BRADENTON FALL HAPPENINGS

BY AMANDA GRAY

By the time fall arrives in Florida, residents and visitors alike are ready
to welcome it with open arms. A break from humidity and a cooler gulf provide
the perfect backdrop to take in festive outdoor activities and community
events in Bradenton. So, if you’re ready to shift from palm trees to pumpkin spice, this list of Florida fall happenings has you covered.

Activate your best fall self by attending the annual Hunsader Farms 33rd Annual
Pumpkin Fest! This year’s event, which is free for children under 10, will be held
during various weekends throughout the month, on October 12-13, October 19
20, and October 26-27 from 9 to 5 p.m. Live music, hayrides, and a petting zoo are all included with admission. With many fall-friendly activities happening throughout the day, attendees can also purchase pumpkin pies, homemade ice cream, and pumpkins. This event invites dogs to participate in the celebration as well, as long as they are friendly and on leash. Hunsader Farms is family-owned and operated and located at 5500 C.R. 675 Bradenton.

Dust off your best monster mash dance moves at Bridge Street’s Sundown Get Down, Pumpkins & Palms in Paradise on October 17. Street parties are a regular occurrence at the historic strip on Anna Maria Island, so you can count on a good time while you stroll, shop, eat, and dance your way through the night.

Sip on a pumpkin-flavored libation at Motorworks any night of the week. Their sprawling outdoor patio serves up unbeatable ambience and, when the evenings are cooler, you can sit under their beautifully lit oak tree while enjoying live music or bingo, or bring the family and play the giant lawn games sprinkled throughout this impressive outdoor space. While Motorworks operates year-round, make it a point to enjoy it during peak patio weather and be sure to check out the 9th Annual Celt Music Festival, being held at the brewery on October 19.

Stroll the Palma Sola Botanical Garden’s during their Fall Plants & More Sale
on Sunday, October 20 from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. and stock up on some fall garden favorites. Admission is free.

Leaf peeping is great, but in Bradenton one of the signature ways to enjoy a fall
day is to head to the beach and enjoy what many locals refer to as the ideal
time of year for a swim. So, while there are many events happening all over town, you can’t go wrong with keeping it simple and enjoying mild temps and a slower pace.