Mark Your Calendar for a November Full of Events to Delight All Ages

Seana Mincy and Adam Cellini -10/24/2018

As the crisp, cool weather begins to take root on the beautiful Gulf Coast of Sarasota County, check out these six fall festivals and events that promise fun activities and entertainment for the entire family.

Sarasota Medieval Fair is campy, Arthurian fun for the entire family that will run November 3-4, 10-11, and 17-18, 2018. Full lineups of different nationally renowned acts will be featured along with food, drinks, and games dating back to the medieval era. Tickets are on sale at SarasotaMedievalFair.com with prices, times, and things to do.

Known for its architectural innovation, Sarasota and the surrounding area is drawing travelers interested in architecture. Sarasota MOD Weekend celebrates mid-century modern architecture from November 9-11, 2018. The fifth annual event will also promote the centennial of Sarasota School of Architecture co-founder Paul Rudolph. Experience three days of guided tours, parties and presentations by prominent architects, authors, critics and designers, including keynote speaker Paul Goldberger, an American architectural critic and educator. Sarasota MOD 2018 is presented by the Sarasota Architectural Foundation (SAF). Visit SarasotaMod.com to learn more.

Master sand artists will descend on the #1 beach in the U.S. for the Siesta Key Crystal Classic sand sculpting competition from November 9-12, 2018. The Siesta Key Crystal Classic is a favorite of the professional sand sculptors, citing the beauty and cleanliness of the pristine white sand. Sculptors have remarked their finished pieces look almost as if they were "carved in marble." In only 24 sculpting hours (spanning the four-day event), the master sculptors create sand masterpieces, some over ten feet tall, and transform the always beautiful Siesta Beach into an outdoor art gallery. Learn more at SiestaKeyCrystalClassic.com

Speed, power and excitement comes to Englewood with the Englewood Beach Waterfest from November 9-18, 2018. Englewood is celebrated for its unique water resources and exceptional water-based recreational opportunities during this weeklong funfest featuring paddle and power boat races, along with marine education exhibits. Fun food options will be on display with seafood and American fare, authentic Mexican cantina specialties, and lots of kid friendly food selections available throughout the Food Court. Attendees will also find festive bites such as funnel cakes, snow cones, popcorn, pretzels, ice cream and other delicacies. Go to EnglewoodBeachWaterfest.com to learn more.

Sample the best food and drinks the Sarasota area has to offer at the 17^th annual Suncoast Food & Wine Festival. Dozens of Suncoast restaurants put their best foot forward, offering a seemingly unlimited variety of dishes at the Premier Sports Campus in Lakewood Ranch. Wash samplings down with a similar variety of wines, craft beers, and other beverages. Tickets for the afternoon event Saturday, November 10 are available for a discount in advance. Learn more at SuncoastFoodandWineFest.com.

Enjoy some of the country’s top blues musicians just steps from the sand at the 6^th annual Venice Blues Festival. The festival kicks off Friday, November 16 with the Sunset Blues Crawl from 5-10 p.m. in downtown Venice, followed by the festival itself - all day (11 a.m. – 7 p.m.) Saturday, November 17. Headliners like Little Jake Mitchell, James “Super Chikan” Johnson, Meg Williams, and more take the stage one after the other along the Gulf of Mexico at Maxine Barritt Park, followed by the After-Party JAM at Hotel Venezia through midnight. Tickets can be purchased at the gate, or for a discount online. Visit VeniceBlues.com to learn more.