In this email: | |  | 😂 Weekend mode: ACTIVATED! |
| 👋 Hey there ! | Alright, SWFL crew—if you’re looking for an excuse to get out and soak up some local flavor, this weekend is stacked. Whether you’re into treasure hunting, fire trucks, artsy vibes, or just good ol’ fashioned fair food, there’s something for everyone. | Let’s break it down: | | 🚤 26th Annual Cortez Nautical Flea Market |  | ⚓ Flea markets are cool, but nautical flea markets? Next level! |
| 📅 Saturday, March 8 | 🕘 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
📍 Florida Maritime Museum, Cortez, FL | If you’ve got a thing for boats, vintage dive gear, or quirky nautical finds, this is your spot. It’s basically a giant, salty treasure hunt with live music and food thrown in for good measure. Bring cash, ‘cause you never know when you’ll stumble on the perfect antique anchor (or a deal on fishing gear you didn’t know you needed). | | 🚒 Sarasota County Fire Department Open House |  | 🚒 When the fire truck is cool, but the helmet is cooler! |
| 📅 Saturday, March 8 | 🕘 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM
📍 Station 13, Sarasota, FL | Firetrucks? Check. Firefighters? Check. Free safety tips that could literally save your life? Also check. If you’ve got kiddos who love big red trucks—or just want to brush up on your fire safety knowledge—this is a fun, hands-on way to do it. Bonus: They’ll even check your car seat or fit your bike helmet properly. | | 🪦 Cemetery Tours at Manatee Village Historical Park |  | 👻 Historic cemeteries: where every plot has a story. |
| 📅 Saturday, March 8 | 🕙 10:00 AM
📍 Manatee Village Historical Park, Bradenton, FL | Love a little history with a side of eerie? This free tour of the 1850 Manatee Burying Grounds is led by park staff and is first-come, first-served (aka, get there early). Who knows—you might even meet a ghost. Or, at the very least, learn some wild local history. | | 🌿 Venice Area Garden Club’s 35th Annual Garden Tour & Plant Sale |  | 🦋 A garden so lush, even the bugs pay rent! |
| 📅 Saturday, March 8 | 🕙 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
📍 Venice UCC Church, Venice, FL | Garden lovers, this one’s for you. Tour private gardens, snag some new plants, and feel good knowing your $5 ticket goes toward local scholarships and beautification projects. It’s basically shopping for a cause (and a great excuse to expand your plant collection). | | 🎨 Le Marché Bohémien – The Ultimate Outdoor Market |  | 🛒 Step inside, and suddenly, I need everything! |
| 📅 Saturday, March 8 | 🕙 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
📍 Five Points Park, Sarasota, FL | If you love all things vintage, coastal, artisanal, and eclectic, this open-air market is a must. Think re-purposed furniture, handmade jewelry, cool antiques, and more. Also: food and drinks. Because treasure hunting is hungry work. | | 🎭 Lakewood Ranch Festival of the Arts |  | 🎨 🛍️ Art, sunshine, and a little retail therapy—yes, please! |
| 📅 Saturday & Sunday, March 8-9 | 🕙 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
📍 Lakewood Main Street, Lakewood Ranch, FL | Your Instagram is about to get artsy. This festival is packed with original, handmade pieces from artists across the country—paintings, sculptures, jewelry, ceramics, you name it. Even if you’re not in the market to buy, it’s still a great spot to wander, people-watch, and soak up some creative energy. | | 🎡 Sarasota County Fair – All the Funnel Cakes & Ferris Wheels |  | 🎢 Hold on tight… or don’t. Either way, you’re flying! |
| 📅 Friday, March 7 – Sunday, March 16 | 🕘 Times Vary
📍 Sarasota County Fairgrounds, Sarasota, FL | Nothing says spring like a county fair. Rides? Check. Deep-fried everything? Check. Random but surprisingly fascinating exhibits (think giant vegetables and prize-winning chickens)? Also check. If you need an excuse to relive your childhood or just crush some fair food, here it is. | | That’s the weekend rundown! Whether you’re bargain-hunting at the nautical flea market, stuffing your face at the fair, or pretending to be a ghost hunter in a historic cemetery, there’s plenty to keep you busy. | What’s your move? Hit reply (or just tell your dog) and let me know where you’re headed! | Catch ya out there, | — The Waves Pest Control Team 🌊 |
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