Friday marks the start of May, with this weekend’s top things to do kicking off with a popular free First Friday street party series that returns to downtown Sarasota for the second-to-last event of the season.
On Saturday, Sarasota shopping and dining district St. Armands Circle will host an annual Corvette show, while the Atlanta Braves’ Sarasota County spring training home CoolToday Park will celebrate Cinco de Mayo early with an inaugural taco and tequila festival. Also on Friday will be the final concert in a free live music series on downtown Bradenton’s Riverwalk and the latest installment of a monthly block party on Lakewood Ranch’s Main Street.
While all these are free admission, other notable events this weekend will include the second annual Taste & Toast Gulf Coast culinary and beverage showcase and Kentucky Derby party Saturday at Palmetto Marriott Resort & Spa ($95, $150 VIP, 21-and-up only.) ESPN Hall of Famer and Lakewood Ranch resident Dick Vitale’s annual gala with celebrity guests raising money for cancer research will take place Friday at The Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota while comedian Jerry Seinfeld will appear Saturday at Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall (both sold out as of press time.)
And while we didn’t include any day-of Cinco de Mayo events since the holiday doesn’t take place on the weekend this year, Rocco’s Tacos & Tequila Bar in University Town Center will host an all-day Cinco de Mayo block party from 11 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. Tuesday.
1. Fresh Fridays in downtown Sarasota
The popular free monthly street party series will return to downtown Sarasota with a Back to the ’80s Block Party-themed edition in May, for the second-to-last event of this season.
Downtown’s South Palm Avenue will turn into a time machine, with a live band playing ’80s hits and attendees encouraged to come dressed up in their best ’80s-inspired look — be that neon, denim, leg warmers or leather.
7-10 p.m. Friday; South Palm Avenue, Sarasota; free admission; downtownsarasotadid.com/fresh-fridays
2. Corvettes on the Circle at St. Armands Circle
As we noted in last week’s weekend picks, car shows are a popular attraction here, and that will continue with Corvettes on the Circle on Saturday at St. Armands Circle Park.
The 28th anniversary show will feature more than 150 models, ranging from the classic 1953 C1 to the newest models, with trophies awarded to the top three Corvettes in each generational class, as well as Best in Show and Skyway Corvette Club Favorite.
9 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday; St. Armands Circle Park, 1 St. Armands Circle, Sarasota; free spectators, $50 advance, $60 day of (participants); 941-993-4201; starmandscircleassoc.com
3. Tacos & Tequila Festival at CoolToday Park
Want to celebrate Cinco de Mayo a little early? Head over to the Atlanta Braves’ Sarasota County spring training home CoolToday Park, which’ll hold its inaugural Tacos & Tequila Festival on Saturday.
The event will feature food trucks such as Taco Fusion Express, a margarita bar, a beer garden with Mexican lagers and local craft brews, live music by Creek Trail Conspiracy and Johnny D & the Rocket 88’s, and mini golf and other family-friendly activities.
11 a.m. Saturday; CoolToday Park, 18800 W. Villages Parkway, North Port; free entry; 941-413-5000; cooltodaypark.com
4. Music in the Park at Bradenton Riverwalk
After kicking off nearly a month ago, Realize Bradenton’s free, family-friendly live music series at Bradenton’s Riverwalk Pavilion will conclude its spring season Friday with country rockers The Eric Von Band.
Hailing from the nearby Manatee County commercial fishing village of Cortez, Von formed the band in 2015 upon returning from Nashville. Food will be available for purchase, with concertgoers encouraged to bring friends, family and a comfy spot to sit.
6-8 p.m. Friday; Bradenton Riverwalk Pavilion, 452 Third Ave. W., Bradenton; free; 941-301-8445; realizebradenton.com/events/music-in-the-park
5. Music on Main in Lakewood Ranch
Lakewood Ranch’s Main Street hosts its own free block party and concert series the first Friday of each month, Music on Main, featuring a rotating band and nonprofit along with food vendors, beer trucks and kids’ games and activities.
May’s musical act will be Fleming Co., which describes its sound as “blending indie pop with coastal textures, shimmering guitars, and raw emotional lyricism,” and this month’s event will benefit SRQ Vets.
6-9 p.m. Friday; 8100 Lakewood Main St., Lakewood Ranch; free admission; lakewoodranch.com
Email entertainment reporter Jimmy Geurts at jimmy.geurts@heraldtribune.com. Support local journalism by subscribing.
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Top 5 things to do in Sarasota area this weekend include block parties
Reporting by Jimmy Geurts, Sarasota Herald-Tribune / Sarasota Herald-Tribune
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