Sarasota County Offers Travelers Wide Variety of Fun Events and Activities This Spring

This spring, travelers to Sarasota County can take advantage of an array of exciting activities. From Major League Baseball Spring Training in Sarasota to festivals for shark teeth to the circus, travelers can find fun options throughout the destination. With 35 miles of coastline, Florida’s ideal spring weather and a host of fun activities, this Southwest Florida excursion is a great option for any traveler looking for the perfect springtime destination.

Major League Baseball Spring Training 
The Atlanta Braves and the Baltimore Orioles will be returning to Sarasota this spring for their Spring Training. Visitors to Sarasota can catch an Atlanta Braves game at CoolToday Park, a state-of-the-art complex that can house over 7,000 fans and features an outfield patio and bar areas, while the Baltimore Orioles play at Ed Smith Stadium, a major league facility with 8,000 seats, four additional onsite training field with one practice half-field, five offsite training fields, a clubhouse and covered batting cages and pitching mounds. Visitors can find the Braves detailed Spring Training schedule here and the Orioles Spring Training schedule here.

Opening of Leonard Reid House
Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the Leonard Reid House was built in 1926 in Sarasota’s earliest African American community, Overtown, which Leonard Reid helped to establish. The Reid House has been transformed, with the help of the Sarasota African American Cultural Coalition, into a new arts, culture and history center that will host exhibits about Black life and history. It will have performance space for Black artists and offer public programs and classes in drawing, painting, photography, writing, health and wellness, leadership and entrepreneurship.

Yayoi Kusama: A Letter to Georgia O’Keeffe at Marie Selby Botanical Gardens
The 2024 Jean & Alfred Goldstein Exhibition at Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, Yayoi Kusama: A Letter to Georgia O’Keeffe, explores the ways in which the work of both artists is rooted in nature, befitting an art and horticultural experience set in a botanical garden. Now Through June 30

Exhibition Evenings at Marie Selby Botanical Gardens 
Exhibition Evenings at Marie Selby Botanical Gardens builds a deeper understanding of the spring art exhibition, Yayoi Kusama: A Letter to Georgia O’Keeffe. The event includes a reception with light hors d’oeuvre and beverages from Michael’s on East and a performance by a leading Sarasota performing arts organizations, including Sarasota Opera, Ariel Quartet and The Sarasota Ballet’s Margaret Barbieri Conservatory. April 3; May 15

Bistro Pop-Up Nights at Sarasota Art Museum
Guests can see the Sarasota Art Museum in an intimate setting during the Bistro Pop-Up dining series. Guests can enjoy an after-hours gallery tour and a three-course dinner curated by Sarasota Art Museum’s Executive Chef Kaytlin Dangaran. Bistro’s Florida farmstand-inspired menu focuses on locally sourced and seasonal ingredients complemented by the museum’s thoughtfully curated exhibits. April 3; May 1

Cirque des Voix
Circus Arts Conservatory teams up with Key Chorale to present Cirque des Voix, an exhilaratingly unique show that combines 100+ voices of the Key Chorale and the musical mastery of the 40-piece Cirque Orchestra with professional circus arts. March 22-23

My Hometown Fest
My Hometown Fest was founded by Sertoma Club of Greater Sarasota in spring 2016 as a fundraiser to support the club’s charitable activities for children and adults. Each year, My Hometown Fest features free samples from some of the area’s leading restaurants and free samples of craft beer and spirits from around the country. The festival also features great music, including performances by American Jones, Twinkle & Rock Soul Radio and Hot Tonic (trio). March 30

Sarasota Film Festival
The 26th Sarasota Film Festival (SFF) is one of the world’s largest regional festivals, showcasing over 200 films, including features, documentaries, shorts and kid-friendly options. The festival also hosts conversations with film stars, celebrity guests, events, parties and educational programs to support the art of filmmaking. April 5-14

Run for the Turtles 5k and Fun Run
Run, walk or crawl to help raise funds for the Sea Turtle Conservation & Research Program during Mote Marine Laboratory’s 38th annual Run for Turtles along Siesta Key Beach. Race registration includes a complimentary race t-shirt, access to the food station, kid’s activities area and more. This event is family friendly and spectators are welcome. To help support Mote’s eco-friendly mission, please bring a reusable water bottle. April 6

Venice Sharks Tooth Festival
Hosted by Venice MainStreet, the Venice Shark Tooth Festival is coming to the shark tooth capital of the world. Enjoy a weekend filled with live music, food, and fun activities for the entire family. Vendors will be selling shark teeth and other beach-themed merchandise throughout the Venice downtown area. This festival will be held in downtown Venice at Centennial Park. There is free admission and free parking, as well as a trolley available to and from offsite parking. April 13

Whether it is a hotel, resort, condo, vacation home, or RV park, Sarasota County provides a variety of options to suit any travel preference. Visitors can book their getaway at www.visitsarasota.com and check out even more to do on the destination’s events calendar.