This bill of weekend food and drink happenings has craft beer, local seafood, a wine tasting and more beer in store.
Kick off your plans to a beer-y good start at Old McMickey's Farm in Odessa. From 7 to 10 p.m. Friday, Barns & Beer, a craft beer festival benefiting Old McMicky’s Farm Foundation, will offer 75-plus kinds of beer and live tunes. Food will be featured, and Old McMickey's promises classic farm games, too. Not drinking? Designated driver tickets are available. $37-$75. 9612 Crescent Drive, Odessa, 813-920-1948.
The farm isn't the only place to grab a craft brew this weekend. Big Tampa Beerfest at the Tampa Convention Center promises cold ones (more than 250) and a good time from 7 to 11:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Music will also be highlighted. $40-$75 in advance, $50-$60 at the door. 333 S. Franklin St., Tampa, 813-274-8511.
Make a splash at the 28th Annual Sponge Docks Seafood Festival in Tarpon Springs. The three-day festival — hosted noon to 9 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday — will serve up fresh, local seafood, an arts and crafts show, live sounds, and more. Festgoers will also have access to the city's many Greek restaurants, markets and bakeries. Free, money for goodies. Dodecanese Boulevard, Tarpon Springs.
Starting at 5 p.m. Saturday, locals may headbang for a cause at downtown St. Pete's Local 662. The bar will host its third Rock for R.A.K. benefit concert. To get in, donate warm clothing, blankets, bags or nonperishable food items, which will be given to the nonprofit R.A.K. If folks enter the ugly sweater contest, they could win a $50 bar tab. Donation at the door, money for drinks. 662 Central Ave., St. Petersburg, 727 258-4829.
Uncorked! Wine & Shine will bring a wine tasting, silent auction and light bites to Plant City. Held at Keel & Curley Winery from 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday, the event, whose proceeds will be donated to Tampa Crossroads programs, will function as a veterans celebration. $25. 5210 W. Thonotosassa Road, Plant City, 813-752-9100.
This article appears in Nov 12-18, 2015.