FOR COVERAGE OF THE 2013 De Soto Seafood Fest Click Here.

2012 Festival Preview:

Tons of live music, plenty of beer vendors and seafood from Bradenton and beyond – all in downtown this weekend.

It’s known across the state as one of the biggest and best seafood celebrations. It’s the Hernando DeSoto Historical Society’s annual DeSoto SeaFood Fest, making its trip to downtown Bradenton.

The festival begins at 5 p.m. Friday and runs through 11 p.m. Saturday's festival hours are 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. and Sunday's festivities are noon to 7 p.m. The location is still downtown Bradenton but the exact site has been altered a bit since last year. You’ll still find plenty of vendors, and the west stage, along the waterfront on a portion of scenic Barcarrota Boulevard. But the rest of the event will take place on 10th Street West from Fourth Avenue West to Barcarrota Boulevard and Third Avenue West from 9th to 12th streets. The main stage will be at 10th Street and Third Avenue West.

Headlining the event will be country music star Clay Walker, who takes the stage at 8 p.m. Saturday. Other live acts include an AC/DC tribute band, HWY 41, Vin Lamar, Kettle of Fish, One Night Rodeo, Shotgun Justice and Big Daddy.

Here are the road closures for the weekend: Barcarrota Boulevard from 10th-12th streets west; Third Avenue West from 9th-12th streets west and 10th Street West from Barcarrota Boulevard to 4th Avenue West.

Driving around this area of downtown isn’t going to be easy this weekend. The street locations where the event is taking place will close to vehicles today  and remain closed until Monday at 7 a.m., so plan accordingly.

Parking is available in the two downtown parking garages and the public lot at the corner of Third Avenue West and Old Main Street, although those lots will probably fill up fast. Your best bet is to get there via a cab, bus or car pool.

Visit Hernando DeSoto Historical Society’s website at www.desotohq.com for more information, including a lineup of all the bands scheduled to play on both stages.

Around Bradenton this weekend:

• Jamrocks Jamaican Grill, 5917 Manatee Ave. W., has added exotic Caribbean cocktails to its drink menu including tasty concoctions with such names as Big Bamboo, Blue Sea and Brown Cow to name a few. If you’re looking for something else, check out the happy hour specials from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. daily: $1 drafts, two-for-one wells for $4.75 and 10 jerk wings for $5.
• Tarpon Pointe Grill & Tiki Bar, 801 Riverside Dr. E., has its daily happy hour from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. with $2 domestic bottles, $1.75 domestic drafts, $3 wells, $4 calls, $5 select premiums and $4 Smirnoff Martinis. All Bar Bite appetizers are $5 each during happy hour. Live music from Koko Ray at 7 p.m. Friday and at 7 p.m. Saturday Big Daddy will perform.
• Live music from the newest member of the Florida Sports Hall of Fame – Henry Lawrence. The former football pro is also a local blues and R&B musician and his band will be playing at A Touch of Class, 5131 14^th St. W., starting at 7 p.m. Sunday with a special guest, blues great Big Jesse. Cover: $10.
• Prices are getting slashed at The Cellar, 4307 26^th St. W., starting Friday with $2 beers, $3.50 Captain & Cokes, $5 frozen daiquiris, $3 Coronas. And that’s not even happy hour prices. From 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. daily enjoy $1.50 domestic beer bottles and $2.25 cocktails. Power hour prices are 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. daily featuring $2 beers and $2.25 cocktails.
• Don’t forget about Monday! The Muphin Men are at Cork’s Cigar Bar, 424 Old Main St., every Monday from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. along with $4 Jagers and $5 Jager, cherry and grape bombs.