- May 1, 2024
-
-
Loading
Loading
Food Truck Rally
Enjoy yard games, music and plenty of food trucks from 5-9 p.m. at North Jetty Park, 1000 S. Casey Key Road, Nokomis. Admission is free. Continues Dec. 2. Visit SCGov.net.
Ferraris on the Circle
From 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Ferrari Drivers SRQ will host its annual event in St. Armands Circle. Admission is free. To show a Ferrari, there is a minimum donation of $50. Money raised at the event will go to Flight to the North Pole Inc. to help critically ill children experience a holiday-season surprise. Visit StArmandsCircleAssoc.com.
Siesta Key Farmers Market
From 8 a.m. to noon at Siesta Key Village, 5104 Ocean Blvd., the Siesta Key Farmers Market features a variety of vendors selling produce, rum, bread, wellness products, artwork, natural candles and more. Continues every Sunday. Visit SiestaKeyFarmersMarket.org.
Siesta Key Drum Circle
Siesta Beach closes out the weekends with a friendly and lively drum circle right outside the main parking area, at 948 Beach Road, Siesta Key. Peace and solace are good, but when you've had your fill, head over for a communal music space that has recurred weekly since about 1996. Bring a drum and join, or stand outside of the circle and enjoy the growing beat as the sun sets. Starts an hour before sunset every Sunday. Visit SiestaKey.com.
Moonlit Paddle
Take your kayaking adventures to the next level with Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium, at 1600 Ken Thompson Parkway, City Island. Explore the coastal waters while discovering the Sarasota Bay nightlife — wildlife, that is. Participants must be at least 18 years old. Cost is $45 or $40.50 for Mote members. Continues Nov. 8, Dec. 6 and Dec. 8. Begins around 5:30 p.m., depending on sunset. Visit Mote.org.
Veterans Day Celebration
Honor the Longboat Key veterans at the Rotary Club of Longboat Key’s annual Veterans Day Celebration at 11 a.m. at Temple Beth Israel, 567 Bay Isles Road, Longboat Key. Hear from Scott Gray, a U.S. Air Force major general, and guest of honor George Hardy, a Tuskegee Airman, followed by a luncheon. Donations will go toward supporting veterans. Visit LongboatKeyRotary.org.
Old Soldiers and Sailors Veterans Day Parade
Honor veterans, active military personnel and veteran service organizations at the Old Soldiers and Sailors Veterans Day Parade. The parade begins at 1 p.m. at Anna Maria City Hall, 10005 Gulf Drive, Anna Maria, and will go down Pine Avenue and end at City Pier Park with a brief celebration. Attendance is free. Visit OldSoldiersAndSailorsParade.com.
Siesta Key Crystal Classic
Individual sculptors and duos will compete over the weekend for the most impressive sand sculpture. Watch the 24 artists work from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday and Monday, and vote for your favorite sculptures with wooden tokens available for purchase. One-day viewing admission tickets are $10 for adults, $8 for seniors and military, and $5 for children. Event parking is $50; the free Siesta Key Breeze Trolley runs to and from Siesta Key Village and Turtle Beach. The Barefoot Beach Bar Party Tent will be open each day with free admission. Live music, sand sculpting lessons and demonstrations will be throughout the festival. Visit SiestaKeyCrystalClassic.com.
St. Armands Fall Art Festival
From 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day at St. Armands Circle, stroll through booths of fine art from 200 local and national artists. Artwork for sale includes sculpture, fine jewelry, paintings, glasswork, hand-crafted apparel and decor. Admission is free. Visit ArtFestival.com.
Morning Paddle
Start your day on the water with Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium, at 1600 Ken Thompson Parkway, City Island. Morning kayak tours, from 8:30-10 a.m., are guided through Sarasota Bay and across seagrass beds. Keep an eye out for dolphins, manatees and other wildlife that make up the bay’s ecosystem. Participants must be at least 12 years old. Cost is $45 or $40.50 for Mote members. Continues Nov. 27 and Dec. 11. Visit Mote.org.
Light Up Siesta Key and Village Holiday Parade
Siesta Key’s annual holiday event returns from 5-9 p.m. The parade begins at 5:30 p.m. at Avenida del Mare and Beach Road and travels north on Beach Road onto Ocean Boulevard into the Village. Following the parade, Santa will arrive at Siesta Center Plaza, 5063 Ocean Blvd., to greet kids and take photos. Admission is free. Visit SiestaKeyChamber.com.
St. Armands Circle Holiday Night of Lights
Editor's note: The annual Holiday Night of Lights event was canceled, though the city will hold a brief ceremonial tree-lighting at 6:30 p.m. Dec. 2.
Kick off the holiday season at St. Armands Circle. A special performance starts at 5:30 p.m., followed by the annual Christmas carol singalong at 6 p.m., which ends with Santa’s arrival. Enjoy the tree-lighting ceremony, pictures with Santa, live music and special store promotions around the Circle until 9 p.m. Admission is free. Donations of new and unwrapped toys will be accepted at a toy drive. Visit StArmandsCircleAssoc.com.
Siesta Beach Seafood & Music Festival
The annual seafood fest returns to Siesta Beach with local restaurants, fresh seafood and plenty of music. The festival runs noon to 9 p.m. Friday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. Admission is free. Visit ParagonFestivals.com.
Lawn Party
The Longboat Key Kiwanis Club's annual Lawn Party returns — but, for the first time, off the island. From noon to 2 p.m. at Ken Thompson Park, 1700 Ken Thompson Parkway, Sarasota, taste dishes from more than 25 local restaurants and bid on silent auction items while enjoying live music to benefit Children’s Guardian Fund. Tickets are $75, and raffle tickets are $50. Visit LBKLawnParty.org.
Sandy Claws Beach Run
The 46th annual Sandy Claws Beach Run run returns to Siesta Beach. The 1-mile fun run begins at 8 a.m., and the 5K begins at 8:20 a.m. The participation fee is $30 for adults and $20 for youth. Pre-registered participants will receive an event T-shirt. Visit SCGov.net.
Porsches in the Park
From 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Suncoast Motorsports hosts its annual event in St. Armands Circle. Spectacular Porsche cars from across the state will be on display. Admission is free. Visit StArmandsCircleAssoc.com.
Siesta Key Blood Drive
Residents and visitors are invited to donate blood at Siesta Village Plaza, 5114 Ocean Blvd. The mobile SunCoast Blood Centers blood drive runs from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Visit SiestaKeyChamber.com.
St. Armands Circle Art Festival
From 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day at St. Armands Circle, stroll through booths of fine art from local and national artists. Artwork for sale includes sculpture, fine jewelry, paintings, glasswork, hand-crafted apparel and decor. Admission is free. Visit ArtFestival.com.
