Weekend guide: Here are 15 fun things to do around Bradenton-Sarasota this weekend

Are you ready for the weekend? Us too.

If you don’t have plans yet, we’re here to help.

Here’s a hand-picked guide to fun times around Bradenton, Sarasota, Tampa Bay and beyond.

Are we missing a big event? Drop us a line at rballogg@bradenton.com.

Fun for everyone

Shop small day: “Small Business Saturday,” held annually on the day after Black Friday, is a celebration of the small and local businesses that make communities unique and interesting — and the impact they make on the local economy.

As the holiday shopping tradition enters its 10th year, the idea behind it remains the same.

Get out and explore what locally-owned shops, galleries, restaurants and businesses have to offer.

Bradenton Farmers’ Market, ArtCenter Manatee and Village of the Arts and are just a few places to shop local this season.

Between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. Saturday, visitors to VOTA can pick up a stamp card at The Dude and Mary’s Art of Life & Music (1414 11th St W., Bradenton) and complete it for entry into a prize drawing.

Details: All day Saturday.

Info: americanexpress.com/us/small-business/shop-small.

Sarasota Medieval Fair: It’s the last weekend to step back into the Middle Ages and partake in a day of “medieval merriment” at the 16th annual Sarasota Medieval Fair.

Walk among peasants and royalty, peruse the offerings of ancient vendors and enjoy entertainment like jousting, comedy, period music and textile displays. Don’t forget to dress the part.

The event is held at Ringling Woods (behind the Sarasota Fairgrounds), 3000 Ringling Blvd. in Sarasota.

Details: 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Ages 5-12: $9.95. Ages 13 and up: $18.95. Multi-day passes available.

Info: 1-888-303-3247. sarasotamedievalfair.com.

Enchant Christmas: Step into a scene from a winter snow globe at Enchant Christmas, a holiday wonderland inside Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg. The fun-for-all-ages event includes an enormous 90,000-square-foot light maze, a kids’ zone, ice skating, food and drink and shopping.

Santa and Mrs. Claus will be there, too.

St. Petersburg is one of only three cities nationwide to host the event this year, and it’s the first in the Southeast to do so.

Details: Opens 4 p.m. daily through Dec. 29; closing time varies depending on day. Tropicana Field, 1 Tropicana Dr., St. Petersburg. $14.99-$32.99. Family, senior, student, military and first responder discounts available.

Info: enchantchristmas.com.

Fun for a cause

Christmas party benefit: A night of dancing with a live DJ, raffles, door prizes and food at Hawaiian Village in Bradenton will benefit a college fund for the daughters of former Bradenton resident and post office employee James R. Koch, who passed away at age 33 from sarcoidosis.

Details: 6-10 p.m. Saturday. Hawaiian Village Clubhouse, 104 63rd Ave. W., Bradenton. $5.

Info: 941-284-3452.

Theme park fun

Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party: Disney World celebrates the holiday season each year with Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party at the Magic Kingdom.

The after-hours celebration includes holiday decor, shows, free festive cookies and a Christmas-themed parade and fireworks display.

If you go, make sure to arrive at 4 p.m. (three hours before the party starts) for early admittance to get the best bang for your buck.

Crowds are typically lighter during Disney’s holiday parties, so it’s a good chance to ride all the rides without the never-ending lines.

Details: 7 p.m.-midnight Sunday and Tuesday. Magic Kingdom, 1180 Seven Seas Dr., Lake Buena Vista. $104-$115.

Info: disneyworld.disney.go.com.

Dining guide

Barbecue on the go: “The idea is to offer the convenience of barbecue that is ready-to-eat,” says Nancy Krohngold, owner of the new Nancy’s Pantry Grab and Go Cold Market in Lakewood Ranch.

The market replaces the sit-down Li’l Nancy’s restaurant that was formerly at the location and moved to a bigger space along State Road 70 in July.

Offerings at the grab-and-go include freshly packaged barbecue sandwiches, sides, salads, desserts and a choice of drinks.

It’s a tasty alternative to fast food for lunch.

Nancy’s Pantry Grab and Go Cold Market is at 8141 Lakewood Main St., #104, Lakewood Ranch.

Info: nancysbarbq.com.

Live music highlights

Blues to Blackstreet at Bunny and Pirates on Tap: Blues to Blackstreet plays blues featuring guitar, vocals and saxophone.

Details: 6:30 p.m. Friday. Bunny and Pirates on Tap, 12404 Cortez Road W., Bradenton. No cover.

Info: facebook.com/bunnyandpirates.

The Divebombers at Cafe in the Park: Three-piece outfit The Divebombers plays rockabilly and classic country in style.

Details: 7-9 p.m. Friday. Cafe in the Park, 2010 Adams Lane, Sarasota. No cover.

Info: cafeinthepark.org.

Doug Deming and the Jewel Tones at Darwin Brewing: Doug Deming and his band are lifelong blues musicians. Experience and energy meet when they take the stage.

Details: 7-10 p.m. Friday. Darwin Brewing Company and Taproom, 803 17th Ave. W., Bradenton. No cover. Info: darwinbrewingco.com.

Conyer Walker at Joyland: Joyland is a great place to catch local and national country acts in Bradenton — and get in some line dancing.

Conyer Walker covers country favorites. He will perform with the Joyland Backline Band.

Details: 9:30 p.m.-2 a.m. Friday. Joyland Country Music Night Club, 5520 14th St. W., Bradenton. $7 cover.

Info: joylandbradenton.com.

Cuban music celebration with Renesito Avich at Fogartyville: Award-winning guitarist Renesito Avich will lead a band of seasoned musicians in a night of Cuban music. Don’t forget your dancing shoes.

Details: 7 p.m. Saturday. Fogartyville Community Media and Arts Center, 525 Kumquat Ct., Sarasota. $25.

Info: wslr.org/fogartyville.

More is More at Motorworks Brewing: “Don’t miss this high-energy and upbeat fantastic 4-piece serving up a huge variety of dance, disco, funk, and classic rock live in the beer garden,” Motorworks says.

Details: 7-11 p.m. Saturday. Motorworks Brewing, 1014 Ninth St. W., Bradenton. No cover.

Info: motorworksbrewing.com.

Reverend Barry and The Funk at White Buffalo Saloon: Reverend Barry and The Funk is an eight-piece funk and soul band from Sarasota with a party-ready sound.

Details: 8 p.m. Saturday. White Buffalo Saloon, 5377 McIntosh Rd., Sarasota. $15.

Info: thewbsaloon.com.

Klick Band at Mattison’s Riverwalk Grille: Klick Band is a five-piece rock outfit inspired by the early rock and roll legends of the 1960s and ’70s.

Details: 7-10 p.m. Saturday. Mattison’s Riverwalk Grille, Downtown Bradenton, 101 Riverwalk Blvd., Bradenton. No cover.

Info: mattisons.com.

Kettle of Fish and Ship of Fools at Stottlemyer’s Smokehouse

Ship of Fools (2-5 p.m.) is a Grateful Dead cover band with a revolving door of talented local musicians.

Kettle of Fish (5:30-8:30 p.m.) describe their sound as “festiblues,” or the kind of festival music that features blues, soul and funk with the energy of rock n’ roll.

Details: 2-8:30 p.m. Sunday. 19 E. Road, Sarasota. No cover. Info: stottlemyerssmokehouse.com.

This story was originally published November 27, 2019 at 12:00 AM.