Gulfport Weekender: Art Walk, Big Night, Pittie Party

Featured artists this month include Katherine Marra and Isabella Kontrick. Marra, 66, will show and discuss her paintings and drawings of wildlife, pets and other subjects.

Kontrick, 10, will sign her recently published, Barracuda’s Curse. Her book, inspired by a trip to the Florida Keys, was the winner of the first- to third- grade category in the Gulfport Youth Book Writing Workshop Series and Contest.

98 ROCK PRESENTS: BIG NIGHT OUT: Rock out with Fuel, Hoobastank, Alien Ant Farm and Local H starting at 11 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 18, at Vinoy Park, 701 Bayshore Drive NE, in St. Petersburg. Tickets start as low as 98 cents and go up to $29.50 for VIP reserved seating. The concert is a fundraiser for Historic St. Pete, a group trying to save St. Pete's historic YMCA. Visit 98rock.com for more details and ticket info.

PITTIE PARTY IS SATURDAY: Adopt a pit bull for $5 during Pinellas County Animal Services’ Pittie-Party. Pit bull and pit mix adoptions are $5 during a special promotion Saturday from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. This month other adoptable dogs and cats are available for a reduced adoption fee of $25. The event is at Animal Services on Ulmerton Road in Largo. Check the Largo Patch announcement for details.

CUPCAKE CONTEST: The third annual great cupcake contest is at the Morean Arts Center Saturday afternoon in St. Pete. Come, vote for your favorite cupcake. Event is free, $1 donation to vote.

U.S. ROWING MASTERS NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS: Enjoy a world-class rowing competition and scenic views at Sarasota's brand new Nathan Benderson Park rowing venue all weekend long, Aug. 15-18. More than 2,000 masters rowers from around the country will compete in 200 events on the 400-acre lake at 2500 N. Honore Ave., Sarasota. Races kick off at 8 a.m. each day and continue through the afternoon. It's free to attend. See more details on Sarasota Patch

Find more things to do in the Events Calendar on Patch. Hosting an event? Add it to the calendar!