Notices

Bradenton Area To Host “Golf Coast Drive” Beachfront Golf Experience During Senior PGA Championship Week:

Environmentally responsible golf event to showcase Coquina Beach and support youth development through First Tee Sarasota/Manatee

BRADENTON BEACH, FL. – March 19, 2026 – The Bradenton Area’s sugar-white sands will set the stage for Golf Coast Drive, a one-of-a-kind beachfront golf experience set to tee off on April 13 at Coquina Beach to kick off the week of the Senior PGA Championship.

The event invites participants to take their swing from the Bradenton Area’s world-renowned beaches while promoting environmentally responsible recreation. Using biodegradable golf balls, participants will hit shots into the Gulf waters in three beachside challenges: a longest drive competition into the gulf, a closest-to-the-pin contest featuring floating offshore targets and a mini-golf course.

“Golf Coast Drive is a fun and inclusive way to celebrate championship golf while also highlighting the beach bliss of the Bradenton Area,” said Manatee County Board of County Commissioners Chairperson, Tal Siddique. “Along with the Senior PGA Championship here at the Concession Golf Club, we’re excited to welcome fans and visitors to experience our coastline in a whole new way.”

The one-day event will also feature a sunset skills showdown with celebrity guests. They will earn points through driving, pitching and putting challenges on the beachfront. The team with highest score will be crowned champion of the inaugural Golf Coast Drive.

The day’s events include a youth clinic in partnership with First Tee Sarasota/Manatee, a golf-based nonprofit which uses programs to teach life and leadership skills to young people across the region. Through partnerships with organizations such as the Boys & Girls Clubs, the Newtown Connection, Girls Inc., and the Palmetto Youth Center, the organization provides free access to golf instruction and mentorship. So far this year, the program has reached more than 1,000 local youth.

“This exciting event will help participating youth sharpen their skills in a new and exciting way,” said Lisa Krouse, chief executive officer of First Tee Sarasota/Manatee said. “Tying together our young athletes with champion and professional golfers will be a treasured experience.”

Later in the week, The Concession Golf Course is hosting the Senior PGA Championship from April 16-19, the first time the event will be held in the state of Florida since the year 2000.

Timeline:

April 13th 1pm-7pm

1:00pm: Media participation and interviews

1:30pm-3:00pm: Open to the public

3:00pm- 5:00pm: First Tee Youth Clinic

5:00pm-7:00pm: Sunset skills showdown and trophy ceremony

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Keenan Singleton, Communications Manager

Bradenton Area Convention & Visitors Bureau

941-773-6000

keenan.singleton@bacvb.com

About the Bradenton Area Convention & Visitors Bureau

As an accredited Destination Marketing Organization (DMO), The Bradenton Area Convention & Visitors Bureau (BACVB) is responsible for promoting tourism to Bradenton, Anna Maria Island and Longboat Key areas through strategic domestic and international advertising, public relations and marketing efforts. In an effort to raise the profile and boost the economy in Manatee County, the BACVB works with consumers as well as meeting and event planners to highlight the destination’s sugar-white sand and turquoise waters, fresh seafood, arts and culture, rich history and the easy pace of authentic Florida island life globally. For more information, visit www.bradentongulfislands.com.

Manatee County Launches Mixon Farms Market March 15

MANATEE COUNTY, FL (Mar. 5, 2026)—Manatee County is proud to announce the kickoff of the new Mixon Farms Market, launching Sunday, March 15, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Mixon Farms, 2525 27th Street East, Bradenton, FL 34208.

The inaugural event will feature a variety of local vendors offering fresh foods, handmade goods and specialty items. Families can also enjoy live music while they shop and explore a special “Ag Adventure Day” with a touch a tractor area showcasing real tractors, farming tools and agriculture up close. Guests will also be able to tour the Gazebo and Grand Pavilion, where a styled mini wedding showcase will highlight the venue’s charm and event possibilities.

The Mixon Farms Market is designed to bring the community together while supporting local small businesses and entrepreneurs. The market aims create a recurring destination where residents can shop local and connect with area growers, makers and vendors.

Following the March 15 kickoff, the market will continue on the third Sunday of the month in April and May. The regular season will run September through May, providing an ongoing opportunity for residents to enjoy fresh products and community-centered experiences.

“Preserving local agriculture is essential to maintaining the character, economy and heritage of Manatee County,” said District 2 Commissioner Amanda Ballard. “The Mixon Farms Market not only supports our local farmers and small businesses, it also creates meaningful opportunities for residents to connect directly with the people who grow their food and sustain our agricultural traditions.”

Vendor Opportunities Available

Local farmers, artisans and small businesses interested in participating in future markets are encouraged to apply. Vendors can request information and sign up by emailing mixon@mymanatee.org.

For more information about Manatee County Government, visit mymanatee.org or call (941) 748-4501. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @ManateeGov.

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Manatee County Information Outreach

NEWS line: (941) 745-6397 (NEWS)

Manatee County to Follow Modified Phase II Water Shortage Restrictions

One-Day-Per-Week Outdoor Watering in Effect Beginning February 8, 2026

MANATEE COUNTY, FL (Jan. 28, 2026) – The Southwest Florida Water Management District (SWFWMD) Governing Board has declared a Modified Phase II “Severe” Water Shortage due to ongoing dry conditions across the region. As a result, all residents in Manatee County, including those on private wells, will be required to follow one-day-per-week outdoor watering restrictions beginning February 8, 2026, through July 1, 2026.

The declaration applies to all of Citrus, DeSoto, Hardee, Hernando, Hillsborough, Manatee, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, Sarasota, and Sumter counties; portions of Charlotte, Highlands, and Lake counties; the City of Dunnellon and The Villages in Marion County; and the portion of Gasparilla Island in Lee County.

The District reported below-average rainfall during the 2025 summer rainy season and a current regional rainfall deficit of approximately 13 inches compared to the 12-month average. Water levels in aquifers, rivers, lakes, and regional public water supplies continue to decline and are below normal for this time of year.

Because outdoor irrigation can account for more than 50 percent of household water use, residents should carefully follow their local watering schedules. In Manatee County, the standard one-day-per-week schedule is based on street address:

Addresses ending in 0 or 1: Monday

Addresses ending in 2 or 3: Tuesday

Addresses ending in 4 or 5: Wednesday

Addresses ending in 6 or 7: Thursday

Addresses ending in 8 or 9, and locations without a discernible address: Friday

Unless stricter local hours are in effect:

Properties under two acres may water only before 8 a.m. or after 6 p.m.

Properties two acres or larger may water only before 10 a.m. or after 4 p.m.

Low-volume irrigation (micro-irrigation, soaker hoses, and hand watering) is allowed any day and time.

Additional provisions of the Modified Phase II Order include:

Homeowners associations and similar entities may not require increased water use for landscape appearance, plant replacement, or pressure washing.

Residential car washing is allowed only on the assigned watering day.

Aesthetic fountains are limited to eight hours of operation per day.

Pressure washing is allowed once per year or when preparing surfaces for painting or sealing.

Manatee County Utilities, in coordination with Code Enforcement, will enforce the water shortage restrictions. The following penalty structure will apply:

1st violation – Warning

2nd violation – $100 fine

3rd violation – $250 fine

4th and subsequent violations – $500 fine

The County is coordinating with Code Enforcement staff to ensure consistent enforcement of the Modified Phase II provisions.

The order also directs local utilities to report enforcement activity to the Southwest Florida Water Management District and continue coordination with regional water supply partners, including Tampa Bay Water and the Peace River Manasota Regional Water Supply Authority.

For full details on watering restrictions, visit mymanatee.org/waterrestrictions.

For water-saving tips and conservation resources, visit WaterMatters.org/Water101.

For more information about Manatee County Government, visit mymanatee.org or call (941) 748-4501. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @ManateeGov.

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Manatee County Information Outreach

NEWS line: (941) 745-6397 (NEWS)

news@mymanatee.org