Bradenton New Year's Eve party on Old Main St. details announced

UPDATED 12/27: New Year's Eve bashes from Bradenton to Sarasota 

People crowd Old Main Street in Bradenton during Get Down Downtown, now called Main Street Live. HERALD FILE PHOTO

Time to dust off the super silly hats, awesomely annoying noise makers and the rest of your party gear.

New Year's Eve is rapidly approaching.

For Bradenton area residents, the big bash takes place on Old Main St., which will be closed for revelry from 3 p.m. Dec. 31 until 1 a.m. Jan. 1.

A thousand people are expected to enjoy the New Year’s Eve edition of Main Street Live. It will feature upbeat dance music covers by Hot Ice. The band, which can be seen here performing a rocking rendition of the Linda Ronstadt hit "You're No Good" at Woody's River Roo, performs from 7 p.m. until the ball drops at midnight.

There will also be food and drink vendors at the event.

Main Street Live is free but attendees must be 21 years or older to be 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 beverage in hand.

The drinking establishments on Old Main Street usually stay open as late as 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.

There are usually taxicabs readily available on Old Main Street across from The Lost Kangaroo but if you are drinking, it's best to plan ahead for transportation. Are you the designated driver? A non-drinker? Then you might want to read about this woman who is staying sober for New Year's Eve.

The event is produced by the Old Main Street Merchants Association.

Information: 941-896-8860.

Popular Bradenton street party Get Down Downtown renamed 'Main Street Live'

WEEKEND: 'Main Street Live' in Bradenton, 'Evita' at Manatee Players, Movieville and more

The popular Bradenton street party Get Down Downtown restarts today as "Main Street Live." The monthly bash on Old Main Street will now feature new music acts, new vendors from Suncoast Food Trucks and a food court with more tables in the intersection area across from the Lost Kangaroo Pub.

The most celebrated Manatee Players of recent years are returning to downtown Bradenton today for the opening of "Evita."

After debuting last June at Lakewood Ranch Cinemas, Movieville International Film Festival returns with screenings in Sarasota and an event in Bradenton.

Read more here: http://www.bradenton.com/2012/09/20/4206946/movieville-international-film.html#storylink=cpy

The good witch of rock 'n' roll returns to the Tampa Bay area in support of her latest solo album, "In Your Dreams."

The Players Theatre's 83rd season opens today with the often overlooked gem "Applause."

Read more here: http://www.bradenton.com/2012/09/20/4206919/the-players-of-sarasota-open-season.html#storylink=cpy

And more in Weekend.

Read more here: http://www.bradenton.com/2012/09/20/4206948/stevie-nicks-to-play-mahaffey.html#storylink=cpy

Read more here: http://www.bradenton.com/2012/09/20/4206924/manatee-players-production-of.html#storylink=cpy

—Music fills the air as the Michael Mac Band plays during sunset on Old Main Street in Bradenton. HERALD FILE PHOTO by Paul Videla.

Read more here: http://www.bradenton.com/2012/09/20/4206937/popular-bradenton-street-party.html#storylink=cpy

Read more here: http://www.bradenton.com/2012/09/20/4206937/popular-bradenton-street-party.html#storylink=cpy

UPDATED 9/17 Bradenton's Get Down Downtown now 'Main Street Live' with food trucks

UPDATED 9/17: Popular Bradenton street party Get Down Downtown renamed 'Main Street Live' 

Bradenton's popular monthly street party Get Down Downtown has been officially renamed Main Street Live and kicks off Sept. 20.

The event will now feature new music acts, fresh vendors from Suncoast Food Trucks, and a food court with more tables in the intersection area across from the Lost Kangaroo Pub.

Rick Willats, manager of O'Brick's, took over for Cork Miller recently as president of the Old Main Street Merchants Association. The organization started Get Down and continues to produce Main Street Live.

"We want to be able to mix up the food with six food trucks at the first event and different ones each month," he said. "We also want to elevate the music here and mix that up, too."

Events will benefit various local organizations including the Manatee Players (Oct. 18), Art Center of Manatee (Nov. 15) and the Women’s Resource Center (Dec. 20). 

Main Street Live is 5-10 p.m. every third Thursday on Old Main Street (except for July and August) in downtown Bradenton. There will be vendors selling foods and drinks, arts and crafts and more. 

Here's the live music roster through December:

Sept. 20: Soul Purpose
Reggae, Rock

Oct. 18: Lauren Mitchell Band
Blues, Soul, Rock

Nov. 15: Stone Fish
Rock, Folk-Rock

Nov. 21: Glass Onion
The Beatles & Paul McCartney

Dec. 20: Billy Rice Band
Contemporary, Top 40, Country

—Bradenton Herald file photo of Get Down Downtown.

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.

Get Down Downtown has a new date this month

Get Down Downtown, which usually takes place the third Thurs­day of every month, is making a temporary move to the third Fri­day this month.

Also, the hours have been ex­tended until 11 p.m. this week.

Live music by the Billy Rice Band — mostly crowd-pleasing classic rock covers — from 8 to 11 p.m. Dec. 16. Event starts at 6 p.m. on Old Main Street in downtown Bradenton. Free admission. Vendors. Good times.

—Publicity photo of Billy Rice performing with his band