Sarasota Events

Browse upcoming events across the Sarasota area, from live music and festivals to art shows, performances, and family-friendly happenings.

Today

📍 Urfer Family Park 🕐 5-7pm 🏷️ Free

Discover Florida's native bees through hands-on crafts, bee house building, and a nature scavenger hunt with county environmental specialists. Crafts available while supplies last.

📍 Historic Spanish Point 🕐 6:30-7:30pm 💵 $25-35

Philadelphia-based jazz/funk quartet Dirk Quinn Band brings over a decade of tight improvisation to the Selby Gardens waterfront. Expect melodic grooves and rhythmic experimentation that pulls in everyone from jazz purists to jam band fans.

Coming Up

📍 Big Top Brewing Company 🕐 5-9pm 💵 Free admission

Big Top Brewing's food truck rally packs the parking lot with six food trucks, local vendors, live music from RJ Howson & Friends, and axe throwing. Food lineup includes Chasin' Chicken, Windy City Chowdown, Dirty Sara-SODA, Smokin' Momma Lora's, Whipped Strawberries, and Groovin' Grouper.

📍 J.D. Hamel Park 🕐 8am-12pm 💵 $10-$40

The 11th annual Memorial charity hike starts at JD Hamel War Memorial Park, crosses the Ringling Bridge, and returns for a cookout, live music, and family activities. Proceeds support SRQ Vets, a 100% volunteer-led nonprofit providing emergency assistance to local veterans in need.

📍 The Bazaar on Apricot & Lime 🕐 10am-5pm 🏷️ Free

The Bazaar on Apricot & Lime celebrates its 8th birthday with a passport-style scavenger hunt through its vendor shops. Collect stamps, complete activities, and enter to win a $1,000 Sarasota staycation. Live music from Suzanne Lucas from 12-3pm and free cupcakes while they last.

📍 St. Armands Circle 🕐 10am-5pm 🏷️ Free

Juried artists from across Florida and the U.S. take over St. Armands Circle for a two-day outdoor fine art show. Browse and buy original sculptures, jewelry, paintings, photography, glass, ceramics, fiber art, and more.

📍 CoolToday Park 🕐 7:30pm 💵 $29+

Music Director Troy Quinn leads the Venice Symphony and Key Chorale through an all-American program — patriotic classics, great American songbook favorites, film music, and an Armed Forces Medley. Due to the current burn ban, this year's finale swaps traditional fireworks for a Skyworx aerial drone light show, a first for the event.

📍 MarineMax 🕐 10am-4pm 🏷️ Free

A Memorial Day weekend flotilla at New Pass Sandbar where boaters raft up, drop anchor, and spend the day surrounded by live music from Jah Movement, Dr. Dave Band, and Zach Regan and the 776. Bring your crew, your cooler, and your boat — or watch the action from shore.

📍 Main Street 🕐 10am-12pm 🏷️ Free

The annual downtown parade steps off on Main Street at Orange Avenue and concludes at JD Hamel Park with a ceremony honoring the fallen. This year's theme is "All Gave Some…Some Gave All," with guest speaker Charlie Halley — alongside the Sarasota Military Academy band, color guards, veterans' groups, and first responders.

📍 Phillippi Estate Park 🕐 5-7pm 🏷️ Free

Enjoy free live music with the Sarasota Concert Band in this beautiful park setting. Grab some ice cream and settle in by the gazebo for a relaxing Memorial Day evening.

📍 The Bay Park 🕐 7:30-9:30pm 🏷️ Free

Bring blankets for this free outdoor screening of Spielberg's beloved classic under the stars. Perfect for introducing kids to E.T.'s heartwarming story while enjoying a night out at the park.

Sarasota Slam 26th Annual

📍 Marina Jack 🕐 See schedule 💵 $50+ (Free to watch)

Now in its 26th year, the Sarasota Slam is a multi-day offshore, inshore, and billfish tournament based out of Marina Jack. Divisions range from competitive offshore boats to a Junior Angler category, with a kickoff party on May 29th open to everyone. Free to watch the weigh-ins and celebration — registration required to compete.

📍 North Jetty Beach 🕐 1pm - Sunset 🏷️ Free

A beachside fundraiser that turns the North Jetty into a full-on festival. Skimboarding, mini-ramp skating, paddleboard relays, sandcastle contests, and a mural competition, with live music and food keeping the energy up throughout. Free to watch or register if you want to compete. Proceeds support missionary work locally and abroad.

📍 The Bay Park 🕐 2:30-4pm 🏷️ Free

Dive into multi-media art journaling with teaching artist Kat Sjogren at this accessible workshop designed for all skill levels. Explore various art materials and papers while encouraging creative expression through guided reflection and conversation.

📍 Sarasota Art Museum 🕐 Sat 10am–5pm, Sun 10am–4pm 🏷️ Free

A juried outdoor fine art show on the grounds of the Sarasota Art Museum, ranked among the top 100 art shows in America. Paintings, sculpture, photography, jewelry, glass, and more from artists across the country — all original, all for sale.

📍 Multiple Venues 🕐 See schedule 💵 $15+

Each June, world-renowned faculty artists and rising pre-professional musicians gather for two weeks of chamber music performances, masterclasses, and mentorship. The public concerts are the highlight — a rare chance to hear emerging classical talent performing alongside some of the world's top musicians in intimate settings around Sarasota.

Savor Sarasota 21st Annual

📍 50+ Restaurants 🕐 Lunch & Dinner 💵 $25-$45

Two weeks, dozens of restaurants, and one good excuse to eat out more than usual. The 21st annual Savor Sarasota Restaurant Week features chef-curated prix-fixe menus at $25 for lunch and $45 for dinner — covering everything from casual neighborhood spots to fine dining across the county.

📍 Waterside Park 🕐 6-8pm 🏷️ Free

Celebrate Global Running Day with a fun 5K loop starting by the volleyball courts. Run the Ranch, Fit2Run UTC, and Nike team up for this free community run welcoming all levels.

📍 Historic Spanish Point 🕐 6:30-7:30pm 💵 $35

Dunedin-born singer-songwriter Danielle Mohr brings her loop-pedal-layered acoustic soul-pop to the Selby Gardens waterfront. Expect clever lyrics, rich harmonies, and a one-woman sound that's bigger than it has any right to be.

📍 Shamrock Park & Nature Center 🕐 9-11am 🏷️ Free

Master Gardeners offer expert advice and free tours of Florida-friendly plantings, answering your questions about native landscaping and sustainable gardening practices perfect for our climate.