Fall Festivals & Events
Sweatshirts Optional: The Best Fall Festivals and Events in Sarasota
Glowing gardens, rooftop Halloween parties, pumpkins, art shows and spectacular sand sculptures—fall, Sarasota style.
Read the fall guideThings to Do
Sarasota Events
Looking for amazing things to do in Sarasota? Start here with upcoming festivals, arts and cultural happenings, food events, family fun and more.
What’s happening around Sarasota
From downtown Sarasota and Siesta Key to Venice, St. Armands and Anna Maria Island, here are upcoming events to put on your calendar.
Wednesday, September 16 · 5–7 p.m.
Creative Connections Opening Reception
Creative Liberties at ARCOS · 340 Central Ave., Sarasota
More than 30 Sarasota-area artists come together across multiple media for an exhibition celebrating the people who make up the region’s working-artist community.
Opening reception September 16 · Exhibition continues through October
Get the detailsSaturday and Sunday, September 19–20 · 10 a.m.–5 p.m.
St. Armands Circle Art Festival
St. Armands Circle Park · Sarasota
More than 175 artisans fill the Circle with fine art, handcrafted work and a sidewalk sale during this free outdoor weekend on Lido Key.
Free admission · Presented with a craft marketplace and sidewalk sale
Get the detailsSaturday, September 26 · 1–6 p.m.
Venice Beach Party
Venice Public Beach · Venice
Spend a Saturday afternoon at Venice Public Beach during this annual community gathering organized by Venice MainStreet.
A Venice MainStreet signature event · Confirm current details before attending
Get the detailsTuesday, September 29 · 6–7:30 p.m.
From Nest to Sea: Protecting Anna Maria Island’s Sea Turtles
The Bishop Museum of Science and Nature · Bradenton
Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch shares how it monitors nesting turtles and hatchlings, the threats they face and what residents and visitors can do to help protect them.
Advance tickets available through The Bishop
Get the detailsOctober 1–31 · Entry at 6:30 or 7:45 p.m.
Lights at Spooky Point
Selby Gardens’ Historic Spanish Point campus · Osprey
Follow an eerily illuminated path through Historic Spanish Point, where boo-tanical decorations and imaginative creations transform the waterfront campus into something equal parts campy, creepy and cute.
Fun for all ages · The walk-through experience ends at 9 p.m. · Advance tickets available
Get the detailsFriday, October 2 · 7–10 p.m.
Fresh Fridays: Sunset Soundwaves
Main Street · Downtown Sarasota
Fresh Fridays opens its new season with a yacht-rock-inspired block party featuring live music, local food and drinks, downtown shopping and an easy-breezy Sarasota night.
Free and open to all ages · Season 6 premiere
Get the detailsOctober 2–31 · 7 and 8:30 p.m.
Haunted Sarasota Musical Trolley Tour
Discover Sarasota Tours · 1826 4th Street, Sarasota
Climb aboard for a spirited musical journey through Sarasota’s haunted past, with local ghost stories, historic buildings, singing mystery spirits and costume prizes along the way.
Ages 12+ · 75 minutes · Complimentary beer or wine for guests 21+ before boarding · Free parking
Get the detailsEvery weekend, October 3–November 1 · 10 a.m.–5 p.m.
Fruitville Grove Pumpkin Festival
Fruitville Grove · Sarasota
A true taste of fall in Sarasota with pumpkins, hayrides, animals, family activities, food, vendors and plenty of reasons to spend a day at the farm.
$5 admission · Children 6 and younger enter free · Parking is free
Get the detailsSaturday, October 3 · 7–9:30 p.m.
Opera at The Bay: Il trovatore
The Bay Park · Sarasota
Sarasota Opera brings Verdi’s dramatic music outdoors for a waterfront evening beneath the stars in the heart of the city.
Presented by Sarasota Opera and The Bay · Review event guidance before arriving
Get the detailsSaturdays, October 3–24 · 7:30 p.m. · Sundays, October 4–25 · 2 p.m.
Dracula
The Players Studio Black Box · 1400 Blvd. of the Arts, Suite 200, Sarasota
Sarasota Players, the area’s community theater company, presents an intimate new adaptation of the Gothic classic, placing audiences close to the story’s fear, seduction and supernatural suspense.
$30 adults · $15 students · Eight performances only
Get the detailsMonday, October 5 · 7:30 p.m.
Roomful of Teeth + ensembleNEWSRQ
First Congregational Church · 1031 S. Euclid Ave., Sarasota
The two-time Grammy-winning vocal ensemble makes its Sarasota debut alongside ensembleNEWSRQ in an adventurous program exploring the remarkable possibilities of the human voice, including music by Pulitzer Prize winner Caroline Shaw.
$40 live admission · $10 livestream access · One night only
Get the detailsThursday, October 8 · 6:30–8 p.m.
Behind the Seams: Cocktails, Costumes & Connections
Sarasota Opera Costume Warehouse · 8161 25th Court E., Sarasota
Go behind the scenes inside Sarasota Opera’s remarkable warehouse, home to more than 50,000 costumes, during a private tour led by longtime costume designer Howard Tsvi Kaplan.
Free for ages 21–45 · Appetizers and an open bar included · Advance RSVP required
Get the details2026–27 season · Single tickets are on sale now
Van Wezel 2026–27 Season
Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall · Sarasota
The new season brings Broadway tours, concerts, comedy and visually spectacular productions to Sarasota, including The Vampire Circus, Ghostbusters in Concert and Cirque Dreams Holidaze.
Performance dates and prices vary · Popular and limited-run shows may sell their best seats early
Get the detailsSaturday, October 10 · 9 a.m.–3 p.m.
Jaguar Festival d’Elegance
St. Armands Circle · Sarasota
The 40th anniversary gathering brings antique Jaguars, modern classics and beautifully modified examples of the legendary marque to the Circle.
Free to attend · Presented by the Suncoast Jaguar Club
Get the detailsSaturday and Sunday, October 10–11 · 10 a.m.–5 p.m.
Oktoberfest Featuring the Benderson Chase
Nathan Benderson Park · Sarasota
Two days of paddles, oars and pours combine youth rowing and adult dragon-boat racing with German-inspired food, drinks, entertainment and family activities.
Free admission · Parking is $20 per vehicle
Get the detailsOctober 10–December 6 · Daily, 10 a.m.–5 p.m.
The Orchid Show 2026: Christian Sampson
Marie Selby Botanical Gardens · Downtown Sarasota campus
Living orchids meet playful installations of color, light and form in a collaboration between Selby Gardens and artist Christian Sampson, with works throughout the gardens, conservatory and Museum of Botany & the Arts.
Included with standard garden admission · The museum closes at 4:30 p.m.
Get the detailsTuesday, October 13 · 7–8 p.m.
An Evening with Patti Smith Dedicated to Emily Dickinson
Selby Gardens’ Historic Spanish Point campus · Osprey
Patti Smith returns to Selby Gardens for a one-night performance honoring poet Emily Dickinson, bringing music, poetry, nature and Sarasota’s waterfront history together ahead of Selby’s new Dickinson-inspired exhibition.
One night only · Check Selby’s official event page for current ticket availability and pricing
Get the detailsThird Thursdays · October 15 and November 19
Circle the Date on St. Armands
St. Armands Circle · Sarasota
The Circle comes alive with live music, merchant specials, coastal dining and island energy during this monthly celebration of locally owned shops and restaurants.
Participating businesses and hours vary by month
Get the detailsThursday and Friday, October 15–16
Wonder Symposium: The Wonder of Arts Work
The Ringling · Sarasota
The Ringling’s third annual Wonder Symposium brings artists, scholars and audiences together to explore the work of the arts—and the wonder created when that work becomes visible.
Two-day symposium · Individual programs and ticket options are available
Get the detailsFriday through Sunday, October 16–18
Sun Fiesta
Centennial Park · Downtown Venice
One of Venice’s signature fall weekends brings the community together in Centennial Park for entertainment, festival food and family fun.
Presented by the Women’s Sertoma Club of Venice · Confirm daily hours with the organizer
Get the detailsSaturday, October 17 · 10 a.m.–9 p.m.
25th Annual BayFest
Pine Avenue · City of Anna Maria
Anna Maria Island’s largest and longest-running street festival fills Pine Avenue with live music, local food, arts and crafts, a classic car show and family fun.
Free admission · A full day on the island
Get the detailsMonday, October 19 · 6 p.m.
Ringling by the Bay
The Ringling’s Bayfront Gardens · Sarasota
Dance to live music beside Sarasota Bay, watch the sunset and make an evening of the food trucks and drinks available on the grounds.
$25 general admission · $20 for members
Get the detailsFriday and Saturday, October 23–24 · 7:30 p.m.
Star Wars: Return of the Jedi in Concert
Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall · Sarasota
Watch the complete film on the big screen while Sarasota Orchestra performs John Williams’ score live—a full symphonic finish to the original Star Wars trilogy.
Tickets start at $52 · The program runs approximately 2½ hours with intermission
Get the detailsOctober 30–November 14 · Six performances
Hansel and Gretel
Sarasota Opera House · Downtown Sarasota
Sarasota Opera steps into an enchanted forest for Humperdinck’s beloved fairy-tale opera, presented in six performances across the fall season.
Performance times vary · Discounted family packages are available
Get the detailsSaturday, October 31 · 5:30–8 p.m.
Fright Night on St. Armands Circle
St. Armands Circle · Sarasota
The Circle transforms for Halloween with costumed characters, decorated storefronts and trick-or-treating at participating shops and restaurants.
Free · Family friendly · Hosted by the merchants of St. Armands Circle
Get the detailsSaturday, October 31 · 9 p.m.–1:30 a.m.
Halos & Horns Halloween Bash
Perspective Rooftop Pool Bar at Art Ovation Hotel · Downtown Sarasota
Dress up for a rooftop Halloween party with a live DJ, seasonal cocktails, city views and a costume contest.
$25 general admission · Tables and cabanas available
Get the detailsSaturday and Sunday, October 31–November 1 · 10 a.m.–5 p.m.
38th Annual Downtown Venice Art Festival
West Venice Avenue · Downtown Venice
Artists turn historic West Venice Avenue into a free open-air gallery filled with original work, all within walking distance of downtown restaurants and boutiques.
Free admission · Presented by Venice MainStreet and Howard Alan Events
Get the detailsSaturday and Sunday, October 31–November 1
UCI BMX Racing World Cup Finals
Sarasota BMX · Sarasota
The world’s top BMX racers come to Sarasota for the final two World Cup rounds, where the 2026 season champions will be decided.
International competition · Check the organizer for spectator schedules and tickets
Get the detailsNovember 1–19 · Times and locations vary
Off the Page Literary Celebration
Libraries and cultural venues throughout Sarasota County
Nationally known authors, Florida storytellers, workshops and book signings come together for Sarasota County’s free literary celebration, with appearances by Anthony Horowitz, Nathaniel Philbrick, Brad Meltzer, Kate Quinn, Dalia Colón and Gary Monroe.
Free · Most events require no registration · Seating is first come, first seated
Get the detailsFriday, November 6 · 7–10 p.m.
Fresh Fridays: Beyond the Canvas
Palm Avenue · Downtown Sarasota
Downtown’s monthly block party celebrates Sarasota’s creative side with music, art, local flavor and a lively night along Palm Avenue.
Free monthly event · Presented by the Downtown Improvement District and City of Sarasota
Get the detailsSaturday, November 7 · 9 a.m.–3 p.m.
Ferraris on the Circle
St. Armands Circle · Sarasota
New, vintage and rare Ferraris line the Circle for a free showcase of Italian design and performance beside the shops and restaurants of St. Armands.
Free to attend · Presented with Ferrari Drivers SRQ
Get the detailsSaturday, November 7, 2026, and Saturday, March 6, 2027 · 10 a.m.–1 p.m.
Backstage Sarasota Trolley Tour
Departs from Discover Sarasota Tours · 1826 Fourth St., Sarasota
See how Sarasota’s theatrical productions come to life during a three-hour behind-the-scenes visit to Asolo Repertory Theatre, Florida Studio Theatre and the Van Wezel.
Only two tours announced · Contact the organizer for booking availability and pricing
Get the detailsSaturdays and Sundays, November 7–December 6 · Opens at 9:45 a.m.
Sarasota Medieval Fair
Woods of Mallaranny · Myakka City
Step into a sprawling medieval village for full-contact jousting, human combat chess, music, games, themed weekends and more than 140 artisan shops.
Each weekend has a different theme · Tickets available online
Get the detailsFriday through Monday, November 13–16
Siesta Key Crystal Classic
Siesta Beach · Siesta Key
Twenty-four master sculptors transform Siesta’s white quartz sand into monumental works of art during four days of competition, demonstrations, music, food and family activities.
Internationally recognized sand-sculpting festival · Tickets available online
Get the detailsFebruary 7–May 30, 2027 · Daily, 10 a.m.–5 p.m.
Verdi: Composer & Farmer
Marie Selby Botanical Gardens · Downtown Sarasota campus
Selby Gardens and Maestro Victor DeRenzi explore Giuseppe Verdi’s lesser-known life as a gardener and farmer through museum objects, music and horticultural displays inspired by his operas.
Included with standard garden admission · A companion performance series will be announced
Get the detailsEvent schedules, ticket availability and venue details can change. Confirm current information with the organizer before making plans.