While Florida's tourist season is winding down, we happen to have some of the biggest and best events of the entire year happening this weekend here in sunny Sarasota County.
In fact, the Sarasota Film Festival alone has scheduled two parties and a free outdoor movie screening featuring an appearance by one of my all-time favorite actors and filmmakers, who's starred in at least three of the most essential movies of the past three decades. Meanwhile, the city of Venice hosts one of its biggest annual festivals on Saturday and Sunday as well.
There's also a free block party in downtown Sarasota in celebration of one of the area's top craft beer bars, as well as a big, boozy event happening at Ed Smith Stadium. Finally, there's a fine option for Bradenton residents as well, with a free concert taking place at Riverwalk.
In addition to the five events featured below, Cafe in the Park will host its final Friday music night series performance from 7 to 9 p.m. on April 12, ahead of the beloved restaurant permanently closing later this month.
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1. Sarasota Film Festival closing weekend parties and free 'Big Lebowski' screening with Steve Buscemi
The 26th annual Sarasota Film Festival closes with a bang this weekend, starting Friday with a street party from 7 to 11 p.m. ($20 for tickets) at 332 Cocoanut in The Rosemary District, featuring DJ Nati and production by SRQ Beats, along with many of the area's top food trucks, including Smokin Momma Lora's BBQ. Then, at 8 p.m. Friday, SFF hosts a newly added free screening of the 1998 comedy classic "The Big Lebowski" with an appearance by star Steve Buscemi, who recently spoke to my colleague Jimmy Geurts for this week's Ticket cover story. The screening takes place at Civic Green Lawns, just north of the Sarasota Municipal Auditorium at 801 N. Tamiami Trail.
Following that, Buscemi's latest directorial effort, "The Listener," will screen as the festival's closing night film, with Buscemi attending and participating in a Q&A, at 6:30 p.m. Saturday at Regal Hollywood, 1993 Main St., Sarasota; tickets are $50. SFF will host its closing night party and awards ceremony 8 p.m. Saturday at Sage restaurant, 1216 First St., Sarasota, with drinks and music. Tickets are $50. For more information on all these events and to order tickets, call 941-364-9514 or visit sarasotafilmfestival.com.
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2. Venice Shark's Tooth Festival
Back when Florida was underwater millions of years ago, sharks thrived in the region stretching from just north of Venice south to Manasota Key. That's why today, those beaches are peppered with shark teeth, which are technically fossils, and Venice is renowned as the Shark Tooth Capital of the World. It's also why Venice hosts its annual Shark's Tooth Festival. Taking place at Centennial Park in the heart of the historic downtown district, the festival will feature live music, food trucks, a shark-themed kids' area, and vendors selling beach-themed merchandise, including, of course, shark teeth. 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday; Centennial Park, 200 W. Venice Ave. Venice; free admission; 941-484-6722;venicesharkstoothfestival.com
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3. 99 Bottles Fifth Anniversary block party in downtown Sarasota
One of Sarasota's best craft beer bars, 99 Bottles, will celebrate its fifth anniversary on Saturday with a block party at its downtown shop. There will be exclusive beers from 99 Bottles' favorite breweries, bites from local food trucks, live music, special collaboration beer release, and the chance for one lucky attendee to win free beer for the rest of the year. 4-9 p.m. Saturday; 99 Bottles Taproom & Bottle Shop, 1445 Second St., Sarasota; 941-487-7874; 99bottles.net
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4. Set the Bar at Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota
The Sarasota-Manatee Originals, which promotes its local and independent area restaurants, is hosting its annual Set the Bar co*cktail competition. In addition to access to the many of the top mixologists in Sarasota and Manatee counties, guests at Set The Bar will enjoy live entertainment, a chance drawing, and light bites presented by fellow Sarasota-Manatee Originals’ Member Restaurants. 4-7 p.m. Sunday; Ed Smith Stadium, 2700 12th St., Sarasota; $85 plus tax and ticketing fee (21 and up only); 941-365-2800;eatlikealocal.com/events/setthebar
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5. Music in the park at Bradenton Riverwalk
Realize Bradenton's annual Music in the Park series continues its 2024 season on Friday with a performance by the impressive, locally founded Fleetwood Mac tribute act Sweet Fleet at the Riverwalk's main Pavilion stage, overlooking spacious Rossi Park and the Manatee River. Attendees are reminded to bring a chair or blanket to this free, dog-friendly music event featuring food and drinks for purchase. For as long as I can recall, this event has served beer and wine, but not when I visited March 29. An organizer told me they elected not to because there wasn't enough demand and they were short-staffed. The one food vendor I talked to, though, said there was indeed demand for beer and wine. 6-8 p.m. Friday; Bradenton Riverwalk Pavilion at Rossi Park, 452 Third Ave. W., Bradenton; free;realizebradenton.com
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Wade TatangeloisTicket Editor for the Sarasota Herald-Tribune, and Florida Regional Dining and Entertainment Editor for the USA TODAY Network.He considers essential films co-starring Steve Buscemi to be "Reservoir Dogs" (1992), "Pulp Fiction" (1994), "Fargo" (1996), and "The Big Lebowski" (1998) — and maintains that "Trees Lounge" (1996), which Buscemi also wrote and directed, is one of the great, overlooked films of the 1990s. Follow Wade onTwitter,FacebookandInstagram. He can be reached by email at wade.tatangelo@heraldtribune.com.Support local journalism bysubscribing.
