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Sarasota

Hans Ocampo, Oliver Ocampo, 2, Yahoira Ocampo and Dominic Ocampo, 4, meet Santa Claus.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • December 9, 2024
Community spirit goes on display at Sarasota Holiday Parade

The annual parade features many local organizations and businesses.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Sarasota volunteer Ken Junkins helps stabalize the RE/MAX balloon.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • December 9, 2024
Hot air balloons come to Sarasota in Balloon Glow & Laser Show

The event showcased hot air balloons, giving the community a chance to enjoy something rarely seen in the area.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Florida Studio Theatre Arts Plaza will be built next door to the current building on First Street.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • December 9, 2024
FST's expansion has first meeting before city staff

Florida Studio Theatre is proposing apartments, hotel rooms, parking deck and new performance spaces in its new Arts Plaza.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Lauren and Kim Smith, visitors from Pennsylvania, pose for a selfie in front of the tree.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • December 8, 2024
Downtown Sarasota lights new Christmas tree

The "Light Up The Night" Fresh Fridays event offered live music, a giant snow globe and more, but the focus was the new, larger Christmas tree at Selby Five Points Park.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
The vehicle crashed into the side of the office around 4 p.m. on Sunday.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • December 8, 2024
Car crashes into side of Main Street office building

The crash took place around 4 p.m. Sunday at an office space occupied by First Sarasota.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Commissioner Kyle Battie, Santa Claus, Commissioner Jen Ahearn-Koch and the Marketing and Events Director for the St. Armands Circle Association Rachel Burns counted down together to light the St. Armands tree.
    By
  • Petra Rivera
  • December 8, 2024
St. Armands Circle hosts annual holiday tree lighting

Santa Claus counted down locals and visitors to light the 60-foot Christmas tree in honor of the end of hurricane season and the start to the holidays.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
The study area for the Main Street Complete Streets project.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 8, 2024
Main Street vision community meeting set for Dec. 17

Initial concepts for the Main Street Complete Streets project will be revealed at the Selby Public Library.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 7, 2024
Bay Runner service to Lido Key to resume Wednesday

The Bay Runner trolley will restart its route to Ted Sperling Park on Dec. 11 as parking enforcement along Benjamin Franklin Drive will also resume.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Jack Rohner (1922-2024)
    In Memoriam |
  • December 6, 2024
Jack Rohner

Jack Rohner, 101, of Sarasota, FL, formerly of Inverness, IL passed away peacefully on December 2, 2024.

  • Sarasota
  • Tributes & Obituaries
The parade helped usher in the holiday season.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • December 6, 2024
The best holiday events in Sarasota and Siesta Key

Here are events to help you enjoy a merry holiday season.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Lights in Bloom features over two million lights.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • December 5, 2024
See the displays at this year's Lights in Bloom

The holiday display across Marie Selby Botanical Gardens' Downtown Sarasota Campus opens Dec. 6.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Morgan Rudloff looks at "Peace Within" after the sculpture's head collapsed, and the artists finished it off with a crown during the Siesta Key Crystal Classic sand sculpting.
    By
  • Elizabeth King
  • December 5, 2024
Sarasota County tourism 'normalizing' post-pandemic, optimistic for 2025

After a pandemic-era travel boom, Sarasota is seeing a return to normal, market researchers say, with indications of an uptick in some segments of travelers.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Cardinal Mooney junior defensive lineman Konnor Whitesell leads his team prior to Cardinal Mooney's regional final bout with Bishop Verot.
    By
  • Dylan Campbell
  • December 5, 2024
Cardinal Mooney, Booker High crowned regional champions

The Cougars and Tornadoes reached the final four of their respective football state championship tournaments.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
Cross Street is a one-block, one-way street between South Pineapple and South Orange avenues.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • December 5, 2024
Cross Street right of way remains vacated by the city

Jen Ahearn-Koch motioned and was the only vote in favor of rescinding the Sarasota City Commission's Nov. 4 approval to vacate right of way to developer Orange Pineapple.

  • Sarasota
  • News
A decoration hangs in Siesta Key Village.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • December 5, 2024
Siesta Key enters the holiday season as it recovers from hurricane devastation

Island residents gradually return to normalcy as the last round of businesses in Siesta Key reopens in time for the holidays.

  • Siesta Key
  • Neighbors
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