Weekend guide: Cortez Fishing Festival 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, Palmetto, Sarasota, Tampa Bay and beyond.

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

Fun for everyone

Cortez Commercial Fishing Festival: The Cortez Commercial Fishing Festival is celebrating its 38th year with two days of live music, a smorgasbord of seafood, dancing, arts and crafts and more in the historic fishing village of Cortez this weekend.

The event now attracts tens of thousands, organizers say, and it helps sustain the working waterfront community.

The festival also includes a chance to get up close to aquatic life with touch tanks, environmental displays and experts on hand to answer questions from the curious of all ages.

Other fun includes kids’ activities, all-day music from some of the area’s top bands and plenty of good food and beer.

Best of all, proceeds benefit the Florida Institute for Saltwater Heritage (F.I.S.H. for short) and the group’s effort to preserve a 95-acre patch of wetlands at the edge of Manatee County and Sarasota Bay.

Details: 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. 12110 Cortez Road W. (near Florida Maritime Museum). $5. Children under 12: free.

Thunder by the Bay: Thunder by the Bay Music and Motorcycle Festival brings three days of revelry to the Sarasota Fair Grounds.

Highlights include motorcycle displays, motorbike stunt shows, food vendors, a craft beer garden and live music.

Headlining the festival this year is hit ‘80s hair metal band Warrant on at 8 p.m. Saturday.

The event benefits local non-profit Suncoast Charities for Children.

Details: 5-10 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday. Sarasota Fairgrounds, 3000 Ringling Blvd., Sarasota. $5. Children 12 and under: Free.

Info: thunderbythebay.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,” is now open 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,” the photographer’s website says.

The exhibit features 30 large-scale photographs captured during his journeys through Myakka River State Park, Triangle Ranch and surrounding areas and provides fascinating tidbits of information for each image.

Those who want to know more can hear from the photographer at 7 p.m. on March 5 in The Planetarium. Butcher will give a special presentation on the exhibit followed by a Q&A session; entry is $12 for museum members and $15 for all others.

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.

At the theater

Award-winning new play: Manatee Performing Arts Center has been chosen from theaters around the country to premiere a daring new play.

“Goat Song Revel,” is the latest winner of a festival for new stage works held by the American Association of Community Theatre.

The play blends Christian lore and Greek myth for a bit of divine comedy — or is it tragedy?

At the center of the teeter-totter is Job (of biblical fame) who finds himself caught in the midst of a cribbage match between God and Satan. How’s that for high stakes?

Details: Through Feb. 23. Manatee Performing Arts Center, 502 Third Ave. W., Bradenton. $27. Student and teacher discount available. “Rated R” for adult content.

Info: manateeperformingartscenter.com.

Dining guide

NEW IN TOWN — Burgers, wings and lots of things: A newcomer to the Bradenton restaurant scene, R Burgers N’ Wings is a fast-causal eatery that offers a menu to satisfy almost any food craving — and then some.

Aside from the namesake hamburgers and chicken wings (which come in many varieties) there’s a Philly cheese steak, fried chicken tenders and fish, gyros and salads.

Operated by the same local restaurant owner as Happy Dragon Chinese in Lakewood Ranch, R Burgers N’ Wings also has a flair for fusion; try hibachi and fried rice dishes and sides like crab rangoon.

R Burgers N’ Wings is at 4266 53rd Ave. E., Bradenton.

Info: rburgernwings.com.

Live music highlights

Hymn for Her at Cafe in the Park: Hymn for Her is a backwoods country blues band with punk, folk and psychedelic sensibilities.

Details: 7-9 p.m. Friday. Cafe in the Park, 2010 Adams Lane, Sarasota. No cover.

Info: cafeinthepark.org.

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

Details: 8-11 p.m. Friday. McCabe’s Irish Pub, 302 Old Main St., Bradenton. No cover.

Info: 941-896-3126.

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.

Blues to Blackstreet at Bunny and Pirates on Tap: Blues to Blackstreet plays blues featuring guitar, vocals and saxophone.

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

Info: facebook.com/bunnyandpirates.

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

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

Info: motorworksbrewing.com.

Wynn Taylor at 3 Keys Brewing and Eatery: 3 Keys Brewing and Eatery hosts live music on the patio every Saturday night. Wynn Taylor is a singer and songwriter of Americana music.

Details: 7-10 p.m. Saturday. 3 Keys Brewing and Eatery, 2505 Manatee Ave. E., Bradenton. No cover.

Info: 3keysbrewing.com.

The Divebombers at Blue Marlin AMI: Three-piece outfit The Divebombers plays rockabilly and classic country in style.

Details: 7-10 p.m. Saturday. Marlin AMI, 121 Bridge St., Bradenton Beach. No cover.

Info: bluemarlinami.com.

Tracy Grammer & Jim Henry at Fogartyville: Contemporary folk artist Tracy Grammer will bring her knack for musical storytelling and guitar and violin enchantment to Fogartyville this Sunday. She’ll be joined by multi-instrumental maestro Jim Henry.

Details: 7 p.m. Sunday. Fogartyville Community Media and Arts Center, 525 Kumquat Court, Sarasota. $20.

Info: wslr.org/fogartyville.

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

Details: 5-9 p.m. Sunday. Clancy’s Irish Sports Pub, 6218 Cortez Road W., Bradenton. No cover.

Info:clancysirishsportspub.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.

This story was originally published February 12, 2020 at 9:58 AM.