CLAY COUNTY – Have a taste for soulful cuisine? Or maybe cotton candy. Or fresh tomatoes? Or zucchini ice cream?

Maybe you just want to enjoy the splendor of fresh flowers and gardens, the death-defying acrobatics of high-wire walkers, the thrill of making a five-foot putt or the taste of a sweet potato pie.

If so, you have a variety of options this weekend.

Venues throughout the county will be busy with festivals, music, entertainment and food. With so much happening, the challenge is to make good use of your time.

Loomis Bros. Circus

It starts Friday with the Loomis Bros. Circus at the Clay County Agriculture Fairgrounds. The first of five performances in three days is at 7:30 p.m. There are two shows on Saturday – at 4:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. – and two more on Sunday – at 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. All performances will be inside the Cattleman’s Arena. The big show is a traditional-style circus, just like you remember as a child. The sights of superhuman athleticism and animal magnificence, the sounds of our singing ringmaster, the smells of fresh popcorn and cotton candy ... they’re all here.

The international cast of performers will have you on the edge of your seat with their amazing skills which include a rotating program of specialty and animal acts from all corners of the globe including juggling, dogs, rolla bolla, unicycles, motorcycle daredevils, aerialists and elephants.

For tickets, visit https://www.loomiscircus.com/.

Garden Club of Orange Park

If you want a slower pace, the Garden Club of Orange Park will host is annual yard sale on Saturday at 1101 Wild Ginger Lane on Fleming Island from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Proceeds will benefit the club’s commitment to identifying and showcasing the area’s natural beauty.

The 20th Soul Food Festival will make a grand return on Saturday from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. at the Vera Francis Hall Park on 1503 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. in Green Cove Springs.

After skipping last year for COVID-19, this year’s event will include plenty of food, arts and crafts and health vendors.

There also will be entertainment, including national recording artist, Tony Terry, 69 BOYZ, The Special Formula Band, featuring Reginald Dantzler, Gospel Hour, a softball tournament, family dance off contest, BBQ RIB and Sweet Potato Pie contest.

There promises to be lots of clean fun and activities for the entire family. Organizers said to bring your lawn chairs and umbrella because this is a rain or shine event.

A new community garden will be dedicated at Blu By U Blueberry Farm at 5571 Long Branch Road in Maxville. The program, which includes breakfast and lunch, runs from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Down the road, the Windsor Zucchini Festival and BBQ Cookoff will be Saturday and Sunday at the Windsor Volunteer Fire Department on County Road 234 in Gainesville.

With more than 100 arts and craft vendors, live music, BBQ pulled pork or chicken, fried zucchini, zucchini corn bread, zucchini ice cream and activities for the entire family. Proceeds will benefit the Windsor and Melrose volunteer fire departments.

The Orange Park Farmers and Arts Market will return for its month appearance on Sunday at Town Hall. Fresh produce, meat and eggs will be sold. Vendors and homemade crafts also will be available from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Admission is free.

And while it’s not a weekend event, any day on the golf course is like the weekend.

The PARS FORE PAWS Clay County Golf Tournament is on Monday at Eagles Landing Golf Club to support Clay Humane. All proceeds support Clay Humane.

The shotgun start is at 1 p.m. and the format will be Captain’s Choice. Cost for an individual golfer is $100; a foursome is $360. Registration entry fee includes 18-holes of golf with cart, bag service, complimentary driving range balls, lunch, dinner and prizes.

Prizes will be awarded for first, second and third-place scores, longest drive, longest putt and closest to the pin.