Arts & Culture

If you're looking to support local businesses in Sarasota, and perhaps take home a Sarasota souvenir, then look no further than our area's many local artisans. 

From honey and jewelry to candles and rum, have your pick of carefully crafted goods. You can find these local makers and creators via their websites and on social media. Many of them also are active vendors at Sarasota County's many outdoor markets, including:

Students at Riverview High School and Venice High School will represent Florida’s Cultural Coast across the pond during New Year’s Day Parade

Two Sarasota County high school bands are about to take the trip of a lifetime—representing not just their schools, but an entire arts community and the legacy of Florida’s Cultural Coast.

This New Year’s Eve, talented teen musicians of Riverview High School Band and Venice High School Band will join an elite lineup at London’s famed New Year's Day Parade—showcasing their skills on an international stage.

Step into a magical world of awe-inspiring performances and holiday cheer as larger-than-life performers light up the arena. 

Wonderland is back with Illuminate, a never-before-seen production that promises to take audiences on a heartwarming and visually stunning journey weaving in the enchantment of the winter holidays and their unique traditions from around the world.

Come celebrate Sarasota's cultural legacy and creative spirit at the inaugural Living Arts Festival this November. 

The Living Arts Festival, hosted by local arts organization Sarasota Rising, will be the first of its kind — bringing together a vibrant array of local and international artistic talent, creating a one-week celebration of Florida's Cultural Coast®.

Tucked away between the lapping shores of Sarasota Bay and the charming, yet growing, downtown sector lies a cultural hub long shaped by the city’s Black pioneers and residents — the historic community of Newtown.

Recently added to the National Register of Historic Places in May 2024, Newtown is home to regional trailblazers like Sarasota’s first Black mayor Fredd Atkins. It’s where former Negro Baseball League legend John ‘Buck’ O’Neil grew up and is the home of the descendants of former Civil Rights leaders who helped to desegregate Lido Beach.