Busy Week of Learning, Sports, Nature, and Entertainment Set for Manatee County Nov. 17–24
Manatee County residents will have no shortage of activities as a full slate of educational programs, community events, outdoor experiences, and family-friendly entertainment is scheduled across the region from November 17 through November 24, 2025. Local governments, libraries, nonprofits, and entertainment venues are hosting events for all ages, from gardening workshops to professional wrestling, golf tournaments, and reptile education.
The Manatee County Public Library System is offering daily programs throughout the week. On November 17, the Palmetto Branch will host Grow Your Garden from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m., welcoming all ages with required registration. The next morning, November 18, the Braden River Branch invites adults to "Get to Know Your Library" from 10:00 to 11:30 a.m. A personal finance class for adults is scheduled at the South Manatee Branch on November 19 from 6 to 7 p.m., followed by a health-focused seminar, 10 Warning Signs of Alzheimer’s, at the Lakewood Ranch Library on November 20 from 11 a.m. to noon. The Rocky Bluff Branch will hold its Friends of the Rocky Book Sale on November 21 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and the week concludes with an author talk featuring Alan Cross at the Island Branch Library on November 22 from 10 a.m. to noon.
Outside the library, several large community events are planned across the county. The Early Learning Coalition of Manatee County will hold its 14th Annual Golf Classic on November 21 at 11:30 a.m., with lunch and registration preceding a 12:30 p.m. shotgun start.
Palma Sola Botanical Park will host its November Garden Workday on November 19 from 9 a.m. to noon, offering community members a chance to volunteer in the gardens with tools, water, and snacks provided.
Families and nature-lovers can explore Florida wildlife at ReptiFest, held November 22 from 9 a.m. to noon at Robinson Preserve. The event will showcase live reptiles and provide guidance on their importance to local ecosystems. Registration is encouraged but not required.
Also on November 22, runners will gather in Parrish for the Run Manatee Rye Preserve 5K, part of the county’s running series.
Those seeking entertainment will also find plenty of options. Universal Championship Wrestling brings its Thanksgiving Throwdown to Bradenton on November 22 at the DeSoto Boys & Girls Club, with doors opening at 6:30 p.m. and the show beginning at 7 p.m. Kids under 12 may enter free with a paying adult.
Local music and arts venues are also active. Oscura in downtown Bradenton will feature live performers and community gatherings throughout the week, while the cities of Bradenton and Palmetto continue to offer regular government meetings, civic events, and public recreation opportunities as the holiday season approaches.
As the county enters Thanksgiving week, the blend of education, recreation, entertainment, and volunteerism highlights the region’s vibrant community life and the numerous avenues available for residents to participate, learn, and connect.