Boys & Girls Clubs of Manatee County will celebrate its 80th anniversary with an Alumni & Friends Reunion and Wing Fest on Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026, at the DeSoto Boys & Girls Club in Bradenton. The free community event will bring together generations of Club alumni, friends and supporters to reconnect, share memories and celebrate eight decades of service to young people and families in Manatee County.
The Alumni & Friends Reunion and Wing Fest will feature wings from local restaurants, beverages, favorite Club games, music from a DJ and a college football tailgate atmosphere. Guests can watch the day’s football games on multiple screens while reconnecting with friends and fellow alumni.
“This celebration is about coming home to the place, the people and the experiences that helped shape so many lives,” said Kim Jenkins, Alumni Relations Coordinator for Boys & Girls Clubs of Manatee County. “Whether your Club days were here in Manatee County or somewhere else, we want you to join us. Once a Club kid, always a Club kid.”
The invitation extends beyond former members of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Manatee County. Anyone who attended a Boys & Girls Club in another community, another state or even on a U.S. military base overseas, and now calls the Manatee County area home, is encouraged to attend.
Throughout the event, guests will have opportunities to reconnect with friends, meet alumni from different generations, share Club memories and learn how Boys & Girls Clubs of Manatee County continues to serve young people today.
Event Details
What: Boys & Girls Clubs of Manatee County Alumni & Friends Reunion and Wing Fest
When: Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026, 2 PM – 6 PM
Where: DeSoto Boys & Girls Club, 5236 30th St. W., Bradenton, FL 34207
Admission: Free; advance registration is encouraged
Registration: https://www.bgcmanatee.org/events
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About Boys & Girls Clubs of Manatee County
Boys & Girls Clubs of Manatee County’s mission is “to enable all young people, especially those that need us most, to reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens.” Now celebrating its 80th anniversary, Boys & Girls Clubs of Manatee County currently provides afterschool and summer programs for over 2,500 young people at seven locations (3 traditional Clubs and 4 school-based Clubs). The Clubs offer a safe place to learn and grow, where members experience both life-enhancing and character-building programs focused on academic success, health and wellness, good character and leadership, and life and workforce readiness. For more information, call 941-761-2582 or visit http://www.bgcmanatee.org or http://www.facebook.com/BoysGirlsClubsManatee.
