Florida Heritage Festival - Seafood Fest Recognized as one of Florida's outstanding riverfront festivals, the Seafood Fest features some of the best seafood you'll find anywhere. Join in sampling delicious offerings from many of the area's finest restaurants. Floats designed and built by children parade along the historic avenues of Palmetto from the Manatee County Fairgrounds south on 10th Avenue W. A fair with food, entertainment, rides and an art show for children will follow. Florida Heritage Festival Easter Egg Hunt Kids ages 3 to 9 will search for a whopping 8,000 Easter eggs. April 21 Florida Heritage Festival-Plastic Bottle Boat Regatta Experience the extremely popular Plastic Bottle Boat Regatta.
Various teams build boats that float on plastic bottles and have only paddles for propulsion.
Contestants race to determine who's the fastest, and most stylish. Bayside viewing for all with food and beverages available. The Florida Heritage Festival Grand Finale is the exciting Stadium Show and Grand Parade. Ranked among the most exciting and beautiful evening parades anywhere, the grand Parade of more than 100 entries will tour through Hawkins Stadium and delight the audience. Fifty-seven of the finest paintings and sculptures from Smith's distinguished collection of European art are featured in this traveling exhibition from the Smith College Museum of Art.