Arts and Entertainment Weekend Adventures in Bradenton: May 18-20, 2012

The Bradenton Municipal Auditorium is hosting the 3rd Annual Celebrity Roast in honor of 1-800-Ask-Gary

BRADENTON - As the weekend draws closer, you may be wondering what exciting activities are lurking around the corner. They say laughter is the best medicine, so go to the Bradenton Auditorium for a 1-800-Ask-Gary Celebrity Roast. Get your groove on at the Palmetto Boys & Girls club to celebrate their second Dancing With "Our Stars" event. Support the Bradenton Marauders as they take on the Dunedin Blue Jays at home. It's a mixed bag, so kick back and relax, or grab your dancing shoes: it's time for another Weekend Adventure in Bradenton!

The Early Learning Coalition of Manatee County is hosting the Third Annual celebrity roast. It will be held at the Bradenton Municipal Auditorium on Friday, May 18. Dr. Gary Kompothecras (founder of 1-800-ASK-GARY) is the roastee at this event, where his frenemies include Former Governor Charlie Crist and Bubba the Love Sponge, just to name a couple. Tickets run for $100 per person, and the roast starts at 6 p.m. sharp and lasts until 10 p.m. The event will be catered by Harry's Continental Kitchens, and all proceeds will benefit the Early Learning Coalition of Manatee County.

Beth Green and John Vita

The Palmetto Boys & Girls club will transform their gym into an elegant ballroom in order to celebrate their second Dancing With "Our Stars" event, which will be held Saturday, May 19. Dancing will begin at 6 p.m.

This sure to be fun and exciting event will be hosted by Beth Green and John Vita. Tapas from Pier 22 Cafe will be served, and live entertainment will be provided by The Shaman Band.

The "celebrity" dancers include Whiting Preston, Larry McGary, Darryl Weaver, Greg Campbell, and John and Diane Tucker. Last year's champions, Tracey Vita and Steve Peebles, will also be in attendance.

The Bradenton Marauders kick off an 8-game homestand tonight at McKechnie. The team will host the Dunedin Blue Jays in a four-game homestand that runs through Sunday, so you've got plenty of chances to catch so baseball. The games start Thursday through Saturday at 6:30 p.m. while the Sunday game begins at 5 p.m.

McKechnie Field will host the ”Cash Crawl“ and Thirsty Thursday tonight, offering $1 sodas and select draft beers. The ”Cash Crawl“ is a $1,500 total giveaway. Lucky fans will find money in their seat, in hot dog wrappers, and tucked in T-shirts, which will be fired into the crowd.

There will be a team photo giveaway on Friday and a Marauders camouflage hat will be given out for Military appreciation day on Saturday. Marty the Marauder’s birthday is this Sunday, and the rowdy mascot will be sharing cake with the fans as part of the celebration. First Mates Kids Club night is May 22, and Plunder Your Hunger will be hosted by Jersey Mike’s Subs on May 23. For more information on promotions for the upcoming home stand, click here.