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The best things to do on Siesta, Lido, Longboat in February, March, April


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  • | 10:00 a.m. January 27, 2024
The 2024 Suncoast Boat Show will be held April 19-21.
The 2024 Suncoast Boat Show will be held April 19-21.
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  • Arts + Entertainment
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February

Feb. 4
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.


Neil Diamond: ‘Hitman!’

The Education Center at Temple Beth Israel, 567 Bay Isles Road, Longboat Key, hosts a performing arts program. Hear the music and stories of music icon Neil Diamond. The program is from 3-4:30 p.m. and will be followed by a Champagne reception with an opportunity to meet the artists. Registration is $45 for members or $55 for nonmembers. Visit TBIEducationCenter.org.


Feb. 6

Anna Maria Farmers Market

From 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. every Tuesday through May 7, the Anna Maria Farmers Market at the City Pier Park, 103 N. Bay Blvd., Anna Maria, features a focus on Southwest Florida-based goods and produce. Visit AnnaMariaIsland.com.


Lido Sunrise Beach Walks

From 8-9:30 a.m. every Tuesday through March 26, enjoy a self-guided beach walk along South Lido Beach, 2201 Benjamin Franklin Drive, Lido Key. Register for $5 at the Ted Sperling Park playground before walking at least 1 mile. After completing four walks, participants receive an event T-shirt. Visit SCGov.net/parks.


Feb. 7

Coquina Beach Market

The new Coquina Beach Market is year-round at South Coquina Beach, 1800 Gulf Drive S., Bradenton Beach. It will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesdays and Fridays and from noon to 6 p.m. Sundays. Visit CoquinaBeachMarket.org.


Siesta Sunrise Beach Walks

From 8-9:30 a.m. every Wednesday through March 27, enjoy a self-guided beach walk along Siesta Beach, 948 Beach Road, Siesta Key. Register for $5 at the main pavilion before walking at least 1 mile. After completing four walks, participants receive an event T-shirt. Visit SCGov.net/parks.


Feb. 12

The Market on Longboat Key was back for the season Dec. 11 in the Town Center Green.
Photo by Petra Rivera
The Market on Longboat Key

From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Town Center Green, 600 Bay Isles Road, Longboat Key, browse the wares of dozens of local vendors, including produce, art and home goods. Admission is free. Continues March 11 and April 15. Visit Facebook.com.


Feb. 18

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 March 10 and April 14. Visit Mote.org.


Feb. 14

Mark and Holly Lambert celebrate their 48 years of marriage at the Say 'I Do' Again vow renewal ceremony Feb. 14, 2023, at Siesta Key Beach.
Photo by Dariela Delgado
Say ‘I Do’ Again

The annual tradition of love returns to Siesta Beach and Nokomis Beach Park for couples looking to renew their vows of love. The event includes a certificate, a gift, a flower, music and refreshments. Check-in starts at 4:30 p.m. Registration is $15 per couple. Visit SCGov.net/parks.


Feb. 18

‘The Man I Love: The Story of George Gershwin’

The Education Center at Temple Beth Israel, 567 Bay Isles Road, Longboat Key, hosts a concert of popular George Gershwin tunes intertwined with the story of his life. In the perspective of Gershwin’s muse, musician and public speaker Sarah Moulin tells the story of their 10-year love affair. The program is from 3-4:15 p.m. and costs $25 for members or $30 for nonmembers. Visit TBIEducationCenter.org.


Feb. 23

Bradenton Gulf Island Concert

Enjoy a concert by The Guess Who Alumni at The Center of Anna Maria Island, 407 Magnolia Ave., Anna Maria. Doors open at 6 p.m. with an opening act at 7 p.m. and the headliner at 8 p.m. Tickets from $59. Visit CenterAMI.org.


Feb. 24-25

Festival of the Arts

The third Festival of the Arts will be at Town Center Green, 600 Bay Isles Road, Longboat Key. Dozens of local vendors will be selling art, jewelry, photography and more from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day. Admission is free. Visit ArtFestival.com.


Feb. 25

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 March 24 and April 22 and 23. Begins around 5:30 p.m., depending on sunset. Visit Mote.org.

Feb. 27

New Orleans Jazz Night

Kid Dutch returns to the Education Center at Temple Beth Israel, 567 Bay Isles Road, Longboat Key, with guest jazz artists. The event begins at 8 p.m. and is $20 for members or $25 for nonmembers. Advance registration is recommended. Visit TBIEducationCenter.org.


March

March 2

Home and Garden Tour

The Longboat Key Garden Club’s Home and Garden tour returns. Details will be announced closer to the event date. Visit LBKGardenClub.org.


March 3

A Tribute to Ukraine

The Education Center at Temple Beth Israel, 567 Bay Isles Road, Longboat Key, hosts a classical concert of music from Jewish composers. Cellist Steve Kramer tributes the concert to his family and all musicians who are immigrants of Ukraine. The program is from 2-3:30 p.m. and will be followed by a Champagne reception with an opportunity to meet the artists. Registration is $45 for members or $55 for nonmembers. Visit TBIEducationCenter.org.


March 7

Beach University

Learn about the local beaches and coastal ecosystems with the Siesta Beach Ambassadors. Beach University runs from 9:30-10:30 a.m. every Thursday in March at the main pavilion on Siesta Beach, 948 Beach Road, Siesta Key. Admission is free, and the seminars are open for ages 10 and older. Visit SCGov.net/parks.


March 7-24

‘Communicating Doors’

The Island Players, at 10009 Gulf Drive, Anna Maria, presents the play “Communicating Doors,” a time-traveling comedy-thriller where a woman travels between 2014, 1994 and 1974 in a race to prevent murders in the decades prior. Showtimes are 7:30 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays. Tickets are $28-$30. Visit TheIslandPlayers.org.


March 8-9

The Women’s Guild of St. Mary, Star of the Sea, Catholic Church holds its rummage sale every year.
Photo by Lesley Dwyer
Royal Rummage Sale

Shop for a variety of new-to-you items at St. Mary, Star of the Sea, Catholic Church, 4280 Gulf of Mexico Drive, Longboat Key. Details to come. Visit StMaryLBK.org/Womens-Guild.


March 10

‘Simply the Best!’

The Education Center at Temple Beth Israel, 567 Bay Isles Road, Longboat Key, hosts a performing arts program. Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe will perform music from the 1970s including Diana Ross, The Four Tops and Stevie Wonder. The program is from 7:30-8:30 p.m. and will be followed by a Champagne reception with an opportunity to meet the artists. Registration is $45 for members or $55 for nonmembers. Visit TBIEducationCenter.org.


March 15-17

Coquina Beach Seafood & Music Festival

Enjoy a three-day extravaganza of seafood and music at Coquina Beach’s North End. The festival is 4-10 p.m. Friday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. Visit ParagonFestivals.com.


March 17

St. Patrick’s Day Parade

The Center of Anna Maria Island hosts its annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade. Details to come. Visit CenterAMI.org.


March 22

Dinner and a Movie

The Longboat Key Garden Club Party hosts its annual movie under the stars at Bayfront Park, 4052 Gulf of Mexico Drive, Longboat Key. Details will be announced closer to the event date. Visit LBKGardenClub.org.


March 30

2-year-old Christopher Geisel finds the egg jackpot at the 2023 Siesta Key Easter Egg Hunt.
Photo by Ian Swaby
Easter Egg Hunt

Children ages 1-6 are invited to the annual Siesta Key Easter Egg Hunt, which begins at 9 a.m. at Siesta Key Chapel, 4615 Gleason Ave., Siesta Key. The Easter Bunny will be available for photos, and all registered children will receive a goody bag. Visit SiestaKeyChamber.com.


April

April 6

Patrick Scialabba congratulates Ayden Scialabba on a job well done after the Run for the Turtles on April 1, 2023.
Photo by Ian Swaby
Run for the Turtles

Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium hosts its 38th annual 5K and 1-mile races to support sea turtles at Siesta Beach, 948 Beach Road, Siesta Key. The 1-mile fun run begins at 7:30 a.m.; the 5K begins at 8 a.m. An award ceremony will follow the 5K. Registration details will be available closer to the event. Visit Mote.org.


Bradenton Gulf Island Concert

Enjoy a concert by Al Jardine, a founding member of The Beach Boys, at The Center of Anna Maria Island, 407 Magnolia Ave., Anna Maria. Doors open at 6 p.m. with an opening act at 7 p.m. and the headliner at 8 p.m. Tickets from $59. Visit CenterAMI.org.


April 6-7

Coquina Beach Spring Art & Craft Show

From 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day at Coquina Beach, 2651 Gulf Drive, Bradenton Beach, browse jewelry, ceramics, mixed media, bath and body products, and other work from artisan vendors. Visit DaniellesBlueRibbonEvents.com.


April 19-21

Suncoast Boat Show
Leslie O'Connor and Brian Langowski at the Suncoast Boat Show, held April 21-23, 2023.
Photo by Ian Swaby

Boat enthusiasts will assemble for the annual boat show in Sarasota Bay to admire cruisers, motor yachts and other types of watercraft on display. Admission is $18; military and children 15 and under are free. The show will be from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday at Marina Jack, 2 Marina Plaza, Sarasota. Visit SuncoastBoatShow.com.

 

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