7 things to do in Bradenton, Sarasota this weekend: County fair, concerts, free festivals

Ryan Ballogg
·6 min read
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Another weekend is almost here — and there’s plenty of local fun on tap to help you enjoy it. Still need plans? We’ve got you covered.

Here’s a hand-picked guide to good times around Bradenton and Sarasota this weekend, Jan. 21-23, 2022.

Manatee County Fair

The 106th annual Manatee County Fair is underway, and there is fun in store for all ages. The event brings 11 days jam-packed with shows, food, music, midway rides, animals and agricultural displays to the fairgrounds in Palmetto.

  • Details: Jan. 13-23. Ages 13 and up: $10. Ages 6-12: $6. Active military with ID: $6. Children 5 and under: free. Parking: $10.

  • Visit manateecountyfair.com for a full schedule of events.

Ready for the 2022 Manatee County Fair? Here are 5 things not to miss

Festival of Life

Faith United Methodist Church in Bradenton will host a free family health fair this Saturday.

The event will include live music, snacks, kid’s games, a bicycle rodeo, a driving simulator and door prize drawings.

Free services at the fair will include skin, blood pressure and dental screenings. Participants include Blake Medical Center, West Bradenton Fire Rescue, Manatee County Community Paramedicine, OneBlood and the YMCA.

Celebrate Lakewood Ranch

Lakewood Ranch Community Emergency Response Team will celebrate its 15th year with a day of free family fun this Saturday.

The “Celebrate Lakewood Ranch” event at Greenbrook Adventure Park will include music, food trucks, safety tips, a touch-a-truck area with emergency vehicles and other family activities. Visitors will also have the opportunity to see a rescue dog demonstration and pet a baby alligator. A blood drive will be on site.

  • Details: 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday. Greenbrook Adventure Park, 13010 Adventure PIace, Lakewood Ranch. Free.

  • Info: lwrcert.org/events.

Lou Gramm comes to AMI

Lou Gramm, a founder and frontman of rock band Foreigner, will visit Anna Maria Island this weekend for an outdoor concert.

Gramm provided the lead vocals on Foreigner hits including “Cold as Ice” and “Long, Long Way from Home.” Gramm and band will perform fan favorites from Foreigner’s catalog as well as his own solo career.

Guests will be required to bring their own chairs for the outdoor, open-air concert. Street parking and free valet parking will be available, and there will be a cash bar on site.

  • Details: 6-10 p.m. Saturday. The Center of Anna Maria Island, 407 Magnolia Ave., Anna Maria. $80.

  • Info: centerami.org

Live blues and brunch

Good food and good tunes are in store on Sunday at Mattison’s Riverwalk Grille on the Bradenton Riverwalk.

The Bradenton Blues Brunch will feature a live performance from a local blues act and a chef-crafted menu of brunch delights, as well as Bloody Marys and bottomless mimosas.

This month’s talent is Kat Crosby and the Rhythm Gators, a Bradenton band offering “sophisticated blues, a hint of jazz and hot guitar.”

The event is a partnership between the restaurant, Realize Bradenton and the Bradenton Blues Fest.

  • Details: 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday. Mattison’s Riverwalk Grille, Downtown Bradenton, 101 Riverfront Blvd. # 120, Bradenton. Reservations recommended.

  • Info: 941-896-9660. mattisons.com

See a movie

Whether you’re interested in Hollywood blockbusters, independent film or an old-timey 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 classic flicks, family favorites and new movies 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 is recommended if you go this route).

▪ Spider-Man: No Way Home (PG-13): 7:30 p.m. Fri.-Sun.

▪ Ghostbusters: Afterlife (PG-13): 10 p.m. Fri.-Sun.

  • Details: 5011 U.S. 41 N., Ruskin. Ages 9 and up: $6. Ages 5-8: $1. 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. Masks are recommended for unvaccinated guests.

Many 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: $23.95. Ages 65 and up: $21.95. Ages 12-17 and college students with ID: $17.95. Ages 5-11: $14.95. Ages 2-4: $8.95. Ages under 2: 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.

  • 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

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