Festivals and events are a huge part of the arts and cultural scene in Sarasota.
Barely a week goes by that residents and visitors are found wanting for something fun, interesting or challenging to do.
The diversity of offerings in Sarasota is staggering. Enjoy the penguin exhibit at Mote Marine Laboratory, or the American Studio Glass exhibit at the Ringling School of Art and Design. “Under the Azure Skies” is the 2012 Season of Sculpture theme, along the Sarasota Bayfront. For something completely different, check out the Drag Queen Bingo Bonanza at the Golden Apple Dinner Theatre, or Deco Japan, Shaping Art and Culture, at the John and Mable Ringling Museum. There’s an annual sand sculpture festival on Siesta Key Beach, and a world-renowned Chalk Festival on the streets of downtown. Explore downtown Sarasota’s on Friday nights in the fall: Palm Ave, Main Street, 1st Street and Whole Foods; Burns Square on South Pineapple; Towles Court at Adams and Washington; and the Rosemary District, Fruitville and Central. Enjoy live performances, dining at over 60 downtown restaurants, and shopping at a unique mix of boutiques, art galleries and salons.
There are Halloween galas, holiday parades (on both water and land!), special events at Selby Library at Five Points Park in downtown, or Selby Botanical Gardens on the Bayfront on Mound. High season is peppered with fund-raising galas of all kinds.
From Native American festivals, Greek Glendis and Scottish Clan pride, Sarasotans celebrate our diverse heritage year-round. The arts, culture, music and food form a framework for honoring the past and welcoming the future.
Take the Greek Glendi Festival, for example. For 28 years, members of St. Barbara’s Church have opened their hearts and talents to welcome and entertain all of Sarasota. As the Glendi has grown, so have the crowds. Today, more than 18,000 people gather over four days to share the rich cultural traditions of the Greek Orthodox Church.