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BRADENTON – Fall is here, but the weather hasn't cooled down and neither has the action. Manatee and Southeast square off Friday night in the area's biggest football rivalry, the Sarasota Blues and Music Fest returns and there's a delicious way to enjoy nature at Emerson Point Preserve. This is no time to be a couch potato: let's go on a Weekend Adventure in Bradenton!
Friday night brings the biggest football game in the area, as the deepest rivalry in Manatee County gets played out at John Kiker Memorial Stadium, as the Southeast Seminoles host the Manatee Hurricanes. Southeast nearly toppled Manatee when the 'Canes visited in 2010 and were able to hold on when a controversial penalty thwarted the 'Noles last drive. Manatee was ranked No. 2 in the nation at the time.
In 2011 the 'Canes had already suffered two losses in national showcases when Southeast came to Hawkins Stadium and were routed 47-6, giving Manatee a 16-14 lead in a series that dates back to 1974. Coach Maechtle and his team would surely love to get revenge by ending Manatee's march toward a first-ever High School National Championship. However, it will be a tall order this year, with the 'Canes having grown stronger since 2011, while Southeast has yet to demonstrate 2011 form, after losing blue-chip two-way threat Brian Poole to the University of Florida.
If Southeast couldn't hang last year, they've got their work cut out for them this week, much of which will rest on star RB Courtney Allen's ability to bounce outside the fearsome Manatee Defensive Line to snap big plays. The game has been named one of the 67 included in the 2012 Great American Rivalry Series presented by the United States Marine Corps. The winner will take the coveted Great American Rivalry Series Champion trophy, presented on field by a United States Marine. The game’s Most Valuable Player is also named, and the Series awards the top student-athlete from each school a college scholarship.
In other local action, Palmetto, the No. 1-ranked 5A team in the state, will host Lakewood Ranch in what should be a competitive match-up.
Football: Friday 7:30 p.m.
Manatee @ Southeast
Palmetto @ Lakewood Ranch
Port Charlotte @ Braden River
Bayshore @ Cypress Lake
St. Stephen's @ Shorecrest Prep
Canterbury @ Bradenton Christian (7:00)
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The 22nd Sarasota Blues and Music Fest will be held this Saturday at the Ed Smith Stadium Complex, with gates opening at 11 a.m. Started in 1991 by the Sarasota Blues Society as a way to celebrate the blues in the Sarasota community, they've once again got a stellar line-up of national artists for this year’s festival including Delbert McClinton, the Royal Southern Brotherhood and Paul Thorn.
The event has a rich history of finding and showcasing young and up and coming talent and also bringing accomplished musicians to the community. Numerous Grammy Award winners and Rock and Roll Hall of Famers have graced the stages over the years and the festival seeks to continue that tradition.
Each year, partial proceeds from the event go to a charity. Past recipients of donations have included United Cerebral Palsy, Police Athletic League Sailor Circus Capital Campaign, United Way, Florida Center for Child and Family Development and All Faiths Food Bank, which will benefit from the Festival in 2012. General Admission tickets are still available, $22 in advance and $27 day of show. Click here to order.
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Looking for some peaceful play time? Chef Aedan is going to whip up a delicious array of delicacies to tantalize your taste buds during Wild Florida 101: Edible Plants of Summer at Emerson Point.
Learn all about nature's bounty with a short hike to explore various native plants and their uses, then join the staff at the Chef's Table to sample dishes made with a variety of native ingredients. Suitable for participants age 13 and older. Reservations are required. Please call 941-748-4501 ext. 4616.
Wild Florida 101: Edible Plants of Summer
Saturday
2:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Emerson Point Preserve
5801 17th Street West
Palmetto, FL 34221
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