• Alternate Text
  • Loading

  • Holiday Gift Guide
  • Health Observed
  • Crossword
  • Contests
  • Newsletters
  • e-Newspaper App
  • Longboat
    • News
    • Cops Corner
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Opinion
  • East County
    • News
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Schools
    • Sports
    • Opinion
  • Sarasota
    • News
    • Cops Corner
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Schools
    • Sports
    • Opinion
    • Siesta Key
  • Arts + Entertainment
    • Eat + Drink
    • Arts + Culture
    • Reviews
    • Things To Do
    • Black Tie
    • Spotlight Partners
  • LWR Life
  • Galleries
  • More
    • Hurricane Season
    • Red Tide Map
    • Health Observed
    • Sand Bucket List
    • Calendar
    • Celebrations
    • Contests
    • Tributes
    • Submit a Celebration
    • Submit a Tribute
    • Public Notices
    • Classifieds
  • Longboat
    • Longboat
    • News
    • Cops Corner
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Opinion
  • East County
    • East County
    • News
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Schools
    • Sports
    • Opinion
  • Sarasota
    • Sarasota
    • News
    • Cops Corner
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Schools
    • Sports
    • Opinion
    • Siesta Key
  • Arts + Entertainment
    • Arts + Entertainment
    • Eat + Drink
    • Arts + Culture
    • Reviews
    • Things To Do
    • Black Tie
    • Spotlight Partners
  • LWR Life
  • Galleries
  • More
    • More
    • Hurricane Season
    • Red Tide Map
    • Health Observed
    • Sand Bucket List
    • Calendar
    • Celebrations
    • Contests
    • Tributes
    • Submit a Celebration
    • Submit a Tribute
    • Public Notices
    • Classifieds
  • Holiday Gift Guide
  • Health Observed
  • Crossword
  • Contests
  • Newsletters
  • e-Newspaper App

PHOTO GALLERY: Sarasota Sports Festival


  • By Rachel S. OHara
  • | 4:00 a.m. June 17, 2012
  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
  • Share
PHOTO GALLERY: Sarasota Sports Festival
Shawn Mitchell, 8, spins around and around on one of the many fun pieces of playground equipment at the new, circus-themed playground at Payne Park.
Shawn Mitchell, 8, spins around and around on one of the many fun pieces of playground equipment at the new, circus-themed playground at Payne Park.
Caleb Abbe, 11, heads into the bowl, Saturday, June 16, at the Skate Park at Payne Park.
Caleb Abbe, 11, heads into the bowl, Saturday, June 16, at the Skate Park at Payne Park.
Katelyn Bentley, 6, rides down the hill on a Strider bike, Saturday June 16, during the Sarasota Sports Festival at Payne Park.
Katelyn Bentley, 6, rides down the hill on a Strider bike, Saturday June 16, during the Sarasota Sports Festival at Payne Park.
Clowns from Ringling’s Barnum and Bailey Circus lead kids and their parents in some fun stretches, Saturday June 16, during the Sarasota Sports Festival at Payne Park.
Clowns from Ringling’s Barnum and Bailey Circus lead kids and their parents in some fun stretches, Saturday June 16, during the Sarasota Sports Festival at Payne Park.
Many children had fun playing on the brand new, circus-themed playground at Payne Park, Saturday, June 16.
Many children had fun playing on the brand new, circus-themed playground at Payne Park, Saturday, June 16.
Ella Collier, 5, has fun ringing the chimes at the new playground at Payne Park.
Ella Collier, 5, has fun ringing the chimes at the new playground at Payne Park.
Kaya Eible, 8, has fun on the ramp at the Payne Park Skate Park, Saturday, June 16.
Kaya Eible, 8, has fun on the ramp at the Payne Park Skate Park, Saturday, June 16.
Caleb Elliot, 2 ½, enjoyed riding a Strider bike and playing on the new playground, Saturday, June 16, during the Sarasota Sports Festival at Payne Park.
Caleb Elliot, 2 ½, enjoyed riding a Strider bike and playing on the new playground, Saturday, June 16, during the Sarasota Sports Festival at Payne Park.
Riley Farlow, 11, got creative and painted a piece of a broken skateboard, Saturday, June 16, during the Sarasota Sports Festival at Payne Park.
Riley Farlow, 11, got creative and painted a piece of a broken skateboard, Saturday, June 16, during the Sarasota Sports Festival at Payne Park.
Takumi Fenderson, 4, pretends to be a dangerous circus animal while playing on the new playground at Payne Park.
Takumi Fenderson, 4, pretends to be a dangerous circus animal while playing on the new playground at Payne Park.
Mackenzie Heise, 6, has fun on the ‘ferris wheel’.
Mackenzie Heise, 6, has fun on the ‘ferris wheel’.
Miles Perkins, 12, tries his hand at disc golf, Saturday, June 16, during the Sarasota Sports Festival at Payne Park.
Miles Perkins, 12, tries his hand at disc golf, Saturday, June 16, during the Sarasota Sports Festival at Payne Park.
Lark Baxter, of Teddy Tennis, throws a ball to Hayley Roberts, 6, Saturday, June 16.
Lark Baxter, of Teddy Tennis, throws a ball to Hayley Roberts, 6, Saturday, June 16.
Gabriel Sanders of Gold’s Gym leads some people in a free yoga class, Saturday, June 16, during the Sarasota Sports Festival at Payne Park.
Gabriel Sanders of Gold’s Gym leads some people in a free yoga class, Saturday, June 16, during the Sarasota Sports Festival at Payne Park.

 

Latest News

Longboat Key Police Deputy Chief Frank Rubino (left) accepts a framed display of medals, patches and pins that demonstrate his 45-year career in law enforcement.
  • December 13, 2025
Longboat deputy chief with 45 years of experience to retire
The building at the corner of N. Boulevard of the Presidents and Madison Drive may be the location of a revived Shore Restaurant on St. Armands Circle.
  • December 12, 2025
Shore Restaurant could return to St. Armands
Part of the renovation of Fruitville Library is a new History Center, replacing a building in Osprey a document calls "aging and inadequate to house the county's collections of historic artifacts.''
  • December 12, 2025
Fruitville Library renovations begin with Dec. 18 closure
Former Sarasota City Attorney Robert Fournier has drafted an updated noise ordinance for the city, which was approved by the City Commission on first reading.
  • December 11, 2025
City asks: How much noise is too much?

Sponsored Health Content

Sponsored Content

The best of Your Observer, delivered directly to your inbox

Get the latest in news, sports, schools, arts and things to do in Sarasota, Siesta Key, Longboat Key and East County.

Sign Up

Latest in Neighbors

A Kwanzaa display rests on the table during the event.
  • December 11, 2025
Kwanzaa celebration prepares community for the holiday
  • December 11, 2025
Monday’s Child is Fair of Face
  • December 11, 2025
Florida Families Can Help Neighbors and Celebrate an Energy-Efficient Holiday
Sarasota Deputy Police Chief Scott Mayforth delights a young shopper at a previous Shop with a Cop event.
  • December 10, 2025
Shop with a Cop event returns Saturday
Jolly (Flynn Nolen, center) is surrounded by the other characters including Candy (Christiana Allison), Mrs. Claus (Jillian Hurley), Jangle (Ray Barber), Tinsel (Vanessa Smith), Jingle (Mareece Love) and Santa Claus (Dellan Short).
  • December 9, 2025
'Deck the Halls' celebrates the holidays, Sarasota-style
With a sparkle in his eye and a wave of the hand, jolly old St. Nick illuminated the lights on St. Armands Circle's 60-foot Christmas tree at a lighting festival on Dec. 5.
  • December 7, 2025
St. Armands celebrates magical Christmas tree lighting

App

Download the Your Observer app

Stay in the know with the latest local news. Any device, anytime, anywhere.

DOWNLOAD NOW

Contact

  • 1970 Main St.
  • Third Floor
  • Sarasota, FL 34236
  • Phone: 941-366-3468
  • FPN Verified

Extra, Extra!

  • Newsletters
  • App
  • Crossword
  • Contests

more

  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Classifieds
  • Advertise
  • Rack Locations
  • Jobs
  • Privacy Policy
  • Accessibility Options

sister sites

  • Business Observer
  • Jax Daily Record
  • Orange Observer
  • Accessibility Options
  • Copyright © 2025 Observer Media Group Inc., All Rights Reserved
Sign Up for Daily Headlines

A daily dose of news from Longboat Key, East County, Sarasota and Siesta Key.

Sign Up for In Case You Missed It

A Saturday dose of the week's top stories from Sarasota, Longboat Key and East County.


The Your Observer App is Here!

Get local news you can trust — now on your phone, tablet or laptop. Fast. Free. Easy to Use.
Stay informed, wherever you are.

Download Now