Weekend guide | De Soto Food and Music Festival and 14 other things to do in 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, Palmetto, Sarasota, Tampa Bay and beyond.
Are we missing a big event? Drop us a line at rballogg@bradenton.com.
Fun for everyone
De Soto Food & Music Festival: Hernando De Soto Historical Society will give its annual food and music bash benefiting local charities a refresh this weekend with the newly dubbed De Soto Food and Music Festival.
The three-day event will be held at Nathan Benderson Park in Sarasota. In addition to expanded food options, arts, crafts and family fun, the festival will mix up musical offerings with reggae, country and rock artists in the lineup.
Friday is for the rockers, when national touring act Slaughter and regional shredders Maiden Cane will open the festival.
Saturday’s bands include rock and country. Highlights include local party band Reverend Barry & The Funk and country great John Michael Montgomery as the headliner.
The festival will finish strong on Sunday with reggae stars Jah Movement, Artikal Sound System and Passafire.
Admission is available for a single day or the entire festival. Pets, coolers and outside food and drink are not allowed inside.
Details: 5-10 p.m. Friday; 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturday; noon-6 p.m. Sunday. Nathan Benderson Park, 5851 Nathan Benderson Circle, Sarasota. $10 per day. $25 festival passes available online.
Info: desotohq.com/food-music-fest.
Spring training fun: Peanuts and Cracker Jack, anyone? It’s that time of year to get out to the ball games.
Major League Baseball’s Pittsburgh Pirates will take on the Baltimore Orioles at Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota on Thursday with a rematch scheduled for the next day at LECOM Park. After an away game Saturday, the Pirates will be back at LECOM on Sunday to face the Toronto Blue Jays.
Meanwhile, the Baltimore Orioles will go up against the Miami Marlins on Saturday in Sarasota and the Philadelphia Phillies on Sunday in Clearwater.
Details: The Pirates play in Bradenton at 1:05 p.m. on Friday and Sunday. LECOM Park, 1611 Ninth St. W., Bradenton. $18-$29.
Info: mlb.com/pirates.
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.
Award-winning local act the Betty Fox Band will provide soul-infused blues rock from 7 to 11 p.m.
The event is kid and pet friendly.
Details: 6-10 p.m. Friday. Motorworks Brewing, 1014 9th St. W., Bradenton. No cover.
Info: motorworksbrewing.com.
At the museum
Southwest Florida Heritage Festival: Experience a day in the life of a Florida pioneer during The Crowley Museum and Nature Center’s Southwest Florida Heritage Festival this Saturday.
Taking place on the lush green lands along the Myakka River, the event will feature hands-on learning booths, activities for young and old, live music, tasty food and hayrides.
Costumed actors will be at hand to really pull you into the time period — as will farm animals like pigs, cows, horses and baby goats.
Vendors will be on site peddling handmade wares, and there are Florida cracker-era buildings and nature trails to explore.
The event will benefit the center and its programs for local schoolchildren.
Details: 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday. The Crowley Museum and Nature Center, 16405 Myakka Road, Sarasota. $20 per vehicle covers parking and entrance fee. Cash only.
Info: crowleyfl.org.
Day trip
Bay Area Renaissance Festival: Now through the end of March, one of Florida’s biggest renaissance festivals will draw thousands to Tampa for medieval revelry.
Jousts and sword fights, fair food and beer, dancing, music, animal exhibits and vendors selling mystical odds and ends are among the many wonders of the festival.
New additions this year include a castle escape room and a viking encampment featuring games, lore and battles.
Themed weekends, like a “Pirates and Pups” event this Saturday and Sunday, will add to the fun.
Details: 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays (plus March 27) through March 29. 11315 N. 46th St., Tampa. Ages 13 and up: $22.95. Ages 5-12: $14.95.
Travel time: About one hour.
Info: bayarearenfest.com.
Dining guide
NEW IN TOWN — Sushi and Korean barbecue: The new Yaki Sushi Grill BBQ is open and serving a full range of sushi and hibachi dishes in Bradenton.
In the coming weeks, the restaurant will begin offering another of its main attractions — Korean barbecue.
Restaurant staff will help diners create tasty dishes using grills built right into the dining tables.
Yaki Sushi Grill BBQ is in Unit 113 at 5231 University Parkway in Bradenton.
Info: yakibradenton.com.
TRY THIS — New house, same noodles: Demi’s Noodle House is serving up Vietnamese food in an expanded and renovated space in Palmetto. New colors, art and decor match the restaurant’s vibrant cuisine.
The recipes remain the same — crafted by chef Demi Vangen after those taught to her by her grandmother.
Reviewers rave about the crispy egg rolls, vegan and vegetarian options and the soups — especially the pho.
Demi’s Noodle House is at 1318 10th St. W. in Palmetto.
Info: demisnoodlehouse.com.
Live music highlights
Jay Allen at Joyland: Originally from Iowa, Nashville-recording artist Jay Allen made waves with a viral country tribute to his mother who suffered from early onset Alzheimer’s disease. Allen continues to promote Alzheimer’s research through his music career, and he was recently signed to a record label.
Details: 9:30 p.m.-midnight Friday. Joyland Country Music Night Club, 5520 14th St. W., Bradenton. Ages 21 and up: $7. Ages 18-20: $15.
Info: joylandbradenton.com.
Otis on Top at McCabe’s Irish Pub: Otis on Top is a three-piece playing alternative rock originals and covers.
Details: 8-11 p.m. Friday. McCabe’s Irish Pub, 302 Old Main St., Bradenton. No cover.
Info: 941-896-3126.
Missy Andersen at Fogartyville: Missy Andersen & Her One Man Band (accompanist/husband Heine Andersen) play soulful blues with infectious rhythm.
Details: 8 p.m. Friday. Fogartyville Community Media and Arts Center, 525 Kumquat Court, Sarasota. $23.
Info: wslr.org/fogartyville.
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.
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.
Phoenix Rising at Mattison’s Riverwalk Grille: Phoenix Rising plays a party-ready mix of funk, soul, rock and jazz.
Details: 7-11 p.m. Saturday. Mattison’s Riverwalk Grille, Downtown Bradenton, 101 Riverwalk Blvd., Bradenton. No cover.
Info: mattisons.com.
The Masons at Bunny and Pirates on Tap: The Masons are a guitar and upright bass duo that plays acoustic arrangements of rock ‘n’ roll classics and standards.
Details: 7 p.m. Saturday. Bunny and Pirates on Tap, 12404 Cortez Road, Bradenton. No cover.
Info: facebook.com/bunnyandpirates.
soulRcoaster at Woody’s River Roo: soulRcoaster is a rock ‘n’ roll cover band with an “eclectic and extensive repertoire.”
Details: 1-5 p.m. Sunday. Woody’s River Roo, 5717 18th St. E., Ellenton. No cover.
Info: woodysriverroo.com.
Paul Cataldo at Cafe in the Park: Paul Cataldo is a singer-songwriter with a folksy Americana sound.
Details: 3:30-5:30 p.m. Sunday. Cafe in the Park, 2010 Adams Lane, Sarasota. No cover.
Info: cafeinthepark.org.
Raiford Starke at Jigg’s Landing Outpost: Enjoy the country folk sounds of Raiford Starke in the scenic Florida surroundings of Jigg’s Preserve on the Braden River.
Details: 4-7 p.m. Sunday. Jigg’s Landing Outpost, 6106 63rd St. E., Bradenton. Free.
Info: 941-727-4181. jiggslanding.com.