TONIGHT: Get Down Downtown in Bradenton with The Gumbo Boogie Band

The Gumbo Boogie Band headlines Get Down Downtown today on Old Main St. in downtown Bradenton.

The city's monthly street party is from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.

The talented local group, which features former Gregg Allman Band member Chaz Trippy on percussion, plays everything from ebullient classic rock to hot, Cajun-flavored funk.

Gumbo Boogie Band (pictured) hits the stage around 6 p.m.


Old Main Street (12th Street West) will close for the event today from Manatee Avenue West and Third Avenue around 2:30 p.m. and will remain closed until 11 p.m. City officials note: "Please move your vehicles off Old Main Street this afternoon!"

There will be dozens of vendors on both sides of Old Main Street selling food, arts and crafts and other goods. Get Down Downtown is free but you must be 21 years or older to drink and get inside the bars. Organizers ask attendees to not bring glass bottles outside; the bars will provide plastic cups if people want to mingle outside with beveragein hand.

The bars on Old Main Street usually stay open until about 2-2:30 a.m.

Parking is available in the downtown garage on 12th Street West across from the Bank of America building, the county garage located on 10th St. W. just off Manatee Avenue and in the City Hall parking lot at the corner of 12th Street West (Old Main Street) and Third Avenue.

Get Down Downtown occurs on the third Thursday of every month on Old Main Street except for July and August. It is organized by the Old Main Street Merchants Association. However, next month’s Get Down will occur on Saturday, March 17, to coincide with St. Patrick’s Day.