IMAX is coming to AMC Sarasota 12 this weekend, and what better way to roll it out than with a blockbuster: "Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides."

"This is very exciting for us," says Todd Beckwith, director of marketing for Westfield Sarasota Square. "This is the first IMAX theater in the Greater Sarasota area, and movie fans will discover it's a great theater experience."

It all officially begins at midnight tonight (5/20) with the first showing of "Pirates."

AMC Sarasota 12 also has several kid-friendly events planned:

Friday (5/20)

2-4 p.m. -- Face painting, balloon animals, etc.: Kids of all ages are invited to stop by and partake in a host of free pirate activities including: face painting, pirate tattoos and sw0rd-shaped balloons. Kids are encouraged to come dressed in pirate costumes for photo opportunities with 107.9's Brent Mitchell.

Saturday (5/21)

1-3 p.m. - Walk the Plank for prizes: Show your Westfield Sarasota Square food court receipt then Walk the Plank for your chance to win AMC/IMAX prizes, free IMAX tickets and be automatically registered for a $1,000 shopping spree courtesy of the Westfield Sarasota Square. You can even get your picture taken with pirates; some of the pictures will be posted on Westfield Sarasota Square's Facebook page.

"Pirates 3D," a digitally remastered version of the studio picture, is being shown in a record 402 IMAX screens across the country this weekend.

"This weekend, we anticipate shows to be sold out," Beckwith says. "It's a blockbuster hit, it has Johnny Depp, it's near the end of the school year. It's the perfect storm brewing for a great weekend."

And it'll only get better for AMC Sarasota 12, Beckwith says. Other IMAX movies coming out this summer: "Super 8" (June 10) ... "Cars 2" (June 24) ... "Transformers: Dark of the Moon" (July 1) ... and "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2" (July 15).