10 weekend events near Bradenton: Wildflower festival, home expo, free concert and more
Another spring weekend is near, and there’s plenty of local fun on tap to help you enjoy it.
Highlights this weekend include a spring wildflower festival in Parrish, a home expo in Sarasota and a free concert on the Bradenton Riverwalk.
Still need plans? We’ve got you covered.
Here’s a hand-picked guide to fun times around Bradenton and Sarasota this weekend, April 14-16.
Music in the Park
Realize Bradenton’s annual outdoor concert series is back. Music in the Park will bring free, live concerts to Rossi Park on the Bradenton Riverwalk for seven weeks this spring.
Guests are encouraged to bring blankets and chairs. Dogs on leashes are also welcome.
Music in the Park 2023 remaining shows:
▪ April 14: Kettle of Fish (blues rock)
▪ April 21: Dual Exhaust (blues, country, rock)
▪ April 28: Bri Rivera (Latin fusion, blues, funk rock)
▪ May 5: Combo Fusion (Variety dance, Latin)
Details: 6-8 p.m. Friday. March 24-May 5. Rossi Park on the Bradenton Riverwalk, 452 Third Ave. W., Bradenton. Free.
Info: realizebradenton.com
Wildflower Festival and Spring Plant Sale
The Serenoa Chapter of the Florida Native Plant Society and Sweet Bay Nursery will host a spring celebration in Parrish this Saturday.
The Wildflower Festival and Spring Plant Sale will offer native trees, shrubs, grasses and blooming wildflowers for sale, plus landscaping supplies.
Guests can see demonstrations, hear from conservation groups, check out exhibitors and vendors and ask native plant experts for gardening advice.
The Kona Ice truck will serve up refreshing treats.
Details: 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday. Sweet Bay Nursery, 10824 Erie Road, Parrish.
Info: facebook.com/serenoaFNPS
Friendly City Flea at Oscura
The Friendly City Flea welcomes a “curated gathering of makers, musicians and creatives” to Oscura in downtown Bradenton.
The monthly market includes over 70 vendors displaying crafts, paper goods, home goods, pantry items, food, clothing, jewelry and more.
The market will be held outdoors. Inside, Oscura will offer a brunch menu and specialty food and drinks, and The Royale Duo will add live jazz to the mix.
Details: 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday. Oscura, 816 Manatee Ave. E., Bradenton. Free admission.
Sarasota Cup at Premier Sports Campus
The 11th annual Sarasota Cup will bring top youth soccer players from around the state to the Premier Sports Campus in Lakewood Ranch this month.
Over 400 girls and boys teams with players ages 8 to 18 are registered to compete over two weekends. The games are free to attend.
Details: Girls competition is April 14-16; boys competition is April 21-23. Premier Sports Campus, 5895 Post Blvd., Lakewood Ranch. Free.
Info: sarasotacup.com
Home improvement expo
Looking for some HGTV-style inspiration? The Home Show, a home improvement expo, will arrive at Robarts Arena at the Sarasota Fairgrounds this weekend.
With around 100 exhibitors, the event offers a chance to check out the latest looks in remodeling, landscaping and decorating.
“Our events feature a wide selection of home improvement professionals in a fun, interactive environment,” organizers say.
Details: 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday. Robarts Arena at the Sarasota Fairgrounds, 3000 Ringling Blvd., Sarasota. Free admission with online registration; $10 at the door.
Info: homeshowflorida.com
Yappy Hour at Motorworks
Motorworks Brewing’s monthly canine extravaganza is back.
Dog owners are invited to sip craft beer and grab a bite from a food truck, shop from local pet supply vendors and let their leashed pets enjoy the beer garden.
Each month’s event benefits a local pet rescue organization and includes a silent auction and raffle items.
Brunch is available from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday, and there will also be live music to enjoy in the beer garden.
Details: Yappy Hour happens from 1-4 p.m. Sunday. Motorworks Brewing, 1014 Ninth St. W., Bradenton. No cover.
Info: motorworksbrewing.com
Paranormal Cirque
A circus with a scary and supernatural twist is making a stop in Palmetto.
“Horrifying yet seductive, this show comes to life under the mysterious white and black big top tent with hypnotic and sultry acts,” a preview says. “Provocative illusionists, freaks and mysterious creatures will make you see that this circus is anything but normal.”
The horror-tinged show is designed for a mature audience and includes acrobatics, aerial arts, illusion acts and contortion.
Details: 7:30 p.m. Thursday and Friday; 6:30 and 9:30 p.m. Saturday; 5:30 and 8:30 p.m. Sunday. April 6-16. 102 Riviera Dunes Way, Palmetto. $20-$60. Ages 13-17 must be accompanied by parent/guardian for entry.
Info: paranormalcirque.com
Performing arts and shows
“Driving Miss Daisy” at Manatee Performing Arts Center: “This Pulitzer-winning play was the most successful play to be put on in the Bradenton Kiwanis Theater and is returning to bring this heartfelt tale to more audiences. Dealing with race relations in the south, unlikely connections, and the passage of time, ‘Driving Miss Daisy’ follows the relationship between the widowed 72-year-old Daisy Werthan and Hoke Colburn, the African American man hired to be her chauffeur,” a show preview says.
Details: 7:30 p.m. Thursday, 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday. April 5-23. Manatee Performing Arts Center, 502 Third Ave. W., Bradenton. $27.
“Visit Joe Whitefeather” at Florida Studio Theatre: “Set in the small town of Beaver Gap, Pennsylvania during the early 1970s, this new comedy centers on the city council’s outrageous ideas to help drum up more tourism. The council decides to rename the town in honor of Joe Whitefeather — a deceased, Native American war hero who has no connection to the town whatsoever,” a show preview for this world premiere says.
Details: 8 p.m. Thursday and Friday, 3 p.m. and 8 p.m. Saturday, 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Sunday. April 5-May 21. Playing at Florida Studio Theatre’s Gompertz Theatre, 1265 First St., Sarasota. $39.
Info: floridastudiotheatre.org
The World Series of Comedy at McCurdy’s Comedy Theatre: “The World Series of Comedy travels all around North America for this exciting competition,” a preview says. “The comics are competing for a place in the finals in Las Vegas. Forty professional touring comics will be hitting the McCurdys stage. The audience gets to vote and help the judges pick the winners.”
Details: 6:30 and 8:50 p.m. Friday and Saturday. McCurdy’s Comedy Theatre, 1923 Ringling Blvd., Sarasota. $25.
Info: mccurdyscomedy.com
Farmers’ markets
Downtown Bradenton Public Market: This weekly market is a community gathering place that welcomes vendors offering fresh local produce, meat, pantry and home goods, packaged foods, plants, clothing, accessories and more.
Food, drink and dessert vendors make the market a great place to grab a tasty snack.
This year, the market is nearly doubling in size with plans to host about 100 vendors each week, including a core group of businesses and some rotating selections, organizers say.
The market also features live music performances from different regional artists each week. Kid’s activities, special events and cooking demonstrations add to the fun throughout the season.
Details: 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturdays, Oct.-May. Old Main Street, Bradenton. Free.
The Farmers’ Market at Lakewood Ranch welcomes more than 90 regional vendors to Waterside Place each Sunday. Offerings include produce, meat and seafood, prepared foods and breads, crafts, jewelry, plants and pet treats. Live music from a rotation of local musicians and yoga sessions are another regular feature at the market.
Details: 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Sunday. Waterside Place, 1561 Lakefront Dr., Lakewood Ranch. Free.
Oneco Farmers Market is open seven days a week. The permanent market boasts more than 100 vendors in one location, including meats and seafood, fresh produce, sweets and treats. There are also restaurants and arts and crafts vendors to check out, and the market frequently hosts free community events.
Details: Open 7 a.m.-8 p.m. daily. Oneco Farmers Market, 5108 15th St. E., Bradenton.
Info: onecofarmersmarket.com
Sarasota Farmers Market brings vendors selling arts and crafts, goods and services, produce, food, plants and more to downtown Sarasota. There’s also live music to enjoy.
Details: 7 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday. Lemon Avenue and Main Street, downtown Sarasota.
Newtown Sarasota Farmers Market offers local produce, fresh-baked goods and other items twice a week in the Newtown neighborhood. The market also hosts community gatherings including events for kids and food festivals.
Details: 10 a.m.-5p.m. Friday and Saturday. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Park, 2523 Cocoanut Ave., Sarasota.
Meadows Farmers Market: Started in Oct. 2021, the Meadows Farmers Market promises organic fruits and vegetables straight from local farmers. Other attractions include artisans, food vendors and live music. Events at the market include yoga, tai chi, wellness talks and holiday celebrations.
Details: 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Sundays October through April. Held in the parking lot of 5041 Ringwood Meadow, Sarasota.
Red Barn Flea Market combines the best of a farmers market, a flea market and a food court in one stop. At Red Barn, you’ll find permanent storefronts, vendor booths, fresh produce, local food offerings, live entertainment and more.
Details: Open 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Friday-Sunday. 1707 First St. E., Bradenton.
Info: redbarnfleamarket.com.
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See a movie
Whether you’re interested in Hollywood blockbusters, independent film or an old-time drive-in movie experience, there’s a theater nearby that can satisfy. Here are your local movie options:
Ruskin Family Drive-In: In operation since 1952, this drive-in plays new movies, classic flicks and family favorites with showings Wed.-Sun.
There are two options for audio: bring a portable radio or leave your car radio turned on during the film. You can also bring folding chairs to set up outside of the vehicle (bug repellent recommended).
▪ The Super Mario Bros. Movie (PG): 8 p.m.
▪ 65 (PG-13): 9:30 p.m.
Details: 5011 U.S. 41 N., Ruskin. Ages 9 and up: $7. Ages 5-8: $2. Cash only. $5 fee for bringing your own food. Alcohol not permitted.
Info: ruskinfamilydrivein.com
Sarasota Film Society: Sarasota Film Society’s Lakewood Ranch and Sarasota theaters are a great place to catch a weekend flick. Screenings include independent and art films as well as blockbusters. Check the society’s website for the current lineup of movies.
Some of the society’s movie offerings can be streamed virtually from home.
Details: Lakewood Ranch Cinemas, 10715 Rodeo Drive 8, Sarasota and Burns Court Cinemas, 506 Burns Lane, Sarasota. Online streaming available any time.
Info: filmsociety.org or 941-955-3456
Other Bradenton area movie theaters:
AMC Bradenton 20, 2507 53rd Ave. E., Bradenton. amctheatres.com. 941-752-3796
AMC Sarasota 12, 8201 S. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota. amctheatres.com. 941-922-4900
CMX CinéBistro Siesta Key, 3501 S. Tamiami Trail #1100, Sarasota. cmxcinemas.com. 941-361-2456
Regal Oakmont, 4801 Cortez Rd. W., Bradenton. regmovies.com. 844-462-7342
Regal Hollywood, 1993 Main St., Sarasota. regmovies.com. 844-462-7342
Fun at the museum
The Bishop Museum of Science and Nature: Explore the past, present and future of the natural world with interactive displays and exhibits, stellar shows in the famed Planetarium, an indoor manatee habitat, the Mosaic Backyard Universe for kids and more at The Bishop in downtown Bradenton.
Details: Open Tue.-Sat. The Bishop Museum of Science and Nature, 201 10th St. W., Bradenton. Ages 18-64: $25. Ages 65 and up: $23. College students with ID: $19. Ages 5-17: $16. Ages 4 and under: Free with paying adult.
Info: bishopscience.org or 941-746-4131
Florida Maritime Museum: Florida Maritime Museum documents the age-old relationship between Floridians and the water. Visitors will find marine life displays, historical photos and documents, revolving exhibits and a gift shop.
On the second and fourth Saturday of each month, the museum hosts a “Music on the Porch” outdoor jam session. From 2-4 p.m., local pickers and players come together to share tunes and singalongs with the crowd.
Masks are currently required inside museum buildings.
Details: Open 9 a.m.-noon and 1-4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. Florida Maritime Museum, 4415 119th St. W., Cortez. Free.
Info: floridamaritimemuseum.org or 941-708-6120
Manatee County Agricultural Museum: Explore Manatee County’s rich agricultural past and present at the Manatee County County Agricultural Museum. Permanent exhibits include displays of authentic farm tools and equipment and highlights of various crops and industries that have taken root in Manatee County over the decades. There’s also a revolving lineup of special exhibits to check out.
Details: Open 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and on the first and third Saturday of each month. Manatee County Agricultural Museum, 1015 Sixth St. W., Palmetto. Free. Donations accepted.
Info: manateecountyagmuseum.com or 941-721-2034
Sarasota Art Museum: Operated by Ringling College of Art and Design, the Sarasota Art Museum displays revolving exhibits of contemporary artwork.
The museum is housed in the former Sarasota High School building and offers 15,000 square feet of gallery space to showcase paint, sculpture, photography, furniture making, experimental art and more.
Events at the museum include curator and artist talks, live jazz every second Thursday of the month and free entry and family fun on the second Sunday of each month.
Visitors can also enjoy a gift shop and a bistro.
Details: Museum open 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday. Sarasota Art Museum, 1001 South Tamiami Trail, Sarasota. Ages 17 and up: $15. Ages 0-16: Free with paying adult. Veterans and active military: Free with ID.
Info: sarasotaartmuseum.org
The Ringling in Sarasota offers a treasure trove of fine art and architecture. See collections of European works from the Baroque period and modern and contemporary art; witness the colorful history of the big top in the Circus Museum; take a tour of the Ca’ d’Zan, a Mediterranean revival mansion; and stroll The Ringling’s 68 acres of waterfront grounds and gardens.
Details: Open daily from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. 5401 Bay Shore Road, Sarasota. Ages 6-17: $5. Ages 18 and up: $25. Ages 65 and up: $23. Ca’ d’Zan entry $10 extra. Admission to the Museum of Art and grounds is always free on Mondays.
Info: ringling.org or 941-359-5700
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