Weekend guide: The circus is back in town. That and 14 other fun things to do in Bradenton and Sarasota

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

Circus from the sea: Sarasota-based entertainment company Cirque Italia is taking the concept of circus in all new directions — including an aquatic-themed show that will make its local debut in Palmetto this weekend.

The Water Circus features a stage that holds 35,000 gallons of water, a top-notch troupe of international circus artists and dazzling light displays.

Details: 7:30 p.m. Thursday and Friday; 1:30 p.m., 4:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, 1:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. Sunday. 102 Riviera Dunes Way, Palmetto. $10-$50.

Info: 941-704-8572. cirqueitalia.com.

Music on Main: Music on Main brings family-friendly fun to the heart of Lakewood Ranch one Friday of every month.

For January’s shindig, local funk and reggae act The Reality will perform, and a live DJ will follow.

Food vendors, beer trucks and kids activities will line the street.

The event raises funds for a different local non-profit each month; this time, the Manatee Police Athletic League will benefit.

Details: 6-9 p.m. Friday. 8100 Lakewood Main St., Lakewood Ranch. Free. 941-907-9243.

Info: lakewoodranch.com.

Stick ‘em up: All aboard and full steam ahead to the Wild West, where the plucky traveler can stake a claim to adventure.

But wait — there are valuable goods stowed on your locomotive, and bandits are roaming the countryside.

See if you can survive an encounter with the “Hole in the Head Gang” during the Florida Railroad Museum’s train robbery ride.

Details: Trains leave at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Florida Railroad Museum, 12210 83rd St. E., Parrish. Ages 3-11: $12. Ages 12 and up: $16.

Info: 941-776-0906. frrm.org.

Farmers markets galore: Three 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.

Now held on Sundays at the Lakewood Ranch Medical Center campus, the Market at Lakewood Ranch 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.

Find fresh produce, arts and crafts, jewelry, local artists, apparel, pottery, purses, health and beauty items, music and more at the Beach Market at Coquina Beach on Anna Maria Island.

The market is held on Sundays from November through July.

Details: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday. Coquina Beach, 2650 Gulf Dr. S., Bradenton Beach. Free.

Info: islandsandbeaches.com/market.

Night out

Full moon party: Partying on planet Earth is so last decade. This weekend, Joyland Country Night Club in Bradenton will take things to the lunar level with Full Moon Friday, a dance party in honor of the first full moon of the new year.

Cosmic tunes will be provided by live band Gravity Roxx (yes, they wear spacesuits) and DJ Keza.

There will be “out of this world” specialty cocktails to sip on, and partiers are encouraged to dress up or cosplay as denizens of outer space.

Details: 7 p.m. Friday-2 a.m. Saturday. Joyland Country Music Night Club, 5520 14th St. W., Bradenton. $10.

Info: joylandbradenton.com.

Beer bash: Darwin Brewery Company recently bid a sad farewell to co-founder/brewmaster Jorge Rosabal, who has left to take on a new brewing project.

The Bradenton beer-maker will officially welcome its new master brewer, Blue Hellenga, this Saturday with a party featuring live music and a special beer release.

Pour Decisions, Dougie Flesh & The Slashers and the Faceless Bandits will bring folk and sawgrass sounds to the night.

Details: 6-10 p.m. Saturday. Darwin Brewing Company, 803 17th Ave. W., Bradenton. No cover.

Info: darwinbrewingco.com.

Live music highlights

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. Thursday-1 a.m. Friday. Motorworks Brewing, 1014 Ninth St. W., Bradenton. No cover.

Info: motorworksbrewing.com.

Kevin So at Fogartyville: Kevin So is a boundary-pushing singer-songwriter whose music combines pop, R&B and hip hop.

Songwriting duo Nalani and Josh will open.

Details: 8 p.m. Friday. Fogartyville Community Media and Arts Center, 525 Kumquat Court, Sarasota. $15.

Info: wslr.org/fogartyville.

Mr. Sipp at Blue Rooster: Mr. Sipp brings smokin’ blues with Mississippi soul to stages around the country.

The artist is an International Blues Challenge winner and has performed at the Bradenton Blues Festival.

Details: 8-11 p.m. Friday. Blue Rooster, 1525 Fourth St., Sarasota. $15-$20.

Info: blueroostersrq.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.

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.

Memphis Rub Band at Clancy’s: Memphis Rub Band is a four-piece specializing in blues, R&B and rock and roll.

Details: 7-11 p.m. Saturday. Clancy’s Irish Sports Pub, 6218 Cortez Road W., Bradenton. No cover.

Info:clancysirishsportspub.com.

This story was originally published January 8, 2020 at 7:14 AM with the headline "Weekend guide: The circus is back in town. That and 14 other fun things to do in Bradenton and Sarasota."