Performing arts hall
Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall
Sarasota Bayfront, Sarasota, FL
Sarasota’s big city-owned hall on the bay, booking Broadway tours, headline concerts, comedians and family shows.
Sarasota, Florida
Things to Do in Sarasota This Week
Sarasota has world-class museums, white-sand beaches and a busy stage calendar. Here are this week’s Sarasota events, soonest first, and the local favorites worth the drive from St. Armands Circle to Siesta Key.
Updated
Museums and gardens
The Ringling, on Sarasota Bay, combines an art museum, a circus museum and the Ca’ d’Zan mansion on one estate. Downtown, Marie Selby Botanical Gardens is a bayfront garden known for orchids and bromeliads.
Beaches
Siesta Beach’s quartz-crystal sand never gets hot underfoot, and the park has a playground, concessions and more than 950 free parking spaces.
Shows, comedy and nights out
The Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall books Broadway tours and concerts, and Sarasota has stand-up most weekends. See Van Wezel shows and comedy in Sarasota.
Outdoors
Myakka River State Park, east of the city, is one of Florida’s oldest and largest parks, with paddling, trails and the Birdwalk for spotting alligators and birds.
More local guides: things to do in Wellen Park, things to do in Venice, FL, things to do in Englewood, FL, Sarasota events this weekend, Venice, FL events this weekend, Wellen Park events.
Upcoming in Sarasota
244 upcoming events · Updated
Music Comedy Theater Art Festivals Family Sports Community Wellen Park
12 events
The Orchid Show 2026: Christian Sampson
Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, Sarasota
Runs through Sun, Dec 6, 2026. Selby's annual orchid show pairs living orchid displays with artist Christian Sampson's colorful glass, acrylic and dichroic-film installations in the museum, gardens and conservatory.
Acquisitions in Photography: 2020–2025
The Ringling, Sarasota
Runs through Sun, May 9, 2027. Exhibition "Acquisitions in Photography: 2020–2025" at The Ringling's Museum of Art; museum admission applies.
Andrea Carlson: A Constant Sky
The Ringling, Sarasota
Runs through Sun, Nov 15, 2026. Exhibition "Andrea Carlson: A Constant Sky" at The Ringling's Museum of Art; museum admission applies.
Canvas City
The Ringling, Sarasota
Runs through Sun, Jan 3, 2027. Exhibition "Canvas City" at The Ringling's Museum of Art; museum admission applies.
Seventeenth-Century Dutch Paintings from the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
The Ringling, Sarasota
Runs through Sun, Nov 1, 2026. Exhibition "Seventeenth-Century Dutch Paintings from the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston" at The Ringling's Museum of Art; museum admission applies.
The Art of Care: Conservation at The Ringling
The Ringling, Sarasota
Runs through Sun, Jan 3, 2027. Exhibition "The Art of Care: Conservation at The Ringling" at The Ringling's Museum of Art; museum admission applies.
Yoshida Fujio: Secret Gardens
The Ringling, Sarasota
Runs through Sun, Apr 4, 2027. Exhibition "Yoshida Fujio: Secret Gardens" at The Ringling's Museum of Art; museum admission applies.
Bri Rivera
Marina Jack, Sarasota
Puerto Rico-born Sarasota singer and guitarist.
Trick Or Treat On The Lake, Presented by Alpha Law Group
Nathan Benderson Park, Sarasota
Lakeside trick-or-treat event for families at Regatta Island.
Joseph's Coat: Skyspace by James Turrell
The Ringling, Sarasota
Runs through Fri, Nov 27, 2026. Evening viewings of James Turrell's light-and-sky installation on the museum grounds.
Open Bar Comedy
McCurdy's Comedy Theatre, Sarasota
Open Bar Comedy taping night from producer Ron Feingold: three headliners per show, recorded as comedy specials (ages 18+).
Sailing: Yacht Rock and Beyond
Florida Studio Theatre, Sarasota
Runs through Sun, Feb 7, 2027. Cabaret revue of yacht rock and soft-rock hits in FST's Court Cabaret.
4 events
Dueling Pianos
Big Top Brewing, Sarasota
Repeats: Wednesdays 5-8 PM. Dueling pianos night at the brewery.
Ryan Faraday
Marina Jack, Sarasota
Berklee-trained Sarasota guitarist and singer playing roots, blues, rock and soul on the patio.
Orchid Evening with Sarasota Opera
Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, Sarasota
After-hours viewing of The Orchid Show with a cocktail reception and live entertainment by Sarasota Opera in the Event Center.
Mike Rivera
McCurdy's Comedy Theatre, Sarasota
Runs through Sun, Nov 1, 2026. Stand-up comedy headliner Mike Rivera at McCurdy's (ages 18+).
3 events
Scott Curts
Marina Jack, Sarasota
Singer-songwriter Scott Curts with his loop-based live sound.
Adagio for Strings
Sarasota Orchestra, Sarasota
Chamber Soirée with the orchestra's brass, wind and string ensembles playing Bernstein, Bridge, Ravel and Barber.
Ghostbusters in Concert
Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, Sarasota
Ghostbusters (1984) screened in HD with Elmer Bernstein's score played live by an orchestra.
3 events
Mystical Visions
Marina Jack, Sarasota
Female-fronted Sarasota pop/rock cover band playing hits from the 60s to today.
Weekend Live Music
Big Top Brewing, Sarasota
Repeats: Fridays & Saturdays 8-10 PM. Local live music at the Fruitville Commons brewery; lineup posted on BeatGig.
Hansel and Gretel
Sarasota Opera House, Sarasota
Runs through Sat, Nov 14, 2026. Humperdinck's fairy-tale opera, a family-friendly fall production.
7 events
Tidewell Foundation Remembrance Walk 2026
Nathan Benderson Park, Sarasota
Tidewell Foundation Remembrance Walk 2026, a charity walk around the Benderson Park lake.
SMBC Saturday 'Love the Loop' Ride
Old Miakka Church, Sarasota
Repeats: Every Saturday, 8:30 AM. Sarasota Manatee Bicycle Club multi-speed weekly road ride through Old Miakka; open to non-members, and riders are asked to bring a food-pantry donation.
Hot Works Sarasota Fine Art Show (Fall)
J.D. Hamel Park, Sarasota
Through Sun, Nov 1, 2026. Free juried outdoor fine art show on the downtown Sarasota bayfront.
Golden Girls: The Laughs Continue
Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, Sarasota
Adults-only (18+) stage parody that picks up The Golden Girls in 2026 with all-new storylines; two shows this day.
Halloween at The Ringling
The Ringling, Sarasota
Halloween afternoon on the museum grounds for families.
Chris Connolly Band
Marina Jack, Sarasota
High-energy classic and dance rock, reggae and acoustic hits.
Weekend Live Music
Big Top Brewing, Sarasota
Repeats: Fridays & Saturdays 8-10 PM. Local live music at the Fruitville Commons brewery; lineup posted on BeatGig.
2 events
Siesta Key Drum Circle
Siesta Beach, Siesta Key
Repeats: Every Sunday, year-round, starting about 1 hour before sunset (weather permitting). Free, informal sunset drum circle that has met on Siesta Beach since 1996; bring a drum, dance or just watch. Gathers near the main access, between the green and red lifeguard stands.
SMBC Sunday Legacy Trail & Casey Key Ride
Legacy Trail - Ashton Road Trailhead, Sarasota
Repeats: Every Sunday, 8:30 AM. Sarasota Manatee Bicycle Club weekly ride down the Legacy Trail toward Casey Key; open to non-members.
1 event
Pronoun
Asolo Repertory Theatre, Sarasota
Runs through Sun, Nov 22, 2026. FSU/Asolo Conservatory production of Evan Placey's play about a transgender teen.
4 events
Viewpoint Lecture with Writer and Artist Tom McCarthy
The Ringling, Sarasota
Talk by novelist and artist Tom McCarthy in the Viewpoint lecture series.
You Will Get Sick
Asolo Repertory Theatre, Sarasota
Runs through Sat, Nov 21, 2026. FSU/Asolo Conservatory staging of Noah Diaz's darkly comic play.
Jodi White
McCurdy's Comedy Theatre, Sarasota
Runs through Sun, Nov 8, 2026. Stand-up comedy headliner Jodi White at McCurdy's (ages 18+).
American Rebels
Florida Studio Theatre, Sarasota
Runs through Sun, Mar 21, 2027. Music cabaret revue in FST's Goldstein Cabaret.
1 event
The Phil Collins Story
Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, Sarasota
Tribute concert tracing Phil Collins' solo and Genesis hits, in Sarasota.
1 event
Weekend Live Music
Big Top Brewing, Sarasota
Repeats: Fridays & Saturdays 8-10 PM. Local live music at the Fruitville Commons brewery; lineup posted on BeatGig.
3 events
Big Top Ignite - A Festival of Fire, Music & Energy
Big Top Brewing, Sarasota
One-night all-ages dance-music party with DJs, live fire breathers and full stage production with SRQ Beats; $20 advance, $25 door.
Beethoven & Prokofiev
Sarasota Orchestra, Sarasota
Through Sun, Nov 8, 2026. Masterworks concert with violinist Gil Shaham in Beethoven's Violin Concerto plus Prokofiev's Fifth Symphony.
Rootabaga Country
Sarasota Opera House, Sarasota
Through Sun, Nov 8, 2026. Rachel J. Peters' opera based on Carl Sandburg's whimsical Rootabaga Stories.
2 events
Florida Inline Skating Marathon
Nathan Benderson Park, Sarasota
Florida Inline Skating Marathon, held at Nathan Benderson Park.
Out Of The Darkness Suicide Prevention Walk
Nathan Benderson Park, Sarasota
Out Of The Darkness Suicide Prevention Walk, a charity walk around the Benderson Park lake.
1 event
Michelle Malone
McCurdy's Comedy Theatre, Sarasota
Concert by Atlanta singer-songwriter Michelle Malone.
Showing events through Mon, Nov 9 · 200 more later
Venues
Local stages and gathering places behind the events on this page.
Opera house
Sarasota Opera House
Downtown Sarasota, FL
A restored 1926 theater downtown and the home stage of Sarasota Opera, which presents a full season of opera each year.
Professional theater
Asolo Repertory Theatre
The Ringling grounds, Sarasota, FL
A professional repertory company performing plays and musicals in the Mertz Theatre, next to The Ringling Museum of Art.
Museum & estate
The Ringling
Sarasota Bay, Sarasota, FL
Beyond its galleries, the Ringling estate holds exhibitions, performances in the Historic Asolo Theater, lectures and family days.
Indoor makers market
The Bazaar on Apricot & Lime
Rosemary/Limelight area, Sarasota, FL
An indoor market of local makers and artists open Thursday through Saturday, with live music on Saturday afternoons, food trucks and workshops.
Top Sarasota attractions
Hours and access can change, so check the official site before you go.
Art museum + estate
The Ringling
5401 Bay Shore Rd, Sarasota, FL
The estate includes the Museum of Art, the Circus Museum, the 1920s Ca’ d’Zan mansion, the Historic Asolo Theater and the Bayfront Gardens. Open daily 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Thursdays until 8 p.m.
Gardens
Marie Selby Botanical Gardens
1534 Mound St, Sarasota, FL
A 15-acre bayfront garden downtown, with a tropical conservatory, a children’s rainforest garden and a mangrove walkway. Open daily 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; closed Christmas Day.
Beach
Siesta Beach
948 Beach Rd, Siesta Key, FL
Famous for its quartz-crystal sand, with a playground, concessions, pickleball and tennis courts and more than 950 free parking spaces. Open 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Shopping + dining
St. Armands Circle
Sarasota, FL
A walkable circle of boutiques, galleries and restaurants between downtown Sarasota and Lido Key.
Aquarium
Mote SEA
225 University Town Center Dr, Sarasota, FL
Mote Marine Laboratory’s Science Education Aquarium, with marine life from around the world and sharks overhead. Open daily 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
State park
Myakka River State Park
13207 State Road 72, Sarasota, FL
One of Florida’s oldest and largest parks, on the Myakka River: paddling, the Birdwalk, trails and wildlife. Open 8 a.m. to sunset; $6 per vehicle.
Saturday market
Sarasota Farmers Market
Main St & Lemon Ave, Sarasota, FL
Downtown Sarasota’s market runs every Saturday, rain or shine, from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Theater
Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall
777 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, FL
The city’s performing arts hall on Sarasota Bay books Broadway tours, concerts, comedy and family shows.
Attraction details were checked against each official site in October 2026.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Quick answers about things to do in Sarasota.
What are the Ringling’s hours?
The Ringling is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and until 8 p.m. on Thursdays. Check ringling.org before you go.
When is the Sarasota Farmers Market?
Every Saturday, rain or shine, from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m., centered at Main Street and Lemon Avenue downtown.
What to do in Sarasota this weekend?
See Sarasota events this weekend for concerts, shows, comedy and festivals on Friday through Sunday.
Is parking free at Siesta Beach?
Yes. Siesta Beach has more than 950 free parking spaces, and the park is open from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.