Weekend guide: Sinbad, bluegrass music and 13 other fun things to around Bradenton 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

Manatee County Fair: Head on down to the fairgrounds in Palmetto for the final weekend of the Manatee County Fair.

This is the fair’s 104th year, and there is oh so much fun in store — including many beloved traditions and some new shows and events.

Check out the rides and food on the midway, see displays of prize livestock and community arts and crafts, and grab a seat for one of the feature shows, like the new “Three Ring Super Circus.”

Highlights this weekend include country artist Tony Jackson (7:30 p.m. Friday).

Details: Jan. 16-26. Ages 13 and up: $10. Ages 6-12: $6. Seniors: $9. Military: $6. with Active Status I.D. Children 5 and under: free.

Info: manateecountyfair.com.

Night out

Sinbad at McCurdy’s: Comedy legend Sinbad is making a three-day, five-show stop at McCurdy’s Comedy Theatre in Sarasota.

Details: Friday-Sunday. McCurdy’s Comedy Theatre, 1923 Ringling Blvd., Sarasota. $44. 941-925-3869. www.mccurdyscomedy.com.

Get out of town

Gasparilla Pirate Festival: The Tampa Bay area’s annual celebration of all things pirate happens on Saturday.

Venture to downtown Tampa if you dare and witness the buccaneers invade the waterfront city and parade down its streets.

Beads and booze will be plentiful, and live music will play all day long at multiple stages throughout downtown.

Details: Gasparilla Pirate Festival: 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Saturday. Parade of the Pirates: 2-5:30 p.m. Bayshore Boulevard, Tampa. Free.

Info: gasparillapiratefest.com.

At the theater

Native American film fest: Get excited, movie buffs. This weekend, a new (and free) event by Sarasota Film Festival will celebrate Native American experiences through fresh and-eye opening cinema.

The Sarasota Native American Film Festival will showcase four films spanning a range of subject matter including history, documentary and a look at Native American influence on popular music. Hear from filmmakers in intimate Q&A sessions and enjoy live music and dance by Native American performers.

A discussion on Native American traditions in the 21st century at 4 p.m. Friday will feature Oglala Sioux Tribe President Julian Bear Runner, film producer Phillip O’Leary (“The Buffalo Hunt”) and New College of Florida professor Jessica Young.

Details: Workshop at 4 p.m. Friday; screening begins at 6:30 p.m. 5-9:30 p.m. Saturday. Mildred Sainer Pavilion at New College of Florida, 5313 Bay Shore Rd., Sarasota. Saturday. Free. Reservations recommended.

Info: sarasotanativeff.com.

Roald Dahl’s Matilda The Musical: “Tony Award-winning Roald Dahl’s “Matilda The Musical” is the captivating masterpiece from the Royal Shakespeare Company that revels in the anarchy of childhood, the power of imagination and the inspiring story of a girl who dreams of a better life,” the Manatee Performing Arts Center says.

The Manatee Players is in the midst of a two-week run of the magical story turned stagework.

Details: Through Feb. 2. Manatee Performing Arts Center, 502 Third Ave. W., Bradenton. $27-$40.

Info: 941-748-5875. manateeperformingartscenter.com.

Dining guide

NEW IN TOWN — Vegan delights: There’s a new spot for comfort food in downtown Bradenton.

The menu at Happy Soul Delights spans cheeseburgers and fries, meatloaf, nachos and pulled pork sandwiches. It all just happens to be vegan.

The eatery shares a space with Sugar Cubed Pastry Lab, so diners won’t have to go far to find a sweet dessert.

Happy Soul Delights is at 531 13th St. W., Bradenton.

Info: feedyourhappysoul.com.

Live music highlights

Appalachian Road Show at Fogartyville: Appalachian Road Show brings old time, gospel and bluegrass sounds of together in a polished blend of folk music.

Details: 7 p.m. Thursday. Fogartyville Community Media and Arts Center, 525 Kumquat Court, Sarasota. $22.

Info: wslr.org/fogartyville.

Gabriel Newell at Bunny and Pirates on Tap: Gabriel Newell is a Bradenton singer-songwriter playing acoustic music with a touch of roots and soul.

Details: 7-10 p.m. Friday. Bunny and Pirates on Tap, 12404 Cortez Road, Bradenton. No cover. Info: facebook.com/bunnyandpirates.

Messenger Band at Cortez Clam Factory: Messenger Band takes the stage. Messenger Band is a rock outfit that puts its powerful male and female vocals to classic and current hits at venues along the west coast of Florida.

Details: 7-11 p.m.-Friday. Cortez Clam Factory, 10104 Cortez Road W., Bradenton. No cover.

Info: clamfactory.com.

Glass Onion Beatles Band at Mattison’s Riverwalk Grille: If you enjoy the music of The Beatles, you can’t go wrong with Glass Onion Beatles Band.

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

Info: mattisons.com.

One Night Rodeo at Motorworks Brewing: One Night Rodeo is a contemporary country duo from Bradenton.

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

Info: motorworksbrewing.com.

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.

Kettle of Fish at Blue Rooster: Kettle of Fish fuses blues, soul and funk with the energy of rock n’ roll.

Details: 8-11 p.m. Saturday. Blue Rooster, 1525 Fourth St., Sarasota. $5.

TH&C at Cortez Kitchen: TH&C pulls from a wide array of genres including acoustic, rock, country and reggae.

This story was originally published January 22, 2020 at 8:26 AM.