Pirate Pup Parade, Running With The Rays, Art Shows: FL Weekend Events

TAMPA BAY, FL — Looking for something fun to do this weekend? There’s something for every interest from the Running with the Rays 5K to the Sarasota Seafood & Music Festival and the Tampa Bay Barbecue Festival to the Pirate Pup Parade in Tampa.

Dunedin International Film Festival

This cinematic extravagance runs through Sunday in downtown Dunedin. There will be film screenings, panels, live performances and an awards show.

Sarasota Seafood & Music Festival

Enjoy a weekend of great food and live music Friday evening through Sunday afternoon. Musical acts include Kettle of Fish, Twinkle & Rock Soul Radio, Damon Fowler, Derek Lersch, Sean Chabers, and K-Luve & United Frank Foundation.

Rising from the Hurricanes

The Beach Art Center in Indian Rocks Beach hosts its first post-hurricane art show on Friday, 5 to 8 p.m. This free event offers light refreshments, a 50/50 raffle and an interactive art wall.

The Mandala Project Opening Party

This invitational exhibition at Florida CraftArt in St. Petersburg features works by more than 80 renowned regional artists in conjunction with the annual Tibetan Monks Sacred Arts Tour, Jan. 13-18. The opening party takes place Friday, 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Plantapalooza

Sunken Gardens in St. Petersburg celebrates Florida’s native plants on Saturday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Browse unique plants and garden decor for sale, attend themed lectures, and more.

Sarasota Anime Fest

This anime collectors’ mecca convention takes place Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., at Sarasota Municipal Auditorium. Exhibitors will offer a wide-spectrum of items including anime candy, manga, magazines, cosplay, toys, artwork and sketches, video games, apparel, and jewelry. There will also be a roster of anime industry professionals and fandom-related celebrities.

Sarasota Winter Fine Art Festival

Local, regional and national artisans will sell their works Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., at Sarasota’s JD Hamel Park.

Tampa Bay Barbecue Festival

This festival at St. Petersburg’s Vinoy Park takes place Saturday and Sunday, noon to 8 p.m. The event will feature more than 100 barbecue dishes from Florida’s best competitive barbecue teams, live music and art, craft beers and cocktails, games and prizes, and arts and craft vendors.

Running with the Rays 5K

This 5K presented by the Tampa Bay Rays and Orlando Health Bayfront Hospital takes place Sunday. Proceeds will benefit hurricane relief efforts in the Tampa Bay area. Race packets will be available for pickup in Lot 1 at Tropicana field from 6 to 7:15 a.m. The deadline to register for the race is Saturday at 6 p.m.

Winter Art Walk

Local artists will set up at the Meadows Farmers Market in Sarasota on Sunday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. There will be live performances, yoga, foundation training with a chiropractor, a live butterfly release and a Mystical Creatures Tea Party.

Pirate Pup Parade

This Pirate Pup Parade marches down Water Street Tampa to Sparkman Wharf on Sunday at noon. The entire event runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. with a costume contest at noon. There will also be pet portraits and caricatures, pet adoptions, and face painting and other activities.