Free boat races, fireworks, more fun things to do Labor Day weekend in Sarasota, Bradenton
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Please note: This story was written before Hurricane Idalia made landfall on the Florida Big Bend coast Wednesday morning as a Category 3 storm and affected Sarasota and Manatee counties including damage due to flooding. Before making plans, verify with venues or organizers that event details have not changed.----
We've finally made it through August, and our extensive list of September events in Sarasota and Bradenton kicks off with a variety of fun things to do during the Labor Day holiday weekend. The most famous of the bunch is the free, 75th annual Labor Day Regatta in Sarasota. You will also find events in Lakewood Ranch and downtown Bradenton as well as the nearby Village of the Arts.
In addition to the five events featured below, Taste of UTC has returned with dining deals from popular restaurants at The Mall at UTC and the surrounding UTC Districts. Offered Sept. 1-15, these include three-course lunches for $18 and $24 as well as three-course dinners for $34 and $52. For more information, visit mallatutc.com/pages/tasteofutc.
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1. Labor Day Regatta in Sarasota Bay
The Sarasota Sailing Squadron will host its 75th annual Labor Day Regatta this weekend with hundreds of competitive sailors from across the U.S. and Canada. Activities include a Friday night welcome party, five separate race courses, Saturday dinner and Sunday awards ceremony. It’s a great event for participants, sure, but also for spectators lining City Island and the Bayfront, which places you right by several of the region's best waterfront restaurants and bars. 9 a.m.-8 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday; Sarasota Sailing Squadron, 1717 Ken Thompson Parkway, Sarasota; 941-388-2355; sarasotasailingsquadron.org
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2. Birdrock Taco Shack Eighth Anniversary Celebration
The Village of the Arts, located just south of downtown Bradenton, holds its monthly artwalk 6-9:30 p.m. and 11 a.m.-4pm., and then one of the neighborhood's most popular restaurants and live music venues, Birdrock Taco Shack, will host an eighth anniversary celebration on Sunday. National blues star and former Anna Maria Island resident Damon Fowler is among those scheduled to perform along with Bradenton's own Matt Burke, of the acclaimed Americana band Have Gun, Will Travel. 5 p.m. Sunday; Birdrock Taco Shack, 1213 13th Ave. W., Bradenton; $5; 941-545-9966; facebook.com/birdrocktaco
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3. David Bowie, Prince and more for final weekend of Laser Lights Nights at Bishop Planetarium in Bradenton
It's the last weekend for The Bishop Planetarium's in-demand series of laser light shows set to music by rock and pop acts. The final lineup for this year's summer series features The Beatles at 7 p.m. today (Aug. 31), David Bowie 7 p.m. Friday, and Prince at 7 p.m. Saturday. There will also be a "medley of summer favorites" shows at 9 p.m. today, Friday, and Saturday.
The shows are held at the Bishop Museum of Science and Nature in downtown Bradenton, located at 201 10th St. W., near the west entrance to Riverwalk. Beer, wine, soda, water, and snacks will be available for purchase in the planetarium lobby from 6 to 9 p.m., and they can be taken into the theater. Please note that no outside food or drink is permitted inside the lobby or theater. Tickets are priced at $15. For more information, visit bishopscience.org/laser-light-nights.
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4. Marauders Fan Appreciation Night at LECOM Park in Bradenton
Before playing their final home game of the season at noon Sunday, The Bradenton Marauders, a Class A affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates, will host Fan Appreciation Night on Saturday. Watch them play the Palm Beach Cardinals and then be sure to stick around for the "largest and last fireworks" of the season. 5 p.m. gates, 6:30 p.m. first pitch Saturday; LECOM Park, 1611 Ninth St. W., Bradenton; $10-$14; milb.com/bradenton
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5. Music on Main at Lakewood Ranch
The monthly Lakewood Ranch block party series Music on Main continues with the street lined with food vendors and beer trucks, as well as rides and activities for children. The free entertainment includes the Taylor Opie Band playing soul and funk favorites. 6-9 p.m. Friday; Main Street, Lakewood Ranch; lakewoodranch.com
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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: Labor Day Regatta and more fun things to do this weekend in Sarasota
