Following the news of one of the biggest local waterfront restaurant sales in recent memory, here’s a friendly reminder: don’t let the heat keep you from enjoying all the fun events happening this weekend in Sarasota and Manatee counties. Our top event features daiquiris, which taste even better when they're free on National Daiquiri Day.
Alongside the free drinks, we have a couple of summer movie series, and other enjoyable activities to help you make the most of another warm, leisurely July weekend.
In addition to the five events featured below, today marks the debut of the Bradenton Beach Merchants Association's new “Sundown Get Down” event series, a family-friendly street party occurring every third Thursday of the month on Historic Bridge Street in Bradenton Beach on Anna Maria Island.
The inaugural event, “Retro Beach Party,” starts at 4 p.m. today, July 18, with the Gulf Coast Corvette Club showcasing their favorite retro convertibles from 1963 to 2022. For more information, visit historicbridgestreet.net .
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1. Daiquiri Deck giving away free daiquiris on National Daiquiri Day
Sarasota-Manatee icon the Daiquiri Deck, purveyor of everybody's favorite adult slushies, celebrates National Daiquiri Day on Friday with one free 10-ounce daiquiri or virgin daiquiri with any purchase at its Bradenton Beach, Siesta Key Village, South Siesta Key, St. Armands, and Venice locations. There will also be a number of giveaways, with five grand prize winners (one winner per location) receiving free daiquiris for a year. In addition, live entertainment will take place at each location from 3 to 7 p.m. on Friday. For more information, visit daiquirideck.com .
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2. Christmas in July at Village of the Arts in Bradenton
The Village of the Arts — featuring shops, restaurants and live music venues, with an adjacent brewery just south of downtown Bradenton — will host Christmas in July on Saturday. There will be plenty of opportunities to find unique gifts and enjoy live music with holiday tunes. 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday; Village of the Arts, Bradenton; villageofthearts.org
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3. Summer Movie Nights at CoolToday Park in North Port
CoolToday Park's popular Summer Movie Nights series, featuring films shown on the scoreboard, continues with the latest Ghostbusters film, "Frozen Empire." Released earlier this year, this movie is the follow-up to "Ghostbusters: Afterlife" from 2021. The "Frozen Empire" cast includes Paul Rudd, Carrie Coon, Finn Wolfhard, Mckenna Grace, Celeste O'Connor, and Logan Kim, who are returning from "Afterlife," along with appearances by original Ghostbusters Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, and Ernie Hudson, as well as Annie Potts and William Atherton. 5 p.m. Sunday; CoolToday Park, 18800 W. Villages Parkway, North Port; $7, $3 ages 4-9, free ages 3 and under; 941-413-5004; cooltodaypark.com/movies
4. Classic Movies at the Sarasota Opera House
The historic Opera House in downtown Sarasota continues its annual summer movie series with a screening of "American Graffiti," the 1973 coming-of-age classic directed and co-written by George Lucas. The film stars Richard Dreyfuss, Ron Howard, Paul Le Mat and Cindy Williams, with an appearance by Lucas's future "Star Wars" leading man, Harrison Ford. 7:30 p.m. Friday; Sarasota Opera House, 61 N. Pineapple Ave., Sarasota; $12; 941-328-1300; sarasotaopera.org
5. ReptiCon at Bradenton Area Convention Center
The popular reptile and exotic animal expo ReptiCon returns to the Bradenton Area Convention Center — adjacent to the newly opened Palmetto Marriott Resort & Spa and its rooftop restaurant and bar open to the public — with another group of vendors and breeders. The family-friendly event offers educational activities and plenty of opportunities to consider a new family pet among the hundreds of reptiles, amphibians, invertebrates, spiders, and small exotic animals. 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday; Bradenton Area Convention Center, One Haben Blvd., Palmetto; $15, $6 ages 5-12, free ages 4 and under (both days), $10-$11, $6 ages 5-12, free ages 4 and under (one day); repticon.com/florida/bradenton
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: Don’t miss out! 5 best things to do in Sarasota, Bradenton area this weekend: July 18-21
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