Fun-filled events this holiday weekend
Ending the Summer Season in Style
Bashes, Festivals and Live Theater this Weekend from Englewood to Tampa

There are some people that like to spend their Labor Day holiday weekend relaxing at home with a barbecue for family and friends. There are others who like to explore the area and find fun events around the area. This article is for those people.
We can start with local festivals that may be of interest. The Reggae Pon di Lake Party and Music Festival is a pre-Labor Day party on Sunday at Nathan Benderson Park. Former lead singer for the Black Uhuru band, MyKal Rose, headlines this festival that starts at 2 PM. MyKal Rose will be joined by other local bands and DJs of the reggae genre until closing at 9 PM, including the popular band Jah Movement. There is a lot going on at the park during this party, something for the entire family. Rentals of pontoon pedal boats, stand-up paddleboards and kayaks will be available for this first-time event. Food and drinks will be available for purchase. Chairs and blankets are welcome. Admission is $30, free admission for those under 12 if accompanied by an adult. There is a special VIP area in the tower and balcony to enjoy the music. For your $70 VIP ticket also enjoy Jamaican catered cuisine, official Pon Di Lake t-shirt with lanyard and sponsor swag bag. Advance tickets are available through the Osfest Music sponsor website.
The Beach Club on Siesta Key is celebrating the holiday on Sunday with beer pong, flip cup and corn hole Beerlympics tournaments. The Pre-Labor Day Beach Club Bash starting at 3 PM will feature live music from NoFilter and John DJ Xtreme until closing at 2 AM Monday. The tournaments will be displayed on their 180 degree projection screen. Winners will receive $100 for first, with $50 and $25 awards for second and third place finishes.
Rain forced the cancellation of the Woodstock Revival earlier this month with a notice of redo for this weekend to be celebrated with the downtown Farmer’s Market that will open at its regular hours from 7 AM to 1 PM. Paisley Craze will be the main retro band playing hits from the 60s on the main stage within three blocks of ceremonial area. Get involved by dressing as a hippie flower child for prizes in the single, couples and dog categories. Local celebrities will be announcing for the contest to start at 11 AM. Prizes in several categories will be awarded during the Vintage VW Show. The Farmers Market has plans for children with a rock climbing wall, photo booth, peace sign painting and water slide. The first 50 children under 16 with a bike accompanied by an adult will receive a free bicycle helmet from Friends of The Legacy Trail.
The 10th Annual Downtown Venice Craft Festival scheduled for Saturday and Sunday offers plenty of craft goods and plants for purchase. Free parking downtown will be available in the historic district of Venice. The festival will be open both days from 10 AM to 4 PM.
A little further south, the 62nd Annual Pioneer Days Festival in Englewood concludes its weeks of celebrations this weekend with many events Saturday through Monday. The cardboard boat race is a fun event for team participants and spectators on Saturday. The race was moved to its new location at Ann Dever Memorial Park. Registration is at 8:30 AM with the race start at 9 AM. Visit the Pioneer Days boat race website for registration and more information. The popular local band Kettle of Fish will take the Pioneer Park stage during the Shipwreck Dance Party on Saturday from 5 to 11 PM. The festivities continue on Sunday with the Diaper Derby, where babies will crawl to glory for trophies to the quickest baby in the area. The crawl takes place at the Lemon Bay Women’s Club, celebrating 100 years as an organization. On Monday, the 62nd Annual Pioneer Days parade will run its course down Dearborn Street of Englewood starting at 9 AM. The Festival and Car Show will be held in Pioneer Park all hours of the festival on Sunday and Monday. Prizes for the open class of cars will be awarded at 6 PM on Sunday before the Corvettes come into town on Monday, with cash awards at the 3 PM closing.
On Labor Day Monday, the Birdrock Taco Shack in Bradenton will throw its Labor Day Music, Food and Art Bash. Local musical talents Emily Roff and Paul Fournier will be on stage during this event that runs from noon to 5PM. Enjoy the favorites dishes of the Bash that includes lobster quesadillas, wood grilled skirt steak and its own guacamole while sipping on cold beer during this event celebrating its third year.

If you happen to be in Tampa Saturday and Sunday the Summer of Rum Festival featuring Sugar Ray will be going on both days in Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park. Other bands include The Wailers, Ballyhoo!, UNRB, Tribal Style and includes DJs Fresh and Cardinal. Sample a different variety of rums or imbibe on popular summertime rum drinks during this festival that begins at noon on Saturday. Purchase single, two-day and VIP advance tickets of $85 for Saturday and $75 for Sunday through the Summer of Rum Festival website. Fireworks are planned after dark.
Interested in live theater instead? Gilbert & Sullivan Unplugged presents a modern twist to popular songs of the famous writing duo. The show runs through September 23 in the John C. Cabaret of the Florida Studio Theatre. Now through September 9 catch the one-woman solo performance, Becoming Dr. Ruth, in the Kiwanis Studio of the Manatee Performing Arts Center in Bradenton. Actress Susan Greenhill portrays Dr. Ruth Westheimer who converses with the audience while packing her New York apartment following the death of her husband.
The biggest event of the year for the Sarasota Sailing Squadron on City Island was to take place this holiday weekend. Now in its 72nd year, the Labor Day Regatta was cancelled over the weekend due to an environmental advisory put out by Sarasota County. The same advisory forced the cancellation of the Great Scallop Search and Clam Jam scheduled for this past weekend.
a complete line-up of holiday events this weekend is on our upcoming events web page. There is plenty to do this holiday weekend, I hope you are able to make the best of it. Please contact me at (941) 387-1840 if you have a property to sell or buy.
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