Aug. 26

Friday Fest at the Van Wezel

Bradenton-based contemporary country band Rebel Heart brings its high energy blend of today’s popular music and classic songs to the free Friday Fest outdoor concert on the Van Wezel bayfront lawn Friday night. Weather watchers, don’t worry; the fun moves inside in case of rain. vanwezel.org

Aug. 26-Nov. 27

Selby’s Secret Garden

Selby Gardens has been keeping a big secret for 40 years, and it’s spilling the beans in a big way. Highlights of its spectacular collection of rare, historic botanical illustrations go on display for the first time starting Friday in its Museum of Botany & The Arts in the Payne Mansion; the exhibit will be paired with a display of living plants in the Tropical Conservatory starting Oct. 14. For details, visit selby.org.  

Aug. 25 and Sept. 1

Zach Zorn at The Starlite Room

If you missed the sensational puppeteer Zach Zorn at last spring’s SoloFest, here’s your chance to see his award-winning one-man show, An Excruciatingly Ordinary Toy Theater Show, at The Starlite Room. Zorn recently won the Julie Taymor World Theater Fellowship, so he’s off to Japan to study ritual robotic puppetry. Tickets at gottavan.org.

Aug. 26

James Corden in One Man, Two Guvnors

James Corden (he of Carpool Karaoke fame) won a Tony Award for his hilarious performance in this slapstick comedy that was the hit of Broadway and the London stage. A National Theatre Live screening at The Ringling’s Historic Asolo Theater. ringling.org

Aug. 25-Sept. 30

Art Center Sarasota

Works by seven local photographers, plus three more exhibits, take center stage at Art Center Sarasota’s last exhibition of the season, with an opening reception tonight. Shown here, photography by Audra Locicero. Learn more about it, and Art Center Sarasota’s upcoming season, here.  www.artsarasota.org