Lifeguard station at sunset.
Sarasota is one of the most beautiful and sophisticated cities in Florida.
The giant recreation of the famous WWII photo of the Kiss.
It's all about the sun, sand, water and surf.
Ringling Art Gallery
Fourth of July
Downtown Sarasota
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Sarasota
"An eclectic blend of big city culture, great dining and exceptional white-sand beaches.."
Current Issue
Sarasota
America’s Happiest Seaside Town
As one of Florida’s primary Gulf Coast cities, Sarasota is an eclectic blend of big city culture, great dining and exceptional white-sand beaches including Siesta Key Beach - cited as the #1 Beach in America. Whether your taste in art leans more toward Ringling Bros. circus memorabilia, seashell creations and sand sculptures to works by Old Masters like Rubens and Poussin, you’ll find it all right here.
Home to the Foreign Film Festival, there is plenty of theater in and around Sarasota too, and if you want to add music to your itinerary,
the Sarasota Orchestra, Key Chorale and Sarasota Ballet are just a few of the many groups who have stage performances throughout the season.
Revered as one of the “Best Food Cities” in the US, there’s no shortage of great spots to eat in Sarasota which attracts some of the best culinary talent
in the industry.
There’s also plenty of fine shopping, as well, including St. Armand’s Circle close to the coast and the Mall at University Town Center which has many
distinctive retailers not found not found anywhere else in the area.
CALENDAR 2024
EXPLORE
GOOD EATS
WEEKLY
Sarasota Farmers Market (Sat)
Shop more than 80 vendors offering fresh and prepared meats, cheeses, organic veggies, flowers, coffee, cigars and unique handcrafted items year-round in a picturesque downtown marketplace. Live music and entertainment, international foods and more! Free. 7am-1pm. Takes place at 1 N Lemon Ave.
Farmers’ Market at Lakewood Ranch (Sun)
Lakewood Ranch: Start your Sunday Funday with farm-fresh produce, delicious prepared foods, specialty items, jewelry and gifts from 100+ vendors, find your center with free yoga or bring the kids for creative workshops at this weekly market tradition. Free. Takes place 10am-2pm at 1561 Lakefront Dr.
Monthly
Fresh Fridays (1st Fri)
Discover a hip way to kick off the weekend and celebrate a different section of downtown with diverse music, food, and culture. Each month features a new theme, live entertainment and a way to celebrate the weekend! Takes place 7-10pm at various locations.
Music on Main (1st Fri)
Lakewood Ranch: Enjoy a free concert series and block party featuring live music, food vendors, beer trucks, sponsor booths, and kids’ games and activities. Proceeds from each event benefit different local non-profit organizations. A ton of fun and all for a good cause! Free. Takes place 6-9pm at 8100 Lakewood Main St.
Friday Fest
The free, outdoor summertime monthly concert series returns with an exciting lineup of bands who will bring you to your feet! Spread a blanket or relax on a lawn chair and enjoy live music, a breathtaking sunset and a variety of delicious Friday night bites from local vendors. Free. Takes place 5-9pm at 777 N Tamiami Trail.
Sights + Sounds
Lakewood Ranch: Learn what moves you during a lively, monthly celebration of the best of local visual, musical and performing artists, featuring local bands, acapella groups, orchestras, theater, dance and more. Come early to shop, enjoy dinner and stay late for a nightcap and cornhole. Limited seating; lawn chairs welcome. Free.
Takes place 6-7pm at 1561 Lakefront Dr.
JUNE
June 14 - August 17
Summer Circus Spectacular
Relive the good old days under the Big Top as some of the finest circus artists from around the world bring fantastic, jaw-dropping thrills and fun for audiences of all ages. Tickets. Takes place Tues-Fri: 11am & 2pm; Sat: 2 & 5 pm at 5401 Bay Shore Rd.
June 15
Big Gay Weekend Beach Party
Grab your squad and your best beach ‘fit for an unforgettable wet and wild day in the sun on North Lido Beach! This grassroots event welcomes the local LGBTQ+ community and people from all over Florida, but bring everything you need since this section is without amenities. Free. Takes place 3-5pm at 1-85 John Ringling Blvd.
June 16
Splash! Pride Rooftop Pool Party
Spend an unforgettable day in the heated pool, lounge in the hot tub or take an exhilarating dive in the cold plunge pool, dance the afternoon away with live music and DJs, enjoy show-stopping drag performances, craft cocktails, shop the vibrant Pride marketplace and more! Tickets. Takes place 1-7pm at 1290 Boulevard of the Arts.
June 29
Grand Flag March
Join hundreds of LGBTQ+ individuals and supporters to carry the grand Pride flag across the John Ringling Bridge Causeway in a stunning display of unity and joy. First come parking available at the Ringling Bridge Causeway and Bayfront Park. Free. T
akes place 9am-12pm at 5 Bayfront Dr.
JULY
July 4th Fireworks
Find the best seat in the house for this annual patriotic Independence Day celebration over beautiful Sarasota Bay from locations downtown, Bayfront Park, US 41 & Gulfstream Ave. and 655 N. Tamiami Trail. Free. 9-9:30pm. Takes place at 2 Marina Plaza.
SEPTEMBER
September 21 & 22
St. Armands Craft Festival
Creativity blooms as Florida artisans display works in painting, jewelry, ceramics, pottery, planters, then shop the adjacent green market for unique orchids, dips, sauces and soaps! Free. Takes place 10 am-4 pm at 1 St Armands Circle.
OCTOBER
October 5 & 6
Downtown Sarasota Craft Festival
Experience a celebration of creativity with a stunning showcase of sculptures, paintings, jewelry, photography, and ceramics on display from US artists and fine crafters in the heart of downtown, then shop for handmade and eco-friendly goods in the green market right on Main Street! Free. Takes place 10am-5pm at 1718 Main St.
October 13-15
Rocktoberfest
Rock into fall with authentic German food fit for King Ludwig himself with roasted ham hock, sausages, sauerkraut, cheese noodles, hot pretzels and more, pints of beer, German music, dancing and a festival marketplace! Free. Fri: 4-10pm; Sat: 11am-10pm; Sun: 11am-6pm. Takes place at 199 Bayfront Dr.
October 21 & 22
St Armands Fall Festival of the Arts
Get inspired in this outdoor gallery of unique, original painting, sculpture, jewelry, photography, glass, ceramics, fiber and wearable art, mixed-media, woodworking and much more on display and for sale by artists from across Florida and the US. Free. Takes place 10am-5pm at 434 St Armands Circle.
NOVEMBER
November 8-10
Sarasota Chalk Festival
Witness the magic as artists from 30+ countries blend breathtaking traditional chalk masterpieces and “Floralia Infiorata,” 3D carpets using flowers, sand and other natural elements, to turn downtown streets into a vibrant museum of motion, tour the create your own mini masterpiece and enjoy live music, dancing, face painting and more. Tickets. Takes place 7am-7pm at 598 S Orange Ave.
November 15-18
Crystal Classic Int’l Sand Sculpting Festival
Siesta Key: Experience magnificent sand masterpieces, hand-sculpted by 24 internationally-renowned artists, as white sand beaches magically transform into a larger-than-life art gallery. Enjoy artist demos, sand sculpting lessons, live music, interactive games and a party tent. Tickets. Takes place 10am-5pm at 948 Beach Road. Info:
1811 S Palm Ave
Sarasota, FL 34236
941-366-5731| Daily 10am - 5pm
A Quiet & Spectacular Oasis
Nestled on the shores of beautiful Sarasota Bay, this tropical, urban oasis showcases unparalleled horticulture displays and is a world-class center for education, research and education. There is just so much to see here including a Conservatory that looks and feels like a tropical forest, Fern Garden, Bamboo
Garden, Banyan Grove, Mangroves and Baywalk, Bromeliad Garden, Butterfly Garden, Children’s Rainforest and more.
5401 Bayshore Rd
Sarasota, FL 34243
941-359-5700 | Daily 10am — 5pm
The Greatest Show On Earth
The Ringling Circus may be gone but it is certainly not forgotten. This State Art Museum is home to one of the preeminent art and cultural collections in the US which John Ringling, in the spirit of America’s wealthiest Gilded Age,
began acquiring in the 1920s. The museum now houses a treasure trove of paintings and art objects as well as a Circus Gallery which showcases performers wardrobes, beautifully carved parade wagons, lithographic circus posters, a cannon which shot fearless performers across the big top and so much more. FYI: Check out the interactive Tibbals Learning Center where you can experience the excitement of a day at the circus.
22 N Lemon Avenue
Sarasota, FL; 800-702-4427
M & Tu: 9am - Midnight; W & Th: 9am - 1am;
F & Sa: 9am - 2am; Su: 10am - Midnight
The Ultimate Premium Cigar Experience
You’ll find only the best cigars and libations at this smoking hot cigar emporium which boasts over 5,000 square feet of humidified space, multiple lounges both indoor and out, and an elegant full service bar with over 100 different spirits. In addition to Davidoff, Camacho, Avo, Room 101, BG Meyer, Griffin’s and Zino Platinum Cigars, you can also savor special featured cigars from renowned brands like Padron, MyFather Montecristo, Ashton, Fuente,
Tatuaje and Illusione. The store features a big assortment of pipes, humidors, lighters, cutters and other smoking accessories, as well.
941-995-9856
1924 Osprey Avenue | Sarasota, Fl 34239
Monday -Saturday 11am - 8pm | Bakery 7am
Sunday 10am - 7pm | Bakery 8am
Morton's Market has been Sarasota's epicenter of great food for over 50 years. Be prepared for the overwhelming experience of being in a foodie's heaven.
Featuring an on-site bakery, deli, gourmet to-go meals, fresh produce, sushi, prime meats, seafood, fine wines, and a full service catering department.
941-349-1474
205 Canal Road | Siesta Key, Fl 34242
Sunday -Thursday 7:30am - 10pm
Friday & Saturday 7:30am - 11pm
We offer groceries, provisions, fresh produce & floral, beer, fine wines & cigars, cheeses, fresh meat & seafood, and plenty of prepared foods including a full service deli, hot meals & soups, rotisserie chicken, desserts and more!
We have shore fishing supplies and hardware!
Our customer service representatives will shop your grocery orders and deliver them to your door. Call our store at 941-349-1474.”
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