3 To Do: Get ready to do the Buzzard Lope

1. This weekend: Mullet Fest

January 26-28 (Friday evening, all day Saturday and Sunday): Be here for one of our area’s quirkiest and fun festivals. Enjoy fried and smoked mullet and lots of other fresh seafood and "good eats" from a variety of food vendors along with arts and crafts.

Great live music and of course, the annual Buzzard Lope dance contest, culminating with the crowning of the new Buzzard Lope Queen.

The Mullet Festival celebrates Old Florida at its finest, and carries on the traditions established by the late Stan Gober whose offbeat music was the inspiration for the Buzzard Lope Dance and Queen Contest.

Live entertainment: Kick-off party, Friday, 6-10 p.m. by Shane Duncan Band; Saturday, noon until 6:30 p.m., Hot Damn; Sunday, noon until 6:30 p.m., Joel Fry Band; Saturday, 3 p.m., fish cleaning contest and 4 p.m., Princess Buzzard Lope; Sunday 4 p.m., Queen Buzzard Lope best costume award dance contest.

Marco Island Fire Department will be serving hot dogs on Saturday and Sunday.

Stan's Idle Hour Bar is located at 221 W. Goodland Drive, Goodland.

Information: stansidlehour.net.

2. Wednesday: Tales from the Coast

Join the Friends of Rookery Bay for the first lecture in the 2018 Tales from the Coast lecture series.

This month’s featured speaker is David E. Guggenheim, Ph.D., marine scientist, conservation policy specialist, ocean explorer, submarine pilot and educator.

Dr. Guggenheim will share his recent coral reef and ocean conservation work in Cuba and the Caribbean, during the program from 6 until 8 p.m., Wednesday, Jan. 24.

Information: rookerybay.org/calendar.

3. In The Round: Travel safety

Iberia Bank is hosting a lecture featuring Barbara Bonn Powell, Federal Security Director at Southwest Florida International Airport and Punta Gorda Airport.

Americans are traveling more than ever before and airline safety remains a top concern. The TSA continues to evolve security measures and technology to keep travelers safe.

The evening will begin with a welcome reception at 5:30 p.m. followed by the presentation at 6, Wednesday, Jan. 24, at 605 Bald Eagle Drive in Marco Island.

The event is open to the public, however, seating is limited. Call 239-393-2400 to make a reservation; $3 admission per person.