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Sarasota | Neighbors

    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • December 19, 2024
Sarasota students share Christmas wishes in letters to Santa

Students at Fruitville Elementary School, Tuttle Elementary School and Suncoast School for Innovative Studies shared what they hope to receive this Christmas.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • December 19, 2024
Holiday House SRQ brings the joy of gift-giving to underserved students

The nonprofit, now serving four Sarasota schools, provides a festive shopping experience allowing kids to take gifts for family and one for themselves.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • December 16, 2024
Holiday spirits shines at Holiday Boat Parade of Lights

The event, organized by Suncoast Charities for Children, featured vessels decked with holiday lights and decor.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • December 16, 2024
Holidays at The Bay offers a party where the community is invited

The event featured fun and games, activities by Sarasota Performing Arts Foundation, a movie screening and more.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Miri Hardy
  • December 16, 2024
Habitat Restoration zone returns to Myakka

By reducing human disturbances, temporary fencing protects plants and wildlife, while offering visitors superior wildlife viewing opportunities.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • December 16, 2024
Sandy Claws Beach Run brings energy to the holiday spirit

Runners dressed in festive attire for the 48th annual event held on Siesta Key Beach.

  • Siesta Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • December 14, 2024
USF Sarasota-Manatee honors regional chancellor as she prepares to retire

The campus attributes accomplishments to Karen Holbrook including the opening of the Student Center and Atala Residence Hall.

  • Sarasota
  • Schools
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • December 13, 2024
Sarasota neighborhoods light up for the holidays

Neighborhoods in the area are decking homes with holiday displays.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • December 12, 2024
Singing Christmas Tree Spectacular celebrates 50th anniversary

The event featured a nativity scene with live animals, a former Broadway performer and more.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • December 11, 2024
Young performers create holiday splendor in Ringling Museum courtyard

Holiday Splendor at The Ringling showcased performances by local schools, while helping draw donations to Toys for Tots.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • December 10, 2024
Siesta Key Oyster Bar offers dollar bill decor to employees

The dollar bills that guests leave on the walls of Siesta Key Oyster Bar will be given to employees as hurricane relief.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    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
    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
    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
    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
    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
    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
    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
    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
    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
    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
    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
    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
    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
    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
    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
    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
    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
    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
    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
    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
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