Cultural Opportunities

While the visual arts play a vital role in the county’s cultural make-up, the performing arts hold an equally important position. The county features regular performances by the renowned Manatee Players, based out of the Riverfront Theatre. On nearby Anna Maria Island, live productions have filled the stages of the Island Playhouse for the past 40 years. The Manatee Ballet also enjoys a loyal following, providing fans with a regular source of cultural entertainment.  Also close at hand is the Sarasota Ballet, which gives performances from October through April each year.

From chamber music to rock concerts, Manatee County and its neighboring communities offer a wealth of opportunities for residents and visitors to enjoy music. The Florida West Coast Symphony, backed by a 50-year tradition of entertainment, fills the calendar from September through June with symphonies, chamber concerts and even a six-concert Masterworks Series held in the Neel Auditorium at Manatee Community College. Its dedication to promoting the musical arts was recently highlighted when the Florida Arts Council recognized it as the state’s premier musical organization. The Sarasota Pops Orchestra, a 90-member group that performs at the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall in Sarasota as well as at other area venues, offers music lovers the opportunity to enjoy four concerts each year.

Manatee County is blessed with a number of ideal locations for its cultural events, including Manatee Community College’s Neel Auditorium, which serves as the community’s cultural hub. Numerous concerts and other events produced by the institution’s schools of music and theater are held in this auditorium throughout the year. Palmetto hosts the Manatee Convention Center while Bradenton is home to the Municipal Auditorium – both of which play host to various trade shows, sporting events, performances and conventions year-round.