While we’re in the dog days of summer, the first weekend of August will still be busy across the Sarasota area, particularly Saturday, including an “Ultimate End of Summer Backyard Bash.”
The Atlanta Braves’ North Port spring training home CoolToday Park will host Dawg Days of Summer on Saturday, featuring “hot dawgs,” wiener dog races and more. Also happening Saturday is a celebration of Florida cultural figure Jimmy Buffett, and a back-to-school bash at The Mall at UTC.
This weekend also marks your last chance to see Summer Circus Spectacular in The Ringling’s Historic Asolo Theater, which closes Saturday, while The Bishop Museum of Science and Nature’s Laser Light Nights series will feature shows set to music ranging from classic rock to “KPop Demon Hunters” and Taylor Swift.
Looking for even more options? Also taking place in North Port on Saturday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., is Discover Warm Mineral Springs Park Day, where the natural landmark is free to visit for North Port residents with proof of residency. Non-residents can still visit too for $20 admission, or $15 ages 6-17.
And while downtown Sarasota’s free First Friday street party series Fresh Fridays remains on summer break, Lakewood Ranch’s counterpart Music on Main will return 6-9 p.m. Friday to 8100 Lakewood Main St. with live music by funk band Yaya Diamond and the Dream Chasers, food vendors, beer trucks and kids activities, benefiting HOPE Family Services.
1. Dawg Days of Summer at CoolToday Park
The Atlanta Braves’ North Port spring training home CoolToday Park will hold this “Ultimate End of Summer Backyard Bash” featuring “hot dawgs” and more, with the whole family including the dog invited.
The PopDawgs food truck will be offering hot dogs with a variety of toppings, with other food and drink options including burgers, watermelon, sweet corn and an adult juice box bar. There will also be a hot dog eating contest, wiener dog races, cornhole tournament and backyard games; a splash zone with water guns, plunge pools, slides and more; and live music from Jesse Daniels Band.
4 p.m. Saturday; CoolToday Park, 18800 S. West Villages Parkway, North Port; free admission/parking; 941-413-5000; cooltodaypark.com
2. Summer Circus Spectacular at Historic Asolo Theater
If you haven’t yet caught this annual collaboration between Sarasota’s Circus Arts Conservatory and The Ringling, held at the Historic Asolo Theater on the latter’s campus, here’s your last chance, with the final shows taking place Saturday.
The show features circus artists including Duo Transcend, who have appeared on “America’s Got Talent,” as well as ringmaster Ashley Vargas, clowning/slack wire act Davis Vassallo, juggler Noel Aguilar, aerialist Emma Grace Clarke and hand-balancing act Yelitza Vivas. Attendees can pay an additional $5 for admission to The Ringling’s Circus Museum.
Through Saturday; Historic Asolo Theater at The Ringling, 5401 Bay Shore Road, Sarasota; $20, $15 ages 12 and under; 941-360-7399; ringling.org
3. Jimmy Buffett Day at The Bazaar on Apricot & Lime
After celebrating Jerry Garcia last weekend, indie market The Bazaar on Apricot & Lime (which recently got a shoutout from CNN when it named Sarasota the top U.S. town to visit in 2026) will pay tribute to another much-loved musician Saturday: Jimmy Buffett, who died in 2023 and would’ve turned 80 years old this year.
Presented along with the Sarasota Bay Parrot Head Club, the event will feature live music by Flip Flop Dave, guest vendors, $5 margaritas and cheeseburgers in paradise served up by The Bazaar’s onsite food truck Hamlet’s Eatery.
11 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday; The Bazaar on Apricot & Lime, 821 Apricot Ave., Sarasota; free admission; 941-445-1938; bazaaronapricotandlime.com
4. Laser Light Nights at The Bishop Museum of Science and Nature
The summer series of laser light shows set to pop and rock music, held in the planetarium of The Bishop Museum of Science and Nature in Bradenton, will continue this weekend with shows that should appeal to audiences ranging from classic rock lovers to millennial and Gen Z crowds.
Friday will feature shows set to music from last year’s hit Netflix film “KPop Demon Hunters” and pop superstar Taylor Swift. Saturday’s shows will be Rock Monsters — featuring hard rock and metal bands including AC/DC, whose frontman Brian Johnson is a Sarasota resident — and Ozzfest Assault, featuring the music of Ozzy Osbourne and acts that played his namesake music festival. The Grateful Dead on Thursday rounds out this week’s lineup.
6 p.m. Thursday, 6 and 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday; The Bishop Museum of Science and Nature, 201 10th St. W., Bradenton; $15 per show; 941-746-4131; bishopscience.org
5. Back to School Bash at The Mall at UTC
Kick off the new school year with these festivities presented by Florida Penguin Productions, which puts on several events in Sarasota and elsewhere throughout the Tampa Bay area.
Parents can pre-register for a free backpack (while supplies last) for their children, who can also participate in a scavenger hunt to stock up on school supplies, among other fun including stage performances, face painting, sports mascots, cartoon characters, photo stops and fitness activities.
10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday; The Mall at University Town Center, 140 University Town Center Drive, Sarasota; 727-674-1464; floridapenguinproductions.com
Email entertainment reporter Jimmy Geurts at jimmy.geurts@heraldtribune.com. Support local journalism by subscribing.
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: 5 Sarasota events you don’t want to miss this weekend
Reporting by Jimmy Geurts, Sarasota Herald-Tribune / Sarasota Herald-Tribune
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By Jimmy Geurts, Sarasota Herald-Tribune | USA TODAY Network
