Bradenton Hosts 11th Annual River Regatta Event

Over 100,000 people expected to attend the boat racing festival, including the Florida Formula One Powerboat Championships for the first time.

Published on Feb. 21, 2026

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Bradenton, Florida hosted its 11th annual River Regatta event this past weekend, drawing massive crowds of over 100,000 spectators to the county's largest spectator event. For the first time, the event featured the Florida Formula One Powerboat Championships, showcasing some of the fastest inland boats in the world capable of reaching speeds up to 130 mph.

Why it matters

The River Regatta is a major annual event for Bradenton and Manatee County, providing a family-friendly festival with boat races, entertainment, and economic benefits for the local community. The addition of the high-speed Formula One powerboat races this year is an exciting new draw for the event.

The details

The 11th annual River Regatta featured a variety of boat racing events, including the debut of the Florida Formula One Powerboat Championships. These top-tier powerboats can reach speeds near 130 mph on the straightaways. In addition to the races, the festival offered other family-friendly entertainment like canine trick shows and magic performances.

  • The River Regatta took place this past weekend (February 21-22, 2026).
  • This was the 11th annual edition of the event.

The players

Michael Dongilli

The production manager of the River Regatta event.

Gene Brown

The mayor of Bradenton.

Danielle Wagner

The owner of Team Zoom Canine, which performed canine trick shows at the event.

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What they’re saying

“There's no brakes on these boats. It's all throttle driven. So once they get going, man, it's pedal to the metal.”

— Michael Dongilli, Production Manager, River Regatta (fox13news.com)

“We average over 100,000 spectators each year here coming down to see this.”

— Michael Dongilli, Production Manager, River Regatta (fox13news.com)

“It's a family free event. That was one of the most important things, and just thanking Manatee County, city of Palmetto, city of Bradenton for what they do, and all of our councils and commissioners that really work to make this that safe free event.”

— Gene Brown, Mayor of Bradenton (fox13news.com)

“They really love to make the audience happy, and this is when they're at the absolute happiest of their little lives.”

— Danielle Wagner, Owner, Team Zoom Canine (fox13news.com)

“Pretty much any age group is going to find something to enjoy when they're down here today.”

— Michael Dongilli, Production Manager, River Regatta (fox13news.com)

The takeaway

The River Regatta has become a beloved annual tradition in Bradenton, drawing massive crowds to enjoy a variety of boat races, family entertainment, and community spirit. The addition of the high-speed Formula One powerboat championships this year further solidifies the event as a must-see spectacle for motorsports fans in the region.