Weekend guide: Here are 15 things to do around Bradenton and Sarasota this holiday 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

Post-holiday circus: “The 12 Days After Christmas,” a seasonal circus show that has fun with post-holiday traditions, kicks off this Friday in the newly renovated Sailor Circus Arena in Sarasota.

Youth artists in training will display skills with acrobatics, aerial silks, contortion, flying trapeze, high wire, clowning, juggling, rola bola, unicycle.

The show is presented by the Circus Arts Conservatory’s Sailor Circus Academy.

Details: 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Monday; 1 p.m. and 6 p.m. Sunday. Sailor Circus Arena, 2075 Bahia Vista St., Sarasota. $15-$30.

Info: 941-355-9805. circusarts.org/programs/sailor-circus-academy.

Holiday lights: “Lights in Bloom” transforms Marie Selby Botanical Gardens in Sarasota into an illuminated winter wonderland.

“More than two million lights will illuminate the gardens, and walkways will be transformed into sensory light tunnels,” the event website says.

The festivities include children’s arts and crafts activities and games as well as musical entertainment.

Tickets often sell out, so it’s best to purchase them in advance online.

Details: Nightly through Jan. 4. Selby Botanical Gardens, 900 S. Palm Ave., Sarasota. Adults: $25. Children 5-12: $7. Children under 5: Free.

Info: selby.org.

Enchant Christmas closing weekend: 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.

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 Sunday; closing time varies depending on day. Tropicana Field, 1 Tropicana Drive, St. Petersburg. $14.99-$32.99. Family, senior, student, military and first responder discounts available.

Info: enchantchristmas.com.

Winter nights under the lights: Rescheduled due to rainy weather last weekend, Palma Sola Botanical Park will bring some holiday cheer to Bradenton this Saturday with its first ever holiday light display.

Take a stroll and snap a few family photos among the illuminated Florida foliage during this free event.

Details: 6-9 p.m. Saturday. Palma Sola Botanical Park, 9800 17th Ave. NW, Bradenton. Free (donations accepted).

Info: palmasolabp.org.

Night out

Food, music, crafts and craft beer: Motorworks Brewing will host a night market and food truck rally this Friday featuring an array of local vendors and tasty eats. Grab a craft brew and get in on the fun in the beer garden.

Twinkle & Rock Soul Radio will provide a sonic backdrop of bluesy rock featuring the vocals of Twinkle Yochim, a Bradenton musician who has performed and recorded with artists including Aerosmith, Rod Stewart, the Dickey Betts Band, Sheryl Crow and Rusted Root.

Details: 6-11 p.m. Friday. Motorworks Brewing, 1014 9th St. W., Bradenton. No cover.

Info: motorworksbrewing.com.

Go outside

Holiday nature walk: Take a peaceful, illuminated stroll through nature this Saturday during the Robinson Preserve Light Festival.

A trail through the Robinson Preserve Expansion will be lit with candles for the special event. It’s also a rare chance to explore the park after dark.

Details: 6-9 p.m. Saturday. Robinson Preserve, 10299 Ninth Ave. NW., Bradenton. $5 per person; ages 3 and under free. Cash only.

Info: 941-742-5923 ext. 6039. mymanatee.org.

Theme park fun

Christmas at Busch Gardens: Ready to get holly jolly? Busch Gardens annual Christmas Town event continues this weekend.

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: Nov. 16—Jan. 6. Busch Gardens, 10165 McKinley Drive, Tampa. $109.99

Info: buschgardens.com/tampa/events/christmas-town.

Dining guide

NEW IN TOWN — Courthouse cafe: There’s a tasty new option for breakfast and lunch in downtown Bradenton. Getting to Bandit Cafe’s new digs in the Manatee County Judicial Center requires a pass through security, but it’s well worth the effort.

A menu offering breakfast sandwiches (served all day), salads, subs, sandwiches, wraps and more fills a need for quick and quality food in the downtown area. Free delivery is available from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday in the downtown area, and an extended delivery range is available through Doordash.

Bandit Cafe is at 1051 Manatee Ave. W., Bradenton.

Info: 941-749-3060. doordash.com/store/bandit-s-cafe-bradenton-801016.

Live music highlights

Terry Helm at Bunny and Pirates on Tap: Terry Helm plays solo acoustic shows spanning country, southern rock and blues rock.

Details: 7 p.m. Friday. Bunny and Pirates on Tap, 12404 Cortez Road W., Bradenton. No cover.

Info: facebook.com/bunnyandpirates.

Cahoots at JR’s Old Packinghouse Cafe: Cahoots is a five-piece rock, blues, and funk band out of Bradenton playing a wide range of toe-tapping and dance tunes from the ‘60s and ‘70s.

Details: 7-10 p.m. Saturday. JR’s Old Packinghouse Cafe, 987 South Packinghouse Rd., Sarasota. No cover.

Info: packinghousecafe.com.

Ted Stevens and the Doo Shots at Darwin Brewing: Ted Stevens and the Doo Shots play jivin’ rockabilly.

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

Dean Johansen and Undine Shorey Duo at Bradenton Farmers’ Market: Dean Johanesen roves the Tampa Bay area performing polished, guitar-driven Americana with a jazzy swing. He’ll perform at the south end of the market.

Undine Shorey is a Bradenton singer-songwriter whose soulful acoustic music incorporates guitar, violin and good vibes. Shorey will play at the north end of the market.

Details: 10:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Saturday. 400 12th St. W., Bradenton. Free.

Info: realizebradenton.com/farmers_market.

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

Country singer-songwriter (and line dance instructor) Cowboy Calvin 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.

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.

Bigtime Jukebox Band at Woody’s River Roo: Bigtime Jukebox Band plays hits from the ‘50s to now that are perfect for dancing.

Details: 1-5 p.m. Sunday. Woody’s River Roo, 5717 18th St. E., Ellenton. No cover.

Info: woodysriverroo.com.

Barbara Jordan Quartet at Scarpino’s Family Restaurant: The Barbara Jordan Quartet performs jazz, swing and music from the Great American Songbook.

Details: 6:30-8:30 p.m. Sunday. Scarpino’s Family Restaurant, 6152 14th St. W., Bradenton. No cover.

Info: scarpinosfamilyrestaurant.com.