PALMETTO, Fla. — Manatee County residents will gather down by the river to celebrate the nation’s birthday.
The 13th Annual Palmetto Fourth Fest is moving down by the Riverside Park along the Manatee River.
“I think it’s just going to be better all the way around, and fireworks over the river, how does that get any better?” Mayor Shirley Groover Bryant said.
For years, the festival has been held at Suton Park, but that has forced families to walk more than three blocks to the river to see the fireworks.
“Basically, there’s a certain hazard to get that many people, that distance,” Bryant said. “It doesn’t seem like much, but it does help make a difference.”
Lifelong Manatee County resident Jack Youmans loves going to the festival every year.
“Well, I love everybody getting together,” Youmans said. “The best part about it is the grand finale at the end.”
Across the river, the city of Bradenton will also host the festivities.
Both festivals are free.
In Palmetto, a trolley will provide free rides for festival-goers from elsewhere in the historic downtown district down to Riverside.
“You know, it might just be time we take a look if HOAs are really even necessary.
Maybe we should just do away with homeowner associations as a whole.”
South Florida lawmaker Rep. Juan Carlos Porras (R-Miami) says it may be time to do away with homeowners associations altogether, as more Floridians speak out about rising fees, costly lawsuits, and even arrests tied to HOA disputes. He said this week that he is considering filing legislation in the next session that would abolish HOAs statewide.
