Labor Day Weekend Specials Around Town

Below are more than a dozen reasons to stay in Bradenton for the long, Labor Day weekend.

And there's probably a dozen more out there, so feel free to let us know.

, 4343 Palma Sola Blvd., is jamming southern-style with Charlie Whitt at 8 p.m. Thursday and $1 Natural Lights all day (no cover). The jamming continues at 9 p.m. Friday with Cope and a special from 7p.m. to 9 p.m. with all you can drink drafts and wells for $10 ($5 cover), followed by a CD release party at 9 p.m. Saturday for blues/rock/R&B musician Eddie Garrett ($5 cover). On Sunday, enjoy easy listening tunes from TC Acoustic at 5 p.m. with $2 Bloody Marys and $2 Mimosas on the deck.

, 5606 14^th St. W., is partying Saturday from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. with live music from Katalyst and a sexy schoolgirl outfit contest open to anyone – preferably the ladies. The winner gets a $50 bar tab. Drink specials all night including $3 Katalyst bombs.

, 4307 26^th St. W., begins the long weekend with its weekly 80s Night touted as “classy night to remember for the elegant professional who doesn’t want to rub shoulders with the younger crowd.”  Enjoy couples martini specials, speed dating for singles and final tab discounts based on age groups. Fun at The Cellar continues Friday with live music from Crossfire from 9 p.m. until 1 a.m. and DJ Richy Rain all night Saturday with drink specials and gifts courtesy of the Captain Morgan girls.

, 425 Old Main St., has music all weekend and no cover charge: Matt Brown on Friday from 9 p.m. until 1 a.m., DJ Rafferdy on Saturday from 10 p.m. until 2 a.m. and Doug Demming and the Jewel Tones from 8:30 p.m. until 12:30 a.m. Sunday night is an open blues, so feel free to bring an instrument and play along. Plenty of drink specials all weekend, said co-owner Susan Miller. 

, 420 301 Blvd. E., has a Friday happy hour from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. with 50 cents off all drinks and $1 ham sandwiches all day. The bar hosts its monthly party all day Saturday with a free lasagna dinner with sides around 5 p.m. Karaoke starts up around 6 p.m. On Monday buckets of five domestic beers are $10, buckets of Coronas are $15 and pitchers are $6.

, 5917 Manatee Ave. W. #509, has drink specials all weekend and karaoke starting at 10 p.m. every Thursday, Friday and Saturday. On Monday the specials are $2 margaritas and $2.29 Angus beef burgers during the day and starting at 9 p.m. $4 domestic pitchers, $4 bombs, $2.50 wells and $4 six-piece chicken wings.

, 1200 1st Ave. W., at a celebration from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday with live music, prizes, complimentary wine tastings, samples from the menu and specialty drinks. As Pier 22, the restaurant promises to continue its popular sushi bar and fresh seafood.

, 2604 Manatee Ave. E., promises to put the Florida Gators football game on high-def TV at 7 p.m. Saturday. And they’re inviting everyone back at 3 p.m. Sunday for a free cookout.

, 406 Old Main St., is flipping on its flat-screen televisions Monday for the Jets vs. the Giants, the Rays vs. the Jays and any other sports game out there. Drink specials include three Patriot Missiles for $11, pitchers of Yuengling, Pabst Blue Ribbon or Fosters for $7 and buckets of Bud Light, Miller Lite and Coors Light for $12.

, 624 67th St. Cir. E., isn’t a bar but it has all the makings of a party from 6 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Thursday with live music from Katalyst, food and a full bar, a Daisy Dukes and cowboy boots contest, a cornhole tournament, bike show, bike wash and vendors.

, 302 Old Main St., has live acoustic music from the Muphin Chuckrs from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. Thursday then drink specials all weekend long, Friday through Monday, including 2-for-1 shots and $1.75 domestic drafts. Get $2.75 (wells) or $4.75 (calls) Bloody Marys all day Sunday.

, 7423 Manatee Ave. W., has drinks, food and music throughout the weekend: At 9:30 p.m. on Thursday and Friday it’s karaoke, Saturday it’s 2 Ton Tomatoes from 9:30-1 a.m. then Shotgun Justice on Sunday from 9:30-1 a.m.

The celebration doesn’t stop at the bars. The playoff-bound Bradenton Marauders have three home games left at McKechnie Field to wrap up the regular season.

• Thirsty Thursday: The Charlotte Stone Crabs (Tampa Bay Rays affiliate) are in town for the final dollar beer night of the regular season. Small Bud and Bud Light drafts cost only a buck while the larger sized Buds and margaritas are two-for-one all night. Remember, margaritas can only be found at the tiki hut behind the first base/right field stands. If beer isn’t your thing, Pepsi is also $1 all evening long. Gates open at 6 p.m./Game starts at 7 p.m.
• Fan Appreciation Night: The Marauders are giving away broken, game-used bats accumulated throughout the season. But you must be there to get one. And stick around after the Marauders vs. Stone Crabs game for fireworks. Gates open at 6 p.m./Game starts at 7 p.m.
• Massing of the Colors: The Marauders return home after a road game Saturday for a rare 10 a.m. start. Hungry? There also will be a $5 all-you-can-eat pancake and sausage breakfast. At 9:30 a.m., honor guard representatives from local fire departments, law enforcement, veterans groups and civic organizations will perform a massing of the colors in observance of the 10^th anniversary of 9/11. Gates open at 9 a.m. Tickets for this game cost only $1.

Get your Marauders tickets at the McKechnie Field box office, 1611 9^th St. W., or click here.

Wherever you choose to go, please be responsible. If you are unable to drive home (remember: buzzed driving is drunk driving, according to those commercials) and can't bear the thought of leaving the ole wagon behind then – write this number down now or program it into the cellular – call 1-800-AAA-HELP for a free tow and lift home. This service is available Sept. 2 through Sept. 5 and is free courtesy of AAA Auto Club South.