Here are 20 fun things to do around Bradenton and Sarasota. Including a new music festival
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
Seafood, music and fun: The inaugural Coquina Beach Seafood and Music Festival happens this weekend on Anna Maria Island.
Enjoy fresh local food, drinks, shopping and lots of live tunes.
Highlights include Big Night Out (dance and rock) on Friday, Fleetwood Max on Saturday and the Black Honkeys (rock and soul) on Sunday.
Details: 4-10 p.m. Friday, 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday. Coquina Beach, Gulf Drive S., Bradenton Beach. Free general admission.
Info: seafoodfestivals.com.
Farmers markets galore: Two local farmers markets bring a bounty of food and fun to the Bradenton area every weekend.
On Saturday, the Bradenton Farmers’ Market takes over Old Main Street. Stock up on fresh fruits and veggies, shop for crafts, listen to local live music, check out cooking demonstrations and more.
Details: 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday. 400 12th St. W., Bradenton. Free.
Info: realizebradenton.com/farmers_market.
The Market at Lakewood Ranch is back and bigger than ever with a new time, date and location.
Now held on Sundays at the Lakewood Ranch Medical Center campus, the market is chock-full of produce, artisan crafts and plants.
The new format also includes weekly yoga sessions and occasional special events like cooking demonstrations.
Details: 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Sunday. Lakewood Ranch Medical Center, 8330 Lakewood Ranch Blvd., Lakewood Ranch. Free.
Info: lakewoodranch.com/life-on-the-ranch/themarket.
Holiday fun
Boat parades: The Manatee River Holiday Boat Parade keeps the holiday spirit afloat with a waterfront display that winds its way from Snead Island, past Palmetto, beside the Green Bridge and ends up on the Bradenton side of the river.
The parade can be seen from Snead Island, parts of Riverside Drive in Palmetto, the Green Bridge Fishing Pier and sidewalk areas and the Riverwalk Gateway at Bacarrota Avenue and First Avenue West.
Alternatively, grab a reservation at Riverhouse Reef & Grill or Pier 22 Restaurant for a view with food.
Details: 6-10 p.m. Saturday on the Manatee River. Free.
Info: 941-721-3800. facebook.com/HolidayBoatParade.
Bradenton Beach Marina’s second annual Holiday Boat Parade is Saturday. The parade will start near the Longboat Key Public Pier, and then the festive boats will float north up the intercoastal waterway, ending at the Bradenton Beach Marina.
Recommended spots to view the parade are the Longboat Pass Bridge and Bradenton Beach City Pier.
Details: 7 p.m.-8:30 p.m. Saturday. Bradenton Beach City Pier, 200 Bridge St., Bradenton Beach. Free.
Info: bradentonbeachmarina.com/bradenton-beach-boat-parade.
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.
Theme park fun
Christmas at Busch Gardens: Ready to get holly jolly? Busch Gardens annual Christmas Town event is here for the season.
The park is decked out in lights and decorations for the holiday party, and there are festive eats, shows and music to enjoy.
Pay for less than the price of a one-day admission and go back through the end of 2020 free with Busch Garden’s Fun Card deal.
Details: Through Jan. 6. Busch Gardens, 10165 McKinley Drive, Tampa. $109.99
Info: buschgardens.com/tampa/events/christmas-town.
Day trip
Spend a day in the scrub: The Archbold Biological Station is an outpost for biologists and biology students to get in some field experience and observation, but it has a lot to offer for visitors, too.
In this unique Florida ecosystem, chances are good for seeing gopher tortoises, scrub jays, wildflowers and many other denizens of sand and scrub. Florida black bears are also known to make the occasional appearance.
Travel Time: About 1 hour, 40 minutes.
Details: 123 Main Drive, Venus. Free. archbold-station.org.
Dining guide
NEW IN TOWN — Oak and Stone: The long-awaited downtown Bradenton location of nightspot Oak and Stone is now open.
The eatery’s offerings include a self-serve beer pour wall and a menu of well-executed favorites like pizza, burgers and salads.
The eighth-story rooftop bar, The Deck, is set to open in the coming weeks, and it will have its own separate spread of food and drinks.
Oak and Stone is at 1201 First Ave. W., Bradenton, in the SpringHill Suites by Marriott hotel,
Info: oakandstone.com.
DON’T FORGET DESSERT — Edible Elegance by Eli: Now at a new and larger location on Cortez Road, this hometown bakery is whipping up more sweet treats than ever before.
In addition to the custom orders and wedding cakes previously offered by the bakery, there’s a daily selection of treats like cupcakes, cookies, brownies and muffins to try in the dessert case.
The bakery also offers fun special events like couples’ and family baking classes.
Edible Elegance by Eli is at 3985 Cortez Road. W., Bradenton.
Info: edibleelegancebyeli.com.
Live music
Latin Dance Night at Motorworks Brewing: Start the weekend early with a Latin dance social including live salsa music from DJ Elias Mambito and free dancing lessons from two local studios. No partner or experience is required.
Details: 7 p.m.-1 a.m. Thursday. Motorworks Brewing, 1014 Ninth St. W., Bradenton. No cover.
Info: motorworksbrewing.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. Friday. Mattison’s Riverwalk Grille, Downtown Bradenton, 101 Riverwalk Blvd., Bradenton. No cover.
Info: mattisons.com.
Nora Ricci at Bunny and Pirates on Tap: Nora Ricci is a singer-songwriter who plays a fusion of rock and soul.
Details: 7 p.m. Saturday. Bunny and Pirates on Tap, 12404 Cortez Road, Bradenton. No cover. Info: facebook.com/bunnyandpirates.
Ari and the Alibis at Blue Rooster: Ari and the Alibis have a funky fusion sound that combines jazz, blues, funk, soul and rock into a smooth sonic concoction.
Details: 8-11 p.m. Saturday. Blue Rooster, 1525 Fourth St., Sarasota. $10.
Info: blueroostersrq.com.
Boss Hawg Band at Joyland: Joyland is a great place to catch local and national country acts in Bradenton — and get in some line dancing.
The Boss Hawg Band brings “down home country, hard rock and southern-fried boogie sounds” to stages throughout Bradenton.
Details: 9:30 p.m.-2 a.m. Saturday. Joyland Country Music Night Club, 5520 14th St. W., Bradenton. $7 cover.
Info: joylandbradenton.com.
Brandon Robertson at Fogartyville: Tampa-based jazz musician and music educator Brandon Robertson will celebrate the release of his debut album “Bass’d on a True Story” this Saturday night in Sarasota.
A quartet led by Robertson on upright and electric bass will perform his original songs and standards.
Details: 8 p.m. Saturday. Fogartyville Community Media and Arts Center, 525 Kumquat Court, Sarasota. $18.
Info: wslr.org/fogartyville.
Treedomm at Cafe in the Park: Treedomm is a reggae fusion band that’s all about the positive vibes.
Details: 3:30-5:30 p.m. Sunday. Cafe in the Park, 2010 Adams Lane, Sarasota. No cover.
Info: cafeinthepark.org.
Tropix Band at Cortez Kitchen: If you like R&B, Latin rhythm, soul and a little bit of funk, Tropix is your band.
Details: 3 p.m. Sunday. Cortez Kitchen, 4528 119th St. W., Cortez. No cover.
Info: thecortezkitchen.com.
Trinity ON80 at Woody’s River Roo: Trinity ON80’s high-energy covers include “everything from Queen to U2 and Journey to Guns N’ Roses.”
Details: 1-5 p.m. Sunday. Woody’s River Roo, 5717 18th St. E., Ellenton. No cover.
Info: woodysriverroo.com.
The Verge at Peggy’s Corral: The Verge plays blues rock, Southern rock and classic rock from the ‘70s to now.
Details: Noon-4 p.m. Sunday. Peggy’s Corral, 4511 U.S. 41, Palmetto. No cover. Info: peggyscorral.net.
This story was originally published December 11, 2019 at 5:00 AM.