Looking for fun things to do this weekend May 31-June 2? Top 5 events in Sarasota area
Our picks for the best things to do this weekend in Sarasota and Manatee counties include a couple of outdoor movie screenings. The first takes place on Friday in Sarasota at The Bay. Then, on Sunday, there's another movie night to attend at CoolToday Park, the spring training home of the Atlanta Braves, in North Port.
Additionally, you can enjoy a live music tribute to Allman Brothers Band founding guitarist and longtime local resident Dickey Betts, who passed away last month, at Birdrock Taco Shack. Also, Laser Light Nights return to The Bishop Museum of Science and Nature. Craving a good dining deal? Check out the information on Savor Sarasota, which returns on Saturday.
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1. Family Movie Night at The Bay in Sarasota
The Bay park by the Van Wezel overlooking Sarasota Bay will host a Family Movie Night featuring a free screening of "The Super Mario Bros. Movie," a 2023 animated adventure comedy film based on Nintendo's classic video game franchise. Bring a lawn chair and be sure to stop by The Nest Cafe for popcorn, other food and beverages including beer and wine. 7 p.m. Friday; The Oval at The Bay, 1055 Boulevard of the Arts, Sarasota; free; thebaysarasota.org
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2. Summer Movie Nights at CoolToday Park in North Port
CoolToday Park's popular Summer Movie Nights series, which features films shown on the scoreboard, returns with a screening of "Wonka." The 2023 musical fantasy tells the origin story of Willy Wonka, the famed chocolatier from the 1964 novel "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" by Roald Dahl, and the films "Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory" (1971) and "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" (2005). 5 p.m. Sunday; CoolToday Park, 18800 W. Villages Parkway, North Port; $7, $3 ages 4-9, free ages 3 and under; 941-413-5004; cooltodaypark.com/movies
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3. Savor Sarasota dining deals start this weekend
Tourist season is officially over, and now it's the ideal time to visit many of the region's best restaurants, thanks to the smaller crowds and Savor Sarasota. Now in its 19th year, the Savor Sarasota dining event is Saturday through June 14 and features nearly 30 restaurants throughout Sarasota County offering multi-course menus for $25 per person for lunch and $40 per person for dinner. For more information, visit visitsarasota.com/savor-sarasota.
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4. Dickey Betts tribute show at Birdrock Taco Shack in Bradenton
Longtime Dickey Betts band members Mike Kach (vocals, keyboards) and Pedro Arevalo (bass, vocals) will lead a group along with drummer Garrett Dawson, who also toured with Betts, for what should be a first-rate tribute show to the legendary guitarist who died last month at his Sarasota County home. Expect to hear songs such as the Betts-sung and written Allman Brothers Band hits "Ramblin' Man" and "Blue Sky," as well as his epic instrumentals "Jessica" and "In Memory of Elizabeth Reed." 7 p.m. Saturday; Birdrock Taco Shack, 1213 13th Ave. W., Bradenton; $10 advance, $15 day of; 941-545-9966; facebook.com/birdrocktaco
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5. Laser Light Nights returns to The Bishop Museum in Bradenton
The Bishop Planetarium's popular series of laser light shows set to music by rock and pop acts is back now through Sept. 2. Highlights this weekend include David Bowie (7 p.m. Friday), Prince (9 p.m. Friday) Led Zeppelin (7 p.m. Saturday) and Metallica (9 p.m. Saturday). Bishop Museum of Science and Nature is at 201 10th St. W. in downtown Bradenton, and tickets for each show are $15. For more information, call 941-746-4131 or visit bishopscience.org/laser-light-nights.
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Wade Tatangelo is Ticket Editor for the Sarasota Herald-Tribune, and Florida Regional Dining and Entertainment Editor for the USA TODAY Network. Follow him on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. He can be reached by email at [email protected]. Support local journalism by subscribing.
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Best things to do in Sarasota, Bradenton this weekend
