Guess what? It’s Memorial Day Weekend In Sarasota! What do you have planned? Hopefully nothing but fun in the sand with family and friends celebrating the three-day holiday weekend! We salute all of those who gave their lives for our freedom!
We hope you are enjoying our community-focused blog and we encourage you to shop local and support small businesses not just on Memorial Day Weekend in Sarasota and the surrounding areas, but every day. We need each other more than ever. If you’re thinking of visiting Siesta Key this weekend, check out my latest video on Siesta Key and the fun to be had from land to sand!
Do you have an event going on? Let us know what you’re up to by sending us your event so we can feature it on our blog! Just shoot us an email. Here’s a shortlist of some of our favorite events and things to do this weekend in Sarasota and the surrounding area!
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Friday, May 27 – Sunday, May 29
70th Annual Florida Folk Festival
Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center State Park, 11016 Lillian Saunders Drive/U.S. Highway 41, White Springs FL
At the Florida Folk Festival, you can sit with the masters who keep cultural traditions alive. In jam sessions, demonstrations and workshops, try your own hand at playing mandolin, telling stories, or making a pine needle basket. Learn how to collect your family’s history, call a square dance, or the importance of native plant and animal species. Take a shopping excursion and visit Florida’s traditional and contemporary craftsmen.
Then dine on collard greens and cornbread, chicken pilau and hoppin’ john, shrimp gumbo, barbecue, curries, gyros, and root beer floats. As the sun sets, settle in for concerts by moonlight or dance the night away at the Heritage Stage. At the end of the day, you’ll have discovered new corners of the state from the people who call Florida home. Join us May 27-29, 2022, along the Suwannee River at Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center State Park, home of the Florida Folk Festival for 70 years.
Visit www.floridafolkfestival.com for more information and to purchase tickets for this Memorial Day Weekend In Sarasota.
Friday, May 27 – Sunday, May 30
“Upick” Blueberries and Sunflowers – Last Weekend of the Season
Albritton Fruit Farms, 9600 State Rd 72, Sarasota, FL 34241
Albritton Fruit Farms is a family-owned and family-operated farm located in beautiful Sarasota, Florida just 5 miles east of I75.
Our blueberry field was planted in 2015 with just shy of 60,000 plants that now include 4 varieties of blueberries.
- To make the most of your visit to our farm closed-toed shoes are suggested. Florida heat can get the best of even the most seasoned Floridian, so please be sure to bring sunscreen, hats, umbrellas, water, etc.
- Please bring your own scissors to harvest the sunflowers.
- We provide all the necessary equipment (buckets) for picking and for getting your berries home safely.
Friday, May 27 • 10 AM – 2 PM
Beach Market at Coquina Beach
Coquina Beach, 2650 Gulf Dr. S Bradenton Beach, FL 34217
Enjoy the weekly outdoor market on the beach at beautiful Coquina Beach Park. Many unique vendors and something for everyone. Enjoy the beautiful white sand beach, relax overlooking the Gulf with some great food at the Coquina Cafe, and stroll the market where you will find fresh produce, arts and crafts, jewelry, local artists, apparel, pottery, purses, health and beauty items, music and more. What a great way to spend Memorial Day in Sarasota and Coquina beach in Anna Maria Island’s southernmost beach.
The Beach Market is from 10 am – 4 pm at 2650 Gulf Drive, S. Bradenton Beach at the trolley stop, and concession stands area. Manatee County does not allow dogs within the park. The market is wheelchair and stroller accessible. Come and join the FUN!. Info: 941-518-4431
Friday, May 27 • 8:15 PM – 10:30 PM
Family Movie Nights: Luca
Civic Green, 801 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, FL
Join us for a free family movie on Civic Green right after the sun sets around 8:15 pm. Bring your chairs, blankets, a picnic, children, grandchildren, and good dogs for a fun-filled evening of family-friendly entertainment under the stars. Complimentary popcorn will be provided.
*Registration Required: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/292694596417 h
Saturday, May 28 • 6 PM – 9 PM
2022 Sammy’s Run
Main Street At Lakewood Ranch, Lakewood Ranch Boulevard, Bradenton, FL
After a nine-year hiatus, Sammy’s Run is BACK and BETTER than EVER!
One of the most well-loved events in the Sarasota-Bradenton-Lakewood Ranch area, And we are thrilled to continue our tradition of purchasing a racing wheelchair for a challenged athlete. All the proceeds will go toward event expenses and the purchase of the racing wheelchair (cost of $5,000.00), and another challenged athlete will receive a wheelchair bicycle (cost of $10,000.00).
This family-friendly event is for runners of all ages and abilities, featuring a “Duo team” wheelchair push division. There will be finisher medals for the first 600 registered 5K participants.
Over $4,200.00 in Cash prizes
Age group winners who place 1st thru 6th will receive tumbler awards.
Link to view Racing Wheelchair – TeamHoyt Racing Wheelchairs
Link to view Wheelchair Bicycle – The Duet Wheelchair Bicycle
This event will attract hundreds of people to Lakewood Ranch Main Street on May 28th, 2022 from 6 to 9 PM. Festivities following the 5K event; Food, drinks, music, and awards.
Sunday, May 22 • 8 AM- 5 PM
7th Annual Memorial Day Hike
JD Hamel Park, 199 Bayfront Dr., Sarasota, FL 34236
SRQ VETS is hosting the 7th Annual Memorial Day 5K hike to honor the fallen heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice. This event will work to unite the local veteran and civilian communities while raising funds to support SRQ VETS and their efforts to help the local veterans. SRQ VETS is a 100% volunteer veteran-run 501c3 whose mission is to find resources and get them to our local veterans and their families. The hike will start at JD Hamel War Memorial Park then around downtown Sarasota, then down Main St. back to the Park for an afternoon of fun that includes a Cookout, Music, Rock wall, Bungee Jumping, Raffles, and more
For more information and to register go to: https://srqvetshike2022.eventbrite.com
Sunday, May 29 • 11 AM- 9 PM
Live Music at Caddy’s Bradenton
Caddy’s Waterfront Dining, 801 Riverside Drive East Bradenton, FL 34208
Memorial Day Weekend at Caddy’s Bradenton! 
Remember and Honor this upcoming Sunday, May 29 where we will offer:
Axe Throwing 1-5 PM
Live Music with The Torpedoes 1-4 PM Live Music with IDK Band 5-9 PM
Monday, May 30 • 11 AM- 1 PM
Sale and Cookout at Sarasota Architectural Salvage
Sarasota Architectural Salvage, 1093 Central Avenue, Sarasota, FL 34236
We celebrate our freedom with the time-honored tradition of free Hot Dogs grilled fresh by owner Jesse White; and free beer (and soda). Please join us!
This event is FREE but please register so we know how many people are attending. We’ll also have great deals in the store, 10% to 30% storewide!
This is our way to celebrate our greatest appreciation for the ultimate sacrifice that you have made, and the families that have lost loved ones. Freedom isn’t always “free”. Thank you.
All veterans receive a $20 gift certificate for use in-store on Memorial Day.Please call or contact SAS with any questions: 941-955-6699
Monday, May, 30 • 10 AM – 12 PM
Sarasota Memorial Day Parade
Main St, Sarasota, FL 34236, United States
The City of Sarasota, in conjunction with the Sarasota Patriotic Observance Committee, will host the annual Memorial Day parade at 10 a.m. Monday, May 30, in downtown Sarasota. The parade will start at Main Street and Osprey Avenue and conclude at Chaplain J.D. Hamel Park, located at Main Street and Gulfstream Avenue, where a ceremony will be held at approximately 11 a.m.
Everyone is encouraged to attend. The theme for the 2022 ceremony is “All Gave Some. Some Gave All.” The keynote speaker will be Cindy West, a U.S. Army veteran, and registered nurse. West is a graduate of Sarasota High School who now works as a resource nurse on Sarasota Memorial Hospital’s Behavioral Health Intervention Team. She also serves on the Sarasota Military Academy board of directors, is a former Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office deputy, and has been active in many local organizations.
The parade will include performances by the Sarasota Military Academy band and drumline and participation from local law enforcement agencies, first responders, color guards, veterans’ groups, community organizations, and local dignitaries. It will also feature a performance by more than 100 members of the Blair High School band visiting from Omaha, Nebraska.
