Free waterfront concert and more fun things to do in Sarasota and Bradenton this weekend
Our list of exciting July events features a couple of great reasons to visit downtown Sarasota, including a free waterfront concert with a popular local country band as well as an improv comedy festival featuring a British freestyle rapper. In south Sarasota County, there will be a Christmas in July screening of everybody's favorite holiday movie starring a human raised by Santa's elves.
We also have the annual Marauders Pride Night at LECOM Park, which is the Pittsburgh Pirates spring training home in Bradenton. Meanwhile, The Ringling in Sarasota continues to host family-friendly circus thrills in a historic, air-conditioned theater.
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1. The free Friday Fest concert series at Van Wezel lawn along Sarasota Bay with One Night Rodeo
Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall’s free, outdoor summertime concert series overlooking Sarasota Bay continues with popular local country band One Night Rodeo. There will be food vendors and beer, wine and cocktails for sale, and while blankets and lawn chairs are welcome, outside food and beverages, including coolers, are prohibited. 5-9 p.m. Friday; Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, 777 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota; free; 941-263-6799; vanwezel.org
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2. Sarasota Improv Festival at Florida Studio Theatre in downtown Sarasota
If you're looking for laughs (and air conditioning) in the heart of downtown Sarasota, check out the Sarasota Improv Festival, which returns to Florida Studio Theatre following a four-year hiatus. Hosted by FST Improv, there will be performances and workshops by local comedy troupes as well as ones from across the country and overseas, including headliner MC Hammerstein, an English hip-hop comedian making his U.S. performance debut with a freestyle rap show. Today (July 20) through Saturday; Florida Studio Theatre, 1241 N. Palm Ave., Sarasota. $10 for single tickets to most performances (they are $25 for the headliner MC Hammersmith) as well as options for single and multi-day passes. For more information, visit floridastudiotheatre.org.
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3. Marauders Pride Night 2023 at LECOM Park in Bradenton
The Bradenton Marauders, a Class A affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates, continue their baseball season with a game at home against the Fort Myers Mighty Mussels on Saturday, which is also Pride Night. The Marauders will celebrate the LGBTQ+ community with a pre-game Pride parade and there will be a Pride in the Plaza vendor fair. 6:30 p.m. Saturday, LECOM Park, 1611 Ninth St. W., Bradenton. For more information and tickets, typically priced $8-$12, visit milb.com/bradenton.
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4. Celebrate Christmas in July by watching the movie 'Elf' at CoolToday Park in North Port
CoolToday Park, the spring training home of the Atlanta Braves, continues its popular Summer Movie Nights series on Sunday with a Christmas in July screening of the 2003 comedy classic "Elf" starring Will Ferrell, James Caan and Zooey Deschanel. The Movie Nights take place inside the stadium with the films shown on the scoreboard. Parking is free, and seats are available in the seating bowl. Please note that outside food, beverages, and chairs are not allowed inside the stadium. However, you can enjoy refreshments at the Superior Pools Tomahawk Tiki Bar & Grill, which is open during the event. 5 p.m. Sunday; CoolToday Park, 18800 S. West Villages Parkway, North Port; $7 adults, $3 (ages 4-9); 941-413-5004; cooltodaypark.com/movies
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5. Summer Circus Spectacular at The Ringling's Historic Asolo Theater in Sarasota
An annual collaboration between the Circus Arts Conservatory and The Ringling, Summer Circus Spectacular brings family-friendly entertainment in the lavish and intimate Historic Asolo Theater. The production features world-class circus artists including aerialists, acrobats, contortionists and clowns. Also, keep in mind after attending Summer Circus Spectacular, you can enjoy access to the Circus Museum on the same day for just $5 more. Today-Aug. 12; Historic Asolo Theater, The Ringling, 5401 Bay Shore Road, Sarasota; $20, $13 ages 12 and under, $50 opening night gala and performance; 941-360-7399; ringling.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: Free waterfront concert, fun things to do this weekend in Sarasota
