Looking for things to do in Sarasota this weekend?
August weekends in Sarasota move at a different pace.
The big festivals, outdoor concerts, art shows and packed event calendars of winter are still a few months away. Summer brings afternoon storms, vacations and fewer organized events—but it also gives those of us who live here a chance to enjoy Sarasota without quite so much competition.
This weekend, you can browse the End of Summer Luau at UTC Night Market, experience Laser Light Nights at The Bishop, watch a classic movie inside the Sarasota Opera House, or head south to Venice for a morning paddle race along the Gulf.
And when the calendar gets quiet, don’t forget the places that are easy to overlook during season: Sarasota Jungle Gardens, The Ringling, a show at Florida Studio Theatre, an uncrowded beach or simply dinner somewhere you normally avoid when the winter crowds arrive.
Rather than fill this page with events simply to make the list longer, I’ve highlighted the experiences I believe are actually worth your time.
Here’s where I’d begin this weekend.
⭐ Mike's Pick This Weekend
🌺 UTC Night Market: End of Summer Luau
Thursday, August 20 | 6:30–9:30 p.m.
The Green at University Town Center
Summer isn’t quite over yet, and UTC is giving it a proper sendoff Thursday night.
I’ve always liked events on The Green because you don’t have to make your entire evening revolve around them. Grab dinner at one of the surrounding restaurants, wander outside, listen to some music, browse the vendors and stay as long—or as briefly—as you’d like.
This month’s Night Market adds an End of Summer Luau, with live music from Kingpin, hula performances, headband weaving, face painting and local makers selling art, jewelry, gifts and handmade goods.
It’s casual, free to wander and surrounded by plenty of places to eat or grab a drink.
That’s exactly the kind of low-key summer evening I’d recommend this time of year.
🌟 Top Things to Do in Sarasota This Weekend
🎶 Laser Light Nights
Thursday–Saturday, August 20–22 | 7:00 p.m. & 9:00 p.m.
The Bishop Museum of Science and Nature – Bradenton
Turn up the volume inside The Bishop’s Planetarium as Laser Light Nights combine immersive laser effects with music ranging from classic rock and pop legends to contemporary favorites.
Different shows feature artists such as Queen, The Beatles, Elton John, Taylor Swift, Metallica, Foo Fighters, No Doubt and The Weeknd, making this one you can experience more than once during the summer.
Tickets are $15, with food and drinks available for purchase. The shows are loud and feature bright, flashing lasers, so earplugs may be helpful for sensitive ears and the experience may not be suitable for guests with photo sensitivities.
And during an August weekend, an air-conditioned indoor event isn’t a bad option to have in your back pocket.
🧘 Little Fins & Family Flow at Mote SEA
Friday, August 21 | 8:00–9:00 a.m.
Mote Science Education Aquarium
Start Friday with something a little different: a family yoga session surrounded by the ocean-inspired environment of Mote SEA.
Designed for parents and children ages 4–7, the morning combines simple yoga-inspired games, movement and relaxation while giving families a chance to spend some time together before the day gets going.
The program requires a separate ticket and does not include aquarium admission, so keep that in mind when planning your visit.
🎬 Classic Movie Night: The Greatest Show on Earth
Friday, August 21 | 7:00 p.m.
Sarasota Opera House – Downtown Sarasota
There’s something appropriate about watching a classic circus movie in Sarasota.
Cecil B. DeMille’s 1952 The Greatest Show on Earth follows the drama surrounding a struggling traveling circus and stars Betty Hutton, Cornel Wilde, Charlton Heston, James Stewart and Dorothy Lamour.
The movie runs 153 minutes and is part of the Sarasota Opera House’s summer Classic Movies series.
It’s also another good rainy-season option: dinner downtown followed by a classic movie inside one of Sarasota’s most distinctive theaters.
🛶 Incredible 6 Paddle Race
Saturday, August 22 | 7:00 a.m.
Venice Fishing Pier – Venice
Kayaks, canoes, stand-up paddleboards, prone paddleboards and outrigger canoes take to the Gulf Saturday morning for the second annual Incredible 6 Paddle Race.
The course runs from Venice Fishing Pier to the South Jetty and back, followed by an awards celebration, food and time with fellow paddlers at Sharky’s on the Pier.
Even if you’re not racing, the Venice Pier and surrounding beach make this an easy excuse for an early Saturday morning along the Gulf.
🆓 Local Weekend Favorites
Not every great Sarasota experience is tied to a special event. These local favorites happen most weekends and are always worth considering while you’re here.
Sarasota Farmers Market
📅 Every Saturday | 7:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m.
📍 Downtown Sarasota (Lemon Ave. & Main St.)
💲 Free Admission
One of Sarasota’s favorite Saturday traditions, the market features dozens of local vendors selling fresh produce, flowers, seafood, baked goods, coffee, artisan foods and handmade crafts. Live music often adds to the atmosphere, making it an easy way to start a weekend before exploring downtown or the bayfront.
Waterside Farmers Market
📅 Every Sunday | 10:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m.
📍 Waterside Place – Lakewood Ranch
If you’re around Lakewood Ranch or UTC on Sunday morning, the Waterside Farmers Market is one of the area’s nicest weekly traditions. More than 100 vendors offer fresh produce, baked goods, specialty foods, flowers, local art, and handcrafted products along the waterfront. Live music and plenty of outdoor seating make it an easy way to spend a relaxed Sunday morning.
Siesta Key Drum Circle
📅 Every Sunday | About one hour before sunset
📍 Siesta Key Public Beach (green lifeguard stand)
This gives your readers one Saturday tradition, one Sunday morning tradition, and one Sunday evening tradition. It also introduces visitors to three distinctly different Sarasota experiences without competing with your featured weekend events.
O'Leary's Tiki Bar & Grill
📅 Every Friday | Live music 6:00–10:00 p.m.
📍 Bayfront Park – Downtown Sarasota
Looking for a laid-back way to kick off the weekend? On Friday evenings, O’Leary’s comes alive with live reggae from Impulse Reggae while locals and visitors gather beneath the tiki hut, around picnic tables, and on the lawn overlooking Sarasota Bay. Bring a chair or blanket, order a tropical drink, and enjoy one of Sarasota’s most relaxed waterfront settings.
Planning More Time in Sarasota?
Finished planning this weekend? Here are some of Sarasota Lifestyle’s best local guides.
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Boca Grande Florida Guide
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Buying a Home in Sarasota From Out of State
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Explore Sarasota
Start here for beaches, neighborhoods, restaurants, events, and local places worth knowing.
🌴 Before You Go...
Don’t Save Sarasota for Your Visitors
There’s a funny thing that happens when you live somewhere other people travel thousands of miles to visit.
You start taking it for granted.
We drive past Sarasota Jungle Gardens. We tell visiting relatives they absolutely have to see The Ringling. We recommend St. Armands, Siesta Key, Lido Beach, the Bayfront and dozens of other places—and then realize we haven’t visited some of them ourselves in years.
During season, there’s an excuse. Traffic is heavier. Parking is harder. Restaurants are crowded. And every weekend seems to bring another festival, concert, art show or special event competing for our attention.
August removes a lot of that noise.
So maybe this is the weekend to become a tourist in your own hometown.
Sarasota Jungle Gardens
You don’t need a festival to spend a couple of enjoyable hours in Sarasota. One of the area’s longtime attractions offers tropical gardens, animal exhibits and, of course, its famous free-roaming flamingos.
Summer can actually be a good time to rediscover places like this—just go earlier in the day before the heat and afternoon storms build.
Spend a Few Hours at The Ringling
The Ringling is easy to think of as a single attraction, but you could build much of a day around it.
Explore the Museum of Art and its courtyard, walk the waterfront grounds, visit the Circus Museum and tour Ca’ d’Zan. Even if you’ve been before, it’s one of those Sarasota places that deserves an occasional return visit rather than being saved exclusively for out-of-town guests.
See What’s Playing at Florida Studio Theatre
A hot or rainy August evening is also a good reminder of how fortunate Sarasota is to have a thriving downtown theater scene.
Check the current schedule at Florida Studio Theatre, grab dinner downtown and turn an otherwise ordinary summer evening into a night out.
Have you experienced the new Mote SEA Aquarium?
Don’t wait until someone comes to visit to enjoy the Sarasota you keep telling everyone else about.
