• 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 Galleries

Maddox and Lou Towery have packed up shoeboxes during the Community Holiday Shoebox Collection Drive for the last seven years.
  • By Jay Heater
  • December 15, 2025
Lakewood Ranch community rallies to support seniors with shoebox event
Golden Ticket arrives, and Olaf the snowman has been invited to the rooftop party.
  • By Ian Swaby
  • December 14, 2025
Sarasota Bay lights up with annual Holiday Boat Parade
The World of Chucko photo-bombs Dana Dalpra, Lauren Hersh and Tami and Phillip Lanham.
  • By Janet Combs
  • December 14, 2025
Sarasota Art Museum steps into Style Moderne for annual Art Bash
This house on the corner of Wedge Lane and Bogey Lane takes the cake for one of the most colorfully decorated homes on Longboat Key this season.
  • By Dana Kampa
  • December 14, 2025
Which Longboat homes dazzle the most with holiday lights?
Joni Hill, Cate Douglas and Gaby Hayashi make their way across the beach.
  • By Ian Swaby
  • December 14, 2025
Holiday spirit gets moving at Sandy Claws Beach Run
Lylah MacDonald, 6, hops along in the sack race.
  • By Ian Swaby
  • December 14, 2025
Holidays at The Bay brings Hawaiian twist to holidays
David Forester sings a solo of "Santa Claus is Comin' to Town" with The Venice Symphony for a big band-style Christmas concert on Dec. 12 at St. Mary, Star of the Sea, Catholic Church.
  • By Dana Kampa
  • December 13, 2025
Big band means big tunes at St. Mary Christmas concert
Katherine Pike (on the left) salsa dances with the cast of "Casa Havana:" Dairon Batista, Isabella Serrano and Jack Gaudreau.
  • By Lesley Dwyer
  • December 13, 2025
Palm Aire Women's Club members learn to salsa
Santa (Steven Trudell of St. Petersburg) gets the runners fired up just before the start of the 2025 Jingle 5K Dec. 12 in Lakewood Ranch.
  • By Jay Heater
  • December 13, 2025
More than 500 runners go the distance in Lakewood Ranch's Jingle 5K
Gary and Linda Condon of Bird Key decorated their boat to contribute to the beauty of this year's Blessing and Lighting of the Fleet on Dec. 11.
  • By Dana Kampa
  • December 12, 2025
Boats sparkle at Bird Key fleet blessing
Nicholas Savarese, a teacher who has a background in chemical engineering, judges junior Lillian Pevzner-Downer's project on the comparison of conventionally grown crops with chemicals and pesticides versus organically grown crops at the Lakewood Ranch High School Science Fair.
  • By Madison Bierl
  • December 12, 2025
Lakewood Ranch High revives its science fair
SPARCC Holiday Luncheon co-chairs Melissa Silva, Tina McGovern and Cator Hartley
  • By Janet Combs
  • December 11, 2025
SPARCC holiday luncheon welcomes record turnout
Beth Stewart and Christine Parseghian joined in the festive fun of the Frosty Frolic golf tournament on Dec. 9 at Harbourside Golf Course.
  • By Dana Kampa
  • December 11, 2025
Ladies dress to impress at Frosty Frolic
The team including Rick and Josie Bertie and Paul Christenson won second place overall and the award for best "docktail" at the Lighting of the Docks on Dec. 6 at Longboat Harbour.
  • By Dana Kampa
  • December 11, 2025
Longboat Harbour light competition delights viewers
Santa Claus welcomes Ketia Alennsia Joachim, Henry Lerricia Jeanbaptiste and John Kerry Jeanbaptiste for a morning of family holiday fun at Stillpoint Mission. Longboat Island Chapel and other local groups helped make the Dec. 6 toy distribution happen.
  • By Dana Kampa
  • December 9, 2025
Stillpoint Mission brings holiday spirit to community
Co-chair Kara Wootson, Planned Parenthood Director of Philanthropy Lauren Stroman, Co-chairs Lissa Murphy, LaVerne Green and Roz Painter-Goffi
  • By Lori Sax
  • December 8, 2025
Supporters Rise & Shine for Planned Parenthood brunch
Emily Burns and Jack Coleman of Poppo's Taqueria dish up their popular pork tacos at the Kiwanis Club of Longboat Key's Lawn Party on Dec. 6 at Ken Thompson Park.
  • By Dana Kampa
  • December 8, 2025
Longboat's Lawn Party returns following hurricane hiatus
Susan Borden, Kelli Veit and Nancy Harris shared a bit about the goods and games available at Temple Beth Israel's Hanukkah open house on Dec. 7.
  • By Dana Kampa
  • December 8, 2025
Temple Beth Israel hosts Hanukkah open house for third year
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.
  • By Dana Kampa
  • December 7, 2025
St. Armands celebrates magical Christmas tree lighting
Britnie Sutika, CEO Kristie Skoglund, Kimberly Treharne, Paola Pinillos and Kate Reed
  • By Janet Combs
  • December 7, 2025
Florida Center for Early Childhood hosts 2nd annual Wonder Gala
St. Petersburg's Ella Brown and Sarasota's Mike Chambers take full advantage of the live music to show off their best dance moves at the Lakewood Ranch Blues Fest Dec. 6.
  • By Madison Bierl
  • December 7, 2025
Lakewood Ranch music fans aren't crying the blues after festival
Students from Sarasota High School's marching band walk in the parade.
  • By Ian Swaby
  • December 7, 2025
Sarasota's spirit goes on display in the holiday parade
Debi and Mike O'Leary take a look at the tree.
  • By Ian Swaby
  • December 6, 2025
Sarasota annual tree lighting takes place at Selby Five Points
Celia Young, Pat Reinhart, Ina Goldberg and Sherry Wheeler channel their inner flapper style for the Great Gatsby-inspired Poinsettia Luncheon.
  • By Janet Combs
  • December 5, 2025
Sarasota Opera Guild rings in holidays at Poinsettia Luncheon
1 2 3 4 5 ยป
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 News Photo Galleries

1
Maddox and Lou Towery have packed up shoeboxes during the Community Holiday Shoebox Collection Drive for the last seven years.
  • December 15, 2025
Lakewood Ranch community rallies to support seniors with shoebox event
2
Golden Ticket arrives, and Olaf the snowman has been invited to the rooftop party.
  • December 14, 2025
Sarasota Bay lights up with annual Holiday Boat Parade
3
The World of Chucko photo-bombs Dana Dalpra, Lauren Hersh and Tami and Phillip Lanham.
  • December 14, 2025
Sarasota Art Museum steps into Style Moderne for annual Art Bash
4
This house on the corner of Wedge Lane and Bogey Lane takes the cake for one of the most colorfully decorated homes on Longboat Key this season.
  • December 14, 2025
Which Longboat homes dazzle the most with holiday lights?
5
Joni Hill, Cate Douglas and Gaby Hayashi make their way across the beach.
  • December 14, 2025
Holiday spirit gets moving at Sandy Claws Beach Run

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