• 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

The moon shines between a pair of "Florida Reindeer."
  • By Ian Swaby
  • December 4, 2025
Holiday display at Selby Gardens boasts over 2 million lights
Kymistrii Young (left), Elijah Golden (center) and Macaiden Brown (right) listen to coach Jared Clark's speech during Cardinal Mooney's early signing period ceremony.
  • By Jack Nelson
  • December 3, 2025
Cardinal Mooney and Booker football celebrate 11 early signees
Sarasota Opera Artistic Director Victor DeRenzi and General Director Richard Russell.
  • By Monica Roman Gagnier
  • December 2, 2025
Sarasota Opera artistic director will step down after 44 years
The home at 1310 South Lake Shore Drive is built in the style of a Renaissance mansion.
  • By Eric Garwood
  • December 1, 2025
$26.4 million Sarasota home evokes Renaissance styling
Piper Dawson checks out was she dubbed her favorite tree decorated by Lo' Key Island Grille at the opening evening of Christmas in the Garden on Nov. 30 at Longboat Island Chapel.
  • By Dana Kampa
  • December 1, 2025
Christmas comes early to Longboat's north end
Sarasota's David Farr picks up 21-month-old Henry Farr, who is dazzled by the giant ornaments on the tree on The Green during the Mall at UTC's ongoing holiday celebration.
  • By Lesley Dwyer
  • December 1, 2025
Families flock to UTC for the holidays
Siesta Key Oyster Bar co-founder Geno Pedigo, and Zach Steffen, prepare to ride out.
  • By Ian Swaby
  • November 30, 2025
Kids and families find cheer at Siesta Key Holiday Parade
Siesta Key's Owen Slater, 5, loves animals and couldn't leave the market without getting a homemade octopus from Stitch Fabels, which took 10 hours to make.
  • By Madison Bierl
  • November 28, 2025
Market at Nathan Benderson Park provides midweek shopping
Runners pack the starting area for the 2025 Florida Turkey Trot Nov. 27 at foggy Nathan Benderson Park. The race had a record 4,558 participants.
  • By Jay Heater
  • November 27, 2025
Record 4,558 runners participate in 2025 Florida Turkey Trot
Despite their 30 year age difference, Marge DeSimone and Courtney Barr have become great friends and share a deep love for Nikki, Barr's 7-year-old Bordoodle. They compete in dock diving to keep all of the "Three Musketeers," as Barr said, active and engaged.
  • By Madison Bierl
  • November 26, 2025
Dock-diving dog helps two single women form a bond of friendship in Myakka
Lakewood Ranch sisters Mariapaz Ritter, 7 and Analia Ritter, 12, got their faces painted by Akiko Graphics at the at Greenbrook Adventure Park. Mariapaz chose a peace sign because "paz" the last part of her name means peace in Spanish and Analia chose daisies because they are her favorite flowers.
  • By Madison Bierl
  • November 24, 2025
Greenbrook Adventure Park reopens with a fun day
Bill and Robyn Sadlo, Barb and Jay Lancer and Marjolaine and Steve Townsend
  • By Janet Combs
  • November 23, 2025
Boys and Girls Clubs' Champions for Children honors Baranciks' legacy
Miriam Cornell and James Garlanger of Bear Gully Creek Farms talk with Cornell's mother, Sharon Cornell, and Jim Sroka.
  • By Ian Swaby
  • November 23, 2025
Perfect weather yields steady turnout for Sarasota Farmers Market
Mark Lorah created a Lego version of the Imperial Theatre in Augusta, Georgia.
  • By Ian Swaby
  • November 23, 2025
Lego artists show their imagination in Sarasota's first BrickUniverse
Geoff Levin, Marcy Klein, Steven Goodman and Patricia Courtois volunteer at the Van Wezel.
  • By Ian Swaby
  • November 23, 2025
All Faiths Food Bank works to distribute record number of turkeys
Alison and Eloise Fichner snap a photo with Santa Claus at Light Up Longboat on Nov. 22 at the Town Center Green.
  • By Dana Kampa
  • November 23, 2025
Families partake in early-season cheer at Light Up Longboat
Instead of a ribbon, a 180-pound blue fin tuna will be cut to celebrate the grand opening of Kuro Sushi.
  • By Lesley Dwyer
  • November 22, 2025
Kuro Sushi rolls into Lakewood Ranch
Kristin Morton, John Grady Burns, Pat Mudgett and Kellie Menke
  • By Janet Combs
  • November 21, 2025
Founders Garden Club welcomes celebrity floral designer to annual luncheon
Rabbi Jessica Spitalnic Mates delivers the central sermon at the 45th interfaith Thanksgiving service hosted by St. Armands Key Lutheran Church on Nov. 18. She was joined by SAKLC's Rev. Kenneth Blyth, Longboat Island Chapel's Rev. Brock Patterson, Christ Church of Longboat Key's Rev. Julia Piermont, All Angels by the Sea Episcopal Church's Rev. David Marshall and St. Mary, Star of the Sea, Catholic Church's Fr. Robert Dziedziak.
  • By Dana Kampa
  • November 19, 2025
Religious leaders across faiths celebrate unity for Thanksgiving
Sheena Works, Sebastian Works, 7, Alissa Silvers, and Isabella Coulton, 7, pose together in front of the mural.
  • By Ian Swaby
  • November 19, 2025
Community unites to paint mural at Arlington Park
Bird Key Yacht Club General Manager Tammy Hackney and Commodore Tony Britt donned the hard hats for the official groundbreaking of the new clubhouse on Nov. 13 at the site of the former facility.
  • By Dana Kampa
  • November 19, 2025
Bird Key leaders break ground on new yacht club facilities
Gladys Delgado with Chuck Sidlow (Chucko the All American Clown).
  • By Ian Swaby
  • November 18, 2025
Fundraiser event in Sarasota spotlights babies in need
Bert Wood, Karl Kaminski, Hudson Nesmith and Jane Conrad were among the 120 volunteers helping pack meals for Kids Against Hunger on Nov. 8 at St. Armands Key Lutheran Church. Part of the meals went to help local families, and part went to support hurricane survivors in Jamaica.
  • By Dana Kampa
  • November 18, 2025
St. Armands church lends hand to families and hurricane survivors
Troy Turner and Resilient Retreat founder Dr. Sidney Turner
  • By Lori Sax
  • November 17, 2025
Resilient Retreat transports guests to the Mediterranean
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
The moon shines between a pair of "Florida Reindeer."
  • December 4, 2025
Holiday display at Selby Gardens boasts over 2 million lights
2
Kymistrii Young (left), Elijah Golden (center) and Macaiden Brown (right) listen to coach Jared Clark's speech during Cardinal Mooney's early signing period ceremony.
  • December 3, 2025
Cardinal Mooney and Booker football celebrate 11 early signees
3
Sarasota Opera Artistic Director Victor DeRenzi and General Director Richard Russell.
  • December 2, 2025
Sarasota Opera artistic director will step down after 44 years
4
The home at 1310 South Lake Shore Drive is built in the style of a Renaissance mansion.
  • December 1, 2025
$26.4 million Sarasota home evokes Renaissance styling
5
Piper Dawson checks out was she dubbed her favorite tree decorated by Lo' Key Island Grille at the opening evening of Christmas in the Garden on Nov. 30 at Longboat Island Chapel.
  • December 1, 2025
Christmas comes early to Longboat's north end

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