Exotic Car Festival, Circus, Italian Carnival, Longboat Key Fest & Art Shows this weekend! (Tampa: for sale)

[Sunshine Rules]

Last night certainly gave us all a taste of winter, although I guess I shouldn't complain, my family in Chicago had a high of just 6 degrees yesterday. Much warmer weather is coming for the weekend and there are a lot of events to get out and enjoy in the sunshine. including the big Sarasota Exotic Car Festival and Venice Italian Feast & Carnival.


FRIDAY

Ringling by the Bay -- live music, food & drinks for purchase, party by the bay at the John & Mabel Ringling home on Sarasota Bay, 5 - 8 pm. Tickets $5 - $10, call 359-5700.

Live from Downtown Sarasota, It's Friday Night -- live entertainment by local performers, 6 - 9 pm, Towles Court.


FRIDAY - SUNDAY

Sarasota Exotic Car Festival -- various events over the weekend, public car show (free) in downtown Sarasota on Saturday 10 am - 4 pm, Main Street. Check out the other events at Sarasota Exotic Car Fest | Feb. 20-22, 2015 | Exotic Rally | Exotic Car Show | Rolls-Royce, Ferrari, Lamborghini, Bentley, Bugatti, Aston Martin

Circus Sarasota is still running at the big top at Benderson Park (by the new UTC). Ticket info at The Circus Arts Conservatory | Sarasota.

Sarasota Coin Show -- Sarasota Municipal Auditorium, free admission. Fri & Sat 10 - 5, Sun 10 - 3.

Modern Pentathlon World Cup events -- world class athletes competing in 5 events (running, swimming, shooting, horse jumping & fencing). Venues include Nathan Benderson Park, Selby Aquatic Center and the Ringling Museum. Info at http://sbpentathlon.com

Venice Italian Feast & Carnival -- large event at the Venice Airport Paved Midway. Food, carnival rides, entertainment. Free admission, parking $5. Starts at 4 pm on Friday, noon on Sat & Sun.

Manatee Players are performing "Into the Woods" -- Broadway hit based on Grimm fairytales, 8 pm. Ticket info at Home - Manatee Performing Arts Center



SATURDAY

Sarasota Farmers Market -- downtown Sarasota at Lemon & Main, 7 am - 1 pm.

Farmers Market -- Sarasota at corner of Proctor & Beneva, 8 am - 1 pm.

Bradenton Farmers Market -- downtown Bradenton at 12th Ave W, 9 am - 12 noon.

Classic Car Show -- at the Sarasota Classic Car Museum parking lot, 10 am - 2 pm.

Longboat Key Island Fest -- Ken Thompson Park, 10 am - 5 pm. Contests, music, food trucks, craft vendors, etc.

Southern Guide Dogs Walkathon -- fundraiser, 9 am - 12:30 pm, Rossi Waterfront Park in Bradenton.

Kids Fishing Tournament -- at the Historic Bridge Street Pier, Bradenton Beach on Anna Maria Island, 11 am - 1 pm. Kids 12 and under, bring a fishing pole. Info at 730-5038.

Taste of Mixon's -- chance to sample fudge, local honey and other items Mixon's sells in their shops, 11 am - 3 pm. 2525 27th St E in Bradenton.

Main Street Live -- downtown Bradenton event that was moved to Saturday due to the cold weather, 4 pm - 12 midnight. Live music, food & other vendors. Free admission.



SATURDAY - SUNDAY

Fine Arts Show & Sale -- Venice Art Center on Nokomis Ave, 9 am - 4 pm, free admission.

Arts & Crafts Show -- J. D. Hamel Park in downtown Sarasota, Main & Gulf Stream, 10 am - 4:30 pm, free admission.

Venice Antiques Show -- Venice Community Center, Sat 10-5, Sun 10-4. Admission $7. 50+ exhibitors.

Selby Gardens Plant & Garden Fest -- plants, gardening items for sale, experts giving gardening advice. Live music, kids activities, food vendors. 10 am - 5 pm, Adults $14, 11 & under get in free.


SUNDAY

Ellenton Farmers Market -- north end of outlet mall parking lot by the Ice Center, 8 am - 2 pm.

Siesta Key Farmers Market -- at the village, 9 am - 2 pm.

Siesta Key Drum Circle -- just before sunset on Siesta Key Beach, free.

Polo Matches -- Lakewood Ranch Polo Club, public welcome, starts at 1 pm. Adults $12, children 12 & under get in free, pets welcome on short leashes.



Ringo Starr of Beatles fame is headlining the Van Wezel 45th Anniversary Celebration on Feb. 24th. Ticket info at Sarasota, Florida - Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall


If you are a collector car fan, this weekend is the big Winter auction event at Zephyrhills, which is about a 20 minute drive NE of Tampa. There's also a car corral and rows upon rows of vendors selling auto related items, food, some collectibles. Auction info at Carlisle Collector Car Swap Meets & Enthusiast Events


A few more upcoming events to mark on your calendar:

Feb 28 -- Winterfest at Lakewood Ranch -- large live music event at the Premier Sports Campus. Headliners this year include the Doobie Brothers and American Idol finalist Sam Woolf.

Feb 27 - March 8 -- Florida Strawberry Festival at Plant City -- this is a huge event. Lots of exhibits, fun things for the kids to do, concerts, rides and just about every food item you can think of to make with strawberries. Concert headliners include Alabama, Mel Tillis, Sawyer Brown, Sara Evans, Reba McIntire, Oak Ridge Boys, Loretta Lynn. Florida Strawberry Festival

Major League Baseball Spring Training -- both the Baltimore Orioles (Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota) and Pittsburgh Pirates (McKechnie Field in Bradenton) open up the spring training season with games on March 3rd.


Enjoy!