Weekend Things: Sarasota County Fair Is Here

1. The Sarasota County Fair is finally here this weekend! New this year is the Galaxy Girl show and four new rides including the Space Roller. There's also a sea lion splash, a tiger show, bands, karaoke, pig races and more!  

All the action happens at the  and Robarts Arena. The annual Sarasota County Fair starts Friday and runs through March 25. Gate admission is free Monday through Thursday from 2 to 4 p.m. Otherwise it's $8 for adults, $4 for seniors 55 and up, children 6-17 and active military. Children 5 and under are free. Opening day is from 2 to 11 p.m., then noon to 11 p.m. Saturday and noon to 10 p.m. Sunday. Check out all of the events at https://sarasotafair.com.

2.  is finally here tonight! We'll offer complimentary appetizers and a chance to win a gift card to Urban Flats by bringing your registered ticket! We will raffle off the gift card at the party and you must be present to win. (Come to the party, which is Thursday form 6 to 8 p.m. at  for official rules.) And oh yeah, come and meet the Sarasota and Bradenton Patch crew and learn more about blogging! If you own a business, you can also swing by to claim your listing on Patch, too. For more info, visit http://blog-for-patch.eventbrite.com/

3. Reserve your seat today to watch PBS’s Art in the Twenty-First Century inside The Historic Asolo Theater at the . The show is the only prime time national television series focused exclusively on contemporary art, and the Ringling Museum is only one of 10 places across Florida that will offer an advanced screening. The screenings are Friday at 7 p.m. and Saturday at 10:30 a.m. This event is free and open to the public. Advance reservations are required, contact the Historic Asolo Theater Box Office at 941-360-7399.

4. Hit the couch or set the DVR to record "Today in America" hosted by Terry Bradshaw as the show highlights Sarasota, Venice and Port Charlotte. The show will air at 2:30 p.m., Saturday as well as March 24 and 31, which are also Saturdays, on ION WXPX and SNN Local News 6 on Comcast.

5. Patch bloggers Will and Edwin are urging readers to head out to on Friday to support the Suncoast AIDS Theatre Project at the show "Divas Do Barbra." Doors open at 6 pm and the show starts 7:30 pm.  Tickets are $15 in advance and $20 at door. For tickets, call 941-366-2646 or visit www.thegoldenapple.com.