The Power of Placemaking

By NICOLE MISKOVIC

How Events Shape Our Community and Boost Our Economy

In downtown Bradenton, the hum of conversation blends with music drifting from the Riverwalk. Food trucks line the street. Artists paint live while children laugh and dance. Neighbors, strangers, and visitors alike are sharing the same experience. This moment is more than just an event. It’s placemaking in action.

Placemaking, according to Project for Public Spaces, is the collaborative process of reimagining public spaces as the heart of every community. It emphasizes the connection between people and the places they share, turning parks, streets, and plazas into vibrant, inclusive spaces that foster identity, interaction, and pride.

One organization helping lead the placemaking movement locally is Realize Bradenton, a nonprofit that builds community and promotes economic prosperity through the activation of public places. Its latest initiative, BAM!Fest, brought an estimated 10,000 people to the Bradenton Riverwalk in April for a free day-long celebration of art, music, food, and family fun.

Events, Festivals, and Economic Impact

Beyond the social and cultural impact, events also generate real economic returns. According to the Economic Development Journal, the economic impact of tourism-based events is driven by new money (spending that comes from outside the local area and circulates within it). This means every out-of-town visitor attending a festival or event like BAM!Fest contributes to our local economy through ripples of interaction with the community, from eating at restaurants to staying in hotels.

A 2023 Arts & Economic Prosperity study reinforces this with data indicating that in Manatee County alone the nonprofit arts and culture sector generated $75.1 million in total economic activity, including over $45.9 million in audience spending. These dollars supported more than 1,000 jobs, generated $2.5 million in local tax revenue, and fostered long-term sustainability for our venues and creative spaces. Even more powerful are the voices of the people attending events in Bradenton, with over 85% of respondents indicating that participation in arts and culture events made them feel a sense of pride and connection to their community.

Impact on Identity and Connection

For those who work closely with events, the impact of events is both measurable and long-lasting. Jordan Heller, founder of Suncoast Wedding & Event Leaders (SWEL), an industry collective helping strengthen businesses through top-quality networking events, sees firsthand how festivals and public gatherings help shape the identity of a place and bring people together in a shared experience that digital life often lacks.

“While shared experiences for communities used to be things like tuning into the Olympics or a network show at the same time, now everything is personalized, streamed, or algorithm-driven. This has turned events and festivals into a new way of sharing experiences as a community. A downtown street that’s normally just a way to get from point A to B becomes a bustling night market. A quiet park transforms into a music venue,” said Heller. “Activating different public spaces makes people think differently about their city, creating new memories and emotional connections. Especially for kids, these experiences become foundational stories of growing up in their community.”

He’s also observed how gatherings can ignite connection and reframe how people see their surroundings, both through his work with SWEL and through the broader ripple effects of the event industry, particularly weddings. For example, The Ringling generates over half a million dollars annually from weddings, which turns into revenue that helps fund their public events and strengthens the community. That same trend can be seen in places like Waterside Place in Lakewood Ranch, where events like Ranch Nite Wednesdays bring people together weekly.

“Events are like that spark,” Heller said. “You think, ‘Oh, I can go to the museum or gardens anytime,’ but years go by, and you don’t. Events like the Bradenton Public Market or BAM!Fest give people that excuse to go. They break the routine and remind people of what’s here, all while giving tourists a more authentic experience rooted in our community’s character.”

Activating the Community: How Realize Bradenton Brings People Together

BAM!Fest demonstrated how fostering pride of place, economic momentum, and shared memories are possible when our local community businesses and organizations activate public spaces.

With 58 visual artists, 14 musicians, nine performers, and over 50 food vendors, community partners, and local suppliers combined, BAM!Fest celebrated Bradenton’s creative ecosystem while inviting residents and visitors alike to see the city through a new lens. From local businesses to food vendors, dozens of regional partners played a role, reinforcing the ripple effect events have on our local economy, supporting small businesses and amplifying our community’s vibrancy.

Whether it’s through large-scale festivals like BAM!Fest or spring traditions like Music in the Park, Realize Bradenton continues to turn everyday spaces in our community into extraordinary experiences. By attending, volunteering, or simply showing up, you can become an active participant in placemaking within our community.

To learn more about upcoming events or how you can get involved, visit www.RealizeBradenton.com.

Photos by Jeremy Piper