creatives in Downtown Bradenton.
There will be also food, drinks, and much more! Grab your family and friends and come out to support local businesses, artists, and the community.
13. Harvest Craft Fair
Saturday, November 12th from 9 am to 4 pm
Mixon Fruit Farms, 2525 27th St E, Bradenton, FL 34208
Another incredible opportunity to #ShopLocal this month, head over to Mixon Fruit Farms for their annual Harvest Craft Fair.
This FREE event will feature over 50 crafters selling their locally-made treasures. There will also be live entertainment by Clark McCormack and 2Wish as well as Story Time with Lili Rose.
There’s something here for everyone, so gather up the whole family and enjoy your day at the farm.
14. Made Here Craft Show
Saturday, November 12th from 10 am to 5 pm
Bradenton Woman’s Club, 1705 Manatee Ave W Bradenton, FL 34205
The Bradenton Woman’s Club’s Made Here Craft Show will feature unique items created by artists from Tampa to Sarasota.
This is a fun, fresh holiday craft fair – whether you’re shopping for others or want to find something exciting for yourself, you won’t be disappointed.
15. Suncoast Food and Wine Festival
Saturday, November 12th from 1 pm to 4 pm
Premier Sports Campus at Lakewood Ranch, 5895 Post Blvd Bradenton, FL 34211
Celebrate the season with the Suncoast Food and Wine Festival! Enjoy delicacies from different local restaurants and taste more than a hundred wine flavors from all over the world.
All proceeds of this event will go directly to local nonprofits and other Rotary projects. Get your tickets here.
16. Cortez Stone Crab Festival
Saturday, November 12th, and Sunday, November 13th from 10 am to 6 pm
Cortez Village, 4628 119th Street West
Mark your calendars for the 10th Annual Cortez Stone Crab & Music Festival in the Cortez Fishing Village! This outdoor event is one of the Village’s biggest and most popular events. You’ll enjoy plenty of delicious fresh and local seafood and ice-cold beverages while watching talented musical acts performing on 3 different stages.
Kids will also enjoy a Kid’s Zone where they can play, and many local artists will display their merchandise for sale. There will also be music in the evening at the Swordfish Grill & Tiki Bar and The Cortez Kitchen. Adults are $5, kids 12 and under get in free.
17. Glass Classes at Witchgrass Studios
Sunday, November 13th from 1 pm to 4 pm
Tuesday, November 15th from 6 pm to 9 pm
Witchgrass Studio, 917 12Th Ave, Bradenton, Florida 34205
Want to create gorgeous glass creations like the ones you see at Witchgrass Studio? Join the studio’s Glass Classes for a fun workshop filled with color and light! You will be able to create both a pendant and a suncatcher or dish. All projects will be ready to pick up later that week.
Choose from two different classes – November 13 from 1 pm to 4 pm or November 15 from 6 pm to 9 pm. Class is limited to 8 persons only, so hurry up and register today!
18. My Breast Friends 941 Bingo Night Fundraiser
Tuesday, November 15th from 6:30 pm to 9 pm
H2U: 6670 Cortez Rd. W. Bradenton, FL 34210
Come out for an evening of FUN for a great cause! Your $25 ticket gets you 2 bingo sheets, a drink ticket, and hors d’oeuvres. There will also be a silent auction and lots of fun!
All proceeds go to My Breast Friends 941, an organization that focuses on saving local lives
Get your ticket online today!
19. Sanga Rita Showdown
Friday, November 18th from 6 pm to 9 pm
Manatee County Fairgrounds, Veterans Hall 1402 14th Ave W Palmetto, FL 34221
The Sanga-Rita Showdown is back again for this month! Watch some of the area’s best restaurants battle their way to the titles of Best Sangria and Best Margarita in Suncoast.
Taste their samples and vote for your favorites. There will also be delicious restaurant appetizers and entertainment for you to enjoy.
All proceeds for this event will go directly to Parenting Matters. Get your tickets here!
20. East to West Art Market
Saturday, November 19th from 10 am to 5 pm
Sunday, November 20th from 11 am to 4 pm
Bradenton Convention Center: 1 Haben Blvd, Palmetto, FL 34221
Head on over to the Bradenton Area Convention Center for the 7th Annual East2West Art Market. You will catch more than 40 local artists hosted by the Parrish Arts Council who will showcase and sell their art.
There will be inspiring original artwork done in watercolor, acrylics, fluid art, jewelry, glass mosaics, wood, pottery, photography, and more. You’ll be able to check out demonstrations and also have the opportunity to win multiple raffle baskets with both art and enticing gifts. Admission to this event is FREE.
21. Towers of Tomorrow (With Lego Bricks)
November 22nd through March 18th
The Bishop Museum of Science and Nature, 201 10th St W Bradenton, FL 34205
If you’re a fan of legos, then you definitely don’t want to miss out on this event! Towers of Tomorrow with LEGO® Bricks will be on display at The Bishop Museum of Science and Nature and will feature 20 different stunning skyscrapers from North America, Asia, and Australia constructed in spectacular architectural detail by Ryan McNaught, a LEGO® certified professional.
Visitors are able to build their very own ‘Towers of Tomorrow’ with over 200,000 loose LEGO® bricks available in hands-on construction areas. This is fun for all ages!
22. Main Street Live
Wednesday, November 23rd from 6 pm to 9 pm
Old Main St. Downtown Bradenton, FL
Mark your calendars, because you don’t want to miss Bradenton’s most popular street party! Catch Main Street Live as it returns to Downtown Bradenton.
This month’s theme is a Pre-Thanksgiving block party on historic Old Main Street. Streets will be closed, local food trucks and vendors will line up, and local music will be playing starting at 6 pm.
23. AMOB’s Merry Flippin’ Christmas Experience
Black Friday (11/25) Through 12/31
Anna Maria Oyster Bar: 6906 14th St W, Bradenton, FL 34207
Head over to Anna Maria Oyster Bar for Merry Flippin’ Christmas – a pop-up holiday experience at Anna Maria Oyster Bar’s Landside location’s Halfway Lounge.
The Lounge and Deck are being transformed into a completely immersive celebration of the season, replete with epic decorations, nightly programming, festive craft cocktails, and a specialty menu. Reservations are not required, but we recommend arriving early to get the best seat in the winter wonderland.
24. 2nd Annual Village of the Arts Shop Small Scavenger Hunt
Saturday, November 26th from 11 am to 4 pm
Village of the Arts, Bradenton
Kick off your gift shopping and join in the fun for the 2nd Annual Small Business Saturday Shop Small Scavenger hunt in the Village of the Arts.
Pick up your entry form at the info booth located at the corner of 11th Ave. W and 12th St. W. and get busy hunting the galleries and shops. Gather all the clues to solve the word puzzle and be entered to win the Shop Small prize bag, overflowing with cool art and gifts from the galleries, valued at over $200.
Come early for FREE coffee and donuts, grab lunch at one of the restaurants and drop off your completed Scavenger Hunt entry at the end of the day
25. Poinsettia Open House
Saturday, November 26th from 9 am to 3 pm
Orban’s Nursery, 9601 9th Ave NW, Bradenton, FL
Catch the Holiday Spirit at Orban’s Nursery’s 32nd Annual Poinsettia Open House!
Check out handmade gifts from local vendors, grab a bite from the food trucks, and bring your camera to capture your experience at the vast sea of color in the greenhouses.
This is an awesome photo opp and a fun family-friendly adventure that will quickly become one of your favorite annual traditions!
There you have it! Our round-up of 25 fun and exciting things to do in Bradenton during the month of November. We encourage you to get off the couch, get out, and #SupportLocal!
Looking for even more things to do? We update our event calendar daily, so head on over and check it out. Be sure to bookmark it and check back often, so you never miss a thing!
