Food, drink & music festivals plus more fun things to do in Sarasota area this weekend
It's finally starting to feel like fall here in Sarasota and Manatee counties, and we have a bunch of awesome autumnal October events taking place this weekend to celebrate the season.
We have two of my favorite annual events leading the way: Rocktoberfest in downtown Sarasota and a traditional Oktoberfest at Edelweiss, which will happen in and around the authentic German restaurant found along Bradenton Riverwalk's new eastern expansion.
You will also want to consider Morton's Firehouse Chili Cookoff in Sarasota's Southside Village, as well as Hunsader Farms Pumpkin Festival in east Manatee. Looking for a Celtic and Bavarian mash-up? Check out Celtoberfest, taking place in Motorworks Brewing's big, beautiful beer garden adjacent to Bradenton's Village of the Arts.
Continue reading for details on each of these exciting events.
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1. Rocktoberfest returns to J.D. Hamel Park in downtown Sarasota
Oktoberfest-inspired food and beverages will be paired with an impressive lineup of musicians for Rocktoberfest, the free admission, pet-friendly event set to take place this weekend in downtown Sarasota along the Bayfront at J.D. Hamel Park. There will be smoked sausages, roasted meats, sauerkraut, cabbage, and pretzels along with a special selection of German beers served at the full-liquor bars. The live music lineup includes local and national standouts, including a 6:30-8 p.m. Friday performance by blues luminaries Annika Chambers and Paul DesLauriers. 4-10 p.m. Friday, 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday; J. D. Hamel Park, 199 Bayfront Drive; free admission; paragonartevents.com
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2. Oktoberfest celebration at Edelweiss in Bradenton
Eat, drink and enjoy live entertainment at Edelweiss, the authentic German restaurant located just east of downtown Bradenton by the new Riverwalk East extension. There's a large, open-air beer tent set up with seating and live entertainment on stage in addition to contests, traditional Oktoberfest food and steins filled with genuine German beer. 4-8 p.m. today through Friday, noon-8 p.m. Saturday, noon-7 p.m. Sunday; The Edelweiss Restaurant, 611 Manatee Ave. E., Bradenton; free; 941-748-3838; facebook.com/edelweiss941
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3. Morton's Firehouse Chili Cookoff in Sarasota's Southside Village
Beans or no beans? For the 23rd year, local firehouses will be competing in a chili cook-off taking place outside Morton's Gourmet Market in Sarasota's bustling Southside Village. There will be celebrity judges, live music and more including various vendors. 2-5 p.m. Sunday; Morton's Gourmet Market, 1924 S. Osprey Ave., Sarasota; free admission, $10 to sample all chili; 941-955-9856; sffbf.org
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4. Hunsader Farms Pumpkin Festival returns to Bradenton
The 32nd annual Hunsader Farms Pumpkin Festival begins this weekend with plenty of pumpkins, hayrides, scarecrow displays, and lots of food options including, yes, pumpkin pie. The long list of entertainment includes everything from the beloved pumpkin cannon and country music to circus acts and a monster truck show. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 14-15, 21-22, 28-29; Hunsader Farms, 5500 County Road 675, Bradenton; $15 admission, $5 parking (children 10 and younger free); cash only; 941-322-2168; hunsaderfarms.com
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5. Celtoberfest returns to Motorworks Brewing by Bradenton's Village of the Arts
Celtoberfest, everyone’s favorite Celtic and Bavarian mash up, will be at Motorworks’ massive beer garden for two days of live music, games, special vendors, bagpipers, food specials and steins for sale. Friday's band lineup is Bill Mullen at 5 p.m. and Tuatha Dea at 7:30 p.m. On Saturday, it's Black Velvet Band (11 a.m.), Clover's Revenge (1:30 p.m.), Mac Tier (4 p.m.) and Seven Nations (6:30 p.m.) Motorworks Brewing is at 1014 Ninth St. W., Bradenton bordering the Village of the Arts. Tickets are $15-$40 and can be purchased at celtoberfest.org.
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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 wade.tatangelo@heraldtribune.com. Support local journalism by subscribing.
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Best fun things to do in Sarasota, Bradenton, Venice this weekend
