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Sarasota | Neighbors

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
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
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 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
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
The Circus Ring of Fame at St. Armands Circle.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 4, 2024
Circus Ring of Fame Awards postponed until 2026

Storm surge damage to the bronze plaques at St. Armands Circle forces cancellation of the 2025 Circus Ring of Fame Awards ceremony.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Mary Lou Davidson's dog Lyra is blessed by Prayer Chaplain Jacqueline Fitzgerald.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • December 2, 2024
Holiday Pet Blessing at Unity of Sarasota celebrates the joy of pets

Moving to December this year, the annual event welcomed pets for blessings by the church's prayer chaplains.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Staff from Michael Saunders & Company gather at their float.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • December 2, 2024
Siesta Key parade kicks off the holiday season

The annual event, hosted by the Siesta Key Chamber of Commerce, helped support the community and its businesses.

  • Siesta Key
  • Neighbors
Alyssa Saggese, Justin Fiedler and Cameron Dempsey
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • December 2, 2024
Black Friday Block Party offers post-Thanksgiving excitement

Celebrating Goose Island beer, the event also featured offerings including vendors, live music and a cornhole tournament.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Laurel Park resident Jackie Haywood hangs an ornament on the tree in the gazebo on Saturday, Nov. 30.
    By
  • Michael Harris
  • December 1, 2024
Laurel Park residents gather for clean-up duty

Volunteers get together to spruce up the local park and decorate the Christmas tree in the gazebo.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Igor Pertile works with the plants.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • November 28, 2024
Farmer education program gives aspiring growers a head start in the field

UF/IFAS Extension Sarasota County has partnered with Mote Aquaculture Research Park to use its facility for the program, which gives farmers hands-on farming and business development experience.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
The Sarasota Choral Society performs Handel's Messiah.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • November 27, 2024
Sarasota Choral Society celebrates 80 years

The choral society, founded in 1944, carries on the annual tradition of performing the Christmas portion of Handel's "Messiah."

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
  • By Safe Children Coalition
  • November 26, 2024
Implementing Change for Good

Safe Children Coalition served over 9,000 children in the last fiscal year.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Sponsored Content
The 46th annual Holiday Night of Lights will be held at St. Armands Circle on Dec. 6.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • November 26, 2024
Holiday Night of Lights set for Dec. 6

The 46th annual tree lighting event at St. Armands Circle marks a significant step in recovery.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
  • By Copenhagen Imports
  • November 25, 2024
Furnishing Hope: How Copenhagen Imports is Giving Back to the Homeless This Holiday Season

Copenhagen Imports, is continuing its commitment to support Sarasota's homeless community through its popular annual Stressless promotion.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Sponsored Content
  • By Manasota Flooring
  • November 25, 2024
For 50 Years This “Family Business” Mission Extends to Employees, Their Families, Other Local Businesses and Non-Profits

Manasota Flooring is one of the largest flooring companies in our area, servicing Palmetto to Venice, Longboat Key to Lakewood Ranch.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Sponsored Content
  • By JL Bainbridge
  • November 22, 2024
J.L. Bainbridge’s Growth Benchmark: A Year of Success and Future Vision

The JL Bainbridge Team will continue to monitor market trends and companies that have strong performance and consistent earnings growth, and we will strive to adhere to our long-time company investment principles.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Sponsored Content
Tori Atencio and Juan Sanches place a turkey in a trunk.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • November 22, 2024
All Faiths Food Bank distributes turkeys at Ed Smith Stadium

With the help of the Baltimore Orioles, the food bank distributed 904 turkeys on Nov. 20, and has a goal of giving out 13,500 turkeys this Thanksgiving season.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Tyler and Maya Kirby.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • November 21, 2024
Son returns to operate plant-based coffee house his father founded

Simon's Coffee House, founded in 1991, has become a staple of plant-based dining in the Sarasota community.

  • Arts + Entertainment
  • Eat + Drink
  • By Early Learning Coalition of Sarasota County
  • November 20, 2024
ELC Sarasota Builds Bright Futures for Our Littlest Learners

The ELC serves 4,000 children and assists 150 childcare providers annually, yet the work doesn’t stop there.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Sponsored Content
Evelyn Lyman, 21 and Brian Guerrero, 24, from Sarasota Cuban Ballet School perform a scene from "The Nutcracker."
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • November 19, 2024
Young performers take center stage at Sarasota Rising: A Celebration of Youth

The closing event of the inaugural Living Arts Festival showcased up-and-coming talent in the community.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
The Coldwell Banker Realty office on St. Armands Circle reopened on Nov. 13
    By
  • Petra Rivera
  • November 19, 2024
Coldwell Banker Realty reopens its St. Armands Circle office

The real estate office renovated to build in resiliency for the potential of future flooding on St. Armands Circle.

  • Longboat Key
  • Business
Ringling College graduate Dean Arscott won first place in the Sculptor's Choice and People's Choice awards for single projects, with "Neanderthal + Narwhal". The 2008 graduate and illustration major pulled the idea from an old sketchbook of drawings on letters of the alphabet.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • November 18, 2024
Former Ringling student takes home top award at Crystal Classic

Each year, the sand sculpting event brings an international lineup of artists to Siesta Key.

  • Siesta Key
  • Neighbors
Maggie Mays, Rylie Jackson and Camiryn Opstal at the debutante event at Shore Longboat Key.
    By
  • Petra Rivera
  • November 18, 2024
Shore Longboat Key hosts Sarasota Debutantes

Debutantes Camiryn Opstal, Rylie Jackson and Maggie Mays invited all their friends to the island for an elegant brunch inspired by "Breakfast at Tiffany's."

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Sarasota's Dino Bever blows into a medieval animal horn.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • November 18, 2024
Sarasota Medieval Fair continues its run in Myakka City

The popular event attracts thousands to the Woods of Mallaranny along State Road 70.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Julie Fidalgo showcased the book "If You Want to Be Happy," and brought her dog Rocky, who she said is a source of happiness.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • November 14, 2024
Local authors showcase their knowledge at book fair

The Local Authors Book Fair by Bookstore1Sarasota brought together authors with varying contributions to the literary scene.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
  • By Senior Friendship Center
  • November 14, 2024
RISK LESS. DO MORE.: Ensuring Your Path to Uninterrupted Joy

Our mission? Ensuring the vibrant senior community of southwest Florida stays healthy and engaged to embrace life's daily celebrations.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Sponsored Content
Sandhill Cranes and other birds took on a larger than life form during the festival's parade.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • November 13, 2024
Sarasota hosts first delegation of floral carpet artists

The Sarasota Int'l Chalk Festival brought a global group of organizations together for its "Floralia Infiorata" exhibit.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Waleed Ibrahim of Smile Design Dentistry and Lynnae Cepielik of ZimVie Dental
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • November 13, 2024
Sarasota dentist offers free dental implants to veterans

In advance of Veterans Day, Smile Design Dentistry offered free dental implants, including full mouth reconstructions, to 15 veterans.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Juan Leon and Tony Fudoli
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • November 12, 2024
Siesta bar hosts Marine Corps birthday after overcoming hurricane damage

Gilligan's Island Bar & Grill hosted the celebration for the 11th year.

  • Siesta Key
  • Neighbors
Gino Calleja and Cristel Ramires serve soup with Kolucan Mexican Bar and Grill.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • November 12, 2024
Bowls of Hope helps fill the bowls of those in need

All Faiths Food Bank's largest fundraiser of the year, Bowls of Hope welcomed the community for a sampling of artisan bowls and soups in support of the food bank.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
The uniform of the day for the Marine veterans — red polo shirts with the Marine Corps emblem. From left, David Matthews, Doug Rigg, Art Dehardt, Bob Fields, Debbie Fields, Joe Felice and David Doak.
    By
  • Michael Harris
  • November 11, 2024
Marine vets gather to celebrate Corps birthday

For the 22nd year, Marina Jack hosted area veterans in commemorating the U.S. Marine Corps 249th anniversary.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Ethan Parker, 12, rides with the Historic Aircraft Society.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • November 11, 2024
Veterans Day parade honors the sacrifices of the community's veterans

The parade brought together local schools, organizations, clubs and city departments in honor of veterans.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Locals Annabeth Howton and Jenna Barnett at the St. Armands Circle Art Festival.
    By
  • Petra Rivera
  • November 11, 2024
St. Armands Art Festival welcomes back customers to the Circle

Sarasota and Longboat residents supported St. Armand businesses as they recover after the hurricanes.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
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Latest in Sarasota

1
District 5 representative Ron Cutsinger will be the 2026 chairman of the Sarasota County Commission.
  • December 19, 2025
Sarasota County commissioners pick chair, vice chair
2
Locations of the new St. Armands speed tables are marked in red.
  • December 19, 2025
St. Armands speed humps will be replaced with permanent speed tables
3
All games in the 2027 Sarasota College Softball Classic will be played on the championship field (lower left) at the new 17th Street Park Regional Sports Complex.
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Sarasota homes light up for the holidays

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