Boat races, a Greek festival and 13 other fun things in Bradenton, and 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, Palmetto, Sarasota, Tampa Bay and beyond.

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

Fun for everyone

Regatta weekend: The Bradenton Area River Regatta is back this weekend.

The watersports and family fun event is too big for one city to contain, so Bradenton and Palmetto help spread the fun on both sides of the Manatee River.

Highlights this year include the addition of Jersey speed skiffs to the boat races, a new 5K event that crosses the Green Bridge twice, a fireworks show set to song and live music stages in both cities.

Food and drink will abound, as will the entertainment options — from dogs performing tricks and a daredevil variety show to vintage powerboat displays and kid’s rides.

A ticketed concert at Sutton Park in Palmetto will feature Christian music phenomenon Michael W. Smith; tickets are $29.50.

Details: All day Saturday. DeSoto Little Anglers Fishing Tournament at 8:30 a.m.; family fun starts at 10 a.m.; boat races start at 10:30 a.m.; fireworks at 6:50 p.m. Free.

Info: bradentonarearegatta.com.

Get your art on: There’s always something new to see in Bradenton’s most creative neighborhood.

The popular monthly Art Walk features open galleries, studios, specialty shops, healing arts, food, music and more.

Whether you fancy folk art or fine art, creative cuisine, antiques, tattoos, records, quilting or a psychic reading, Village of the Arts has something special to offer every visitor.

This month’s event, dubbed “HeartWalk,” is also a chance to pick up a unique Valentine’s gift for that special someone. Wink wink.

Details: 6-9:30 p.m. Friday and 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday. Village of the Arts, 1113 12th St. W., Bradenton. Free.

Info: villageofthearts.com.

St. Barbara Greek Festival: The 36th annual St. Barbara Greek Festival will bring old-world customs and traditions together with authentic Greek food for four days of fun.

Enjoy live entertainment, including Greek music and dance, while shopping a huge assortment of vendors.

The festival cuisine boasts a variety of traditional recipes brought directly from Greece by St. Barbara’s Greek cooks who came to the U.S. decades ago, organizers say.

A kid’s adventure zone will offer fun for little ones on Friday night and all day Saturday and Sunday.

Details: 4-9 p.m. Thursday; 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Friday and Saturday; noon-6 p.m. Sunday. St. Barbara Greek Orthodox Church, 7671 N. Lockwood Ridge Road, Sarasota. Adults: $4. Children under 12: Free. There is no charge for admission on Thursday.

Info: 941-355-2616. StBarbaraFestival.org.

At the museum

Myakka magic: Explore the beauty of of a famous Florida waterway and the nature that it supports through the stunning black and white photography of Clyde Butcher.

A new special exhibit titled “Myakka River: A Florida Treasure,” opens this weekend at the Bishop Museum of Science and Nature in Bradenton.

Butcher “has explored the deeper regions of Myakka and spent seasons experiencing its changes and its diverse ecosystems,” according to the photographer’s website.

The exhibit will feature large-scale photographs captured during his journeys through Myakka River State Park, Triangle Ranch and surrounding areas.

Details: Friday through Sep. 6. Bishop Museum of Science and Nature, 201 10th St. W., Bradenton. Included with museum admission; $8.95-$23.95.

Info: bishopscience.org.

Dining guide

NEW IN TOWN — Beach-ready subs: Recently opened Jersey Girl Subs in Bradenton offers simple, piled-high sandwiches to-go.

The shop uses Boar’s Head products (ham, roast beef, pastrami, turkey and bacon included) and buns from St. Armand’s Bakery.

A specialty at Jersey Girls is the “beach bundle” — a to-go cooler that includes ice, four foot-long subs, four sodas and four bags of chips.

There are plans to add macaroni and potato salads the menu soon, and additional sub shop locations on Anna Maria Island are also a possibility.

Jersey Girl Subs is at 7832 Cortez Road W., Bradenton.

Info: facebook.com/jerseygirlsubs.

Live music highlights

David Jacobs-Strain with Bob Beach at Fogartyville: Hear blues and ballads from Oregon “song poet” and slide guitar player David Jacobs-Strain this Sunday at Fogartyville. He will be joined by harmonica man Bob Beach.

Details: 7 p.m. Thursday. Fogartyville Community Media and Arts Center, 525 Kumquat Court, Sarasota. $18.

Info: wslr.org/fogartyville.

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: 7-11 p.m. Friday. Mattison’s Riverwalk Grille, Downtown Bradenton, 101 Riverwalk Blvd., Bradenton. No cover.

Info: mattisons.com.

Rye Road at Woody’s River Roo: These country rockers bring an energetic and danceable sound that’s made them a local and regional favorite.

Details: 7-11 p.m. Friday. Woody’s River Roo, 5717 18th St. E., Ellenton. No cover.

Info: woodysriverroo.com.

Johnny Rawls at Blue Rooster: Johnny Rawls is a touring singer and guitarist who has won top honors in the blues world.

Details: 8-11 p.m. Friday. Blue Rooster, 1525 Fourth St., Sarasota. $12-$15.

Info: blueroostersrq.com.

Chillula at Motorworks Brewing: St. Augustine party band Chillula will bring its big sound that incorporates R&B, funk, hip- hop, soul, rock, and jazz to Bradenton this Saturday.

Details: 5-10 p.m. Saturday. Motorworks Brewing, 1014 Ninth St. W., Bradenton. No cover.

Info: motorworksbrewing.com.

Joyland birthday party: Joyland Country Music Night Club will celebrate one year since its return with a night packed full of country music and line dancing. Local country performers including Derek Lersch, Kari Rae, Andrew Ditchfield and Sarah Faye will take the stage in addition to tunes from DJ Trevor.

Free line dance lessons will be offered from 7 to 8:30 p.m.

Admission is free for the special event, and there will be drink specials and giveaways.

Details: 7 p.m.-midnight Saturday. Joyland Country Music Night Club, 5520 14th St. W., Bradenton. Free.

Info: joylandbradenton.com.

Charlie Morris Band at Tom’s: The Charlie Morris Band plays skillful southern blues.

Details: 9 p.m.-midnight Saturday. Tom’s Bad Ass Bar and Grill, 312 12th St. W., Bradenton.

Info: tomsbadassbarandgrill.com.

Dean Johanesen at Darwin Brewing: Dean Johanesen roves the Tampa Bay area performing polished, guitar-driven Americana with a jazzy swing.

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

Info: darwinbrewingco.com.

Gospel music galore: One of the biggest gospel music conventions in the country is raising the roof in Palmetto.

Bill Bailey’s 2020 Winter Gospel Music Convention continues this weekend with uplifting and spiritual music at the Bradenton Area Convention Center.

Popular gospel acts from throughout the South will perform.

10 a.m. chapel services and 1 p.m. matinee shows throughout the week are free to attend (an offering is requested).

Purchase individual tickets for nightly shows or get a pass for the whole convention.

The event concludes with an all-day singing finale on Saturday.

Details: Through Saturday. Bradenton Area Convention Center, 1 Haben Blvd., Palmetto. $5-$145.

Info: billbaileyconcerts.com.

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

Details: 3-7 p.m. Sunday. Cortez Kitchen, 4528 119th St. W., Cortez. No cover.

Info: thecortezkitchen.com.

This story was originally published February 5, 2020 at 8:49 AM.