Looking for something fun to do? Top 5 things in Sarasota area Thanksgiving weekend
Happy Thanksgiving weekend! We have lots of fun options for things to do in Sarasota and Manatee counties, including a food and music festival, as well as a variety of Christmas and winter holiday events.
The food truck rally, complete with a full lineup of bands performing, is taking place in downtown Sarasota. You will also find information on Christmas parades rolling through downtown Venice and Siesta Key Village. Additionally, you'll want to consider shopping at the Atomic Holiday Bazaar and it's the final weekend for the Sarasota Medieval Fair.
Continue reading for details on all five of these fun events happening Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, with most of them featuring free admission and taking place outdoors.
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1. Food Truck Rally & Music Festival in downtown Sarasota
Set aside those Thanksgiving leftovers and make your way to this free-admission, food truck and live music event being held in downtown Sarasota's J.D. Hamel Park across the road from the Bayfront. To complement all the food and booze, there will be bands on stage throughout the three-day event performing an upbeat mix rock, pop, jazz, and country favorites. 4-10 p.m. Friday, 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday; J.D. Hamel Park, 199 Bayfront Drive, Sarasota; free admission; 941-487-8061; paragonfestivals.com
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2. Venice Holiday Parade
A south Sarasota County tradition for nearly five decades, the annual Venice Holiday Parade through the city's historic downtown district will feature more than 100 local companies, schools, churches, social organizations and music groups, as well as an appearance by Santa and Mrs. Claus. The parade officially starts at 6:30 p.m. Saturday at the corner of Park Boulevard and West Venice Avenue (south side). It will proceed on the northside of West Venice Avenue after crossing over Harbor Drive. From there, it will make a turn on Nokomis Avenue and go all the way down to Turin Street. There will also be pre-parade entertainment starting at 5:30 p.m. at the corner of Harbor Drive and West Venice Avenue, as well as the corner of Nokomis and West Venice avenues. For more information, visit venicegov.com.
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3. Light Up Siesta Key and Village Holiday Parade
Bustling Siesta Key Village, by world-famous Siesta Key Beach, hosts its annual Christmas bash from 5 to 9 p.m. on Saturday. The parade begins at Avenida del Mare and Beach Road at 5:30 p.m., traveling north on Beach Road onto Ocean Boulevard into the Village, with local businesses and groups participating in the parade. Immediately following the parade, Santa will arrive at the Siesta Center, where photos may be taken with Santa free of charge and gift bags will be provided for the first 250 kids to visit Santa, with free public transportation also provided courtesy of the Siesta Key Breeze Trolley between Turtle Beach and Siesta Key Village. For more information, visit siestakeychamber.com.
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4. Atomic Holiday Bazaar returns to Robarts Arena in Sarasota
Season 16 of the popular, locally produced Atomic Holiday Bazaar will feature 180 local, statewide and out-of-state vendors known as “misfit makers.” The long list of delightfully funky items you will find for sale include everything from "kitschy kitsch, lowbrow to elegant fine art." There will be food trucks, too, at this event billed as as "holiday art & craft shopping adventure for the world's delightful irregulars." Noon-5:30 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday; Robarts Arena, 3000 Ringling Blvd., Sarasota; $6 adults, free ages 12 and under; atomicholidaybazaar.com
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5. Sarasota Medieval Fair at Myakka City
It's the final weekend for the 19th annual Sarasota Medieval Fair, themed this year around the Battle of Agincourt that took place in 1415 between the English and French. More importantly, the fair once again features everybody's favorite things to do, from watching the jousting matches and those hilarious Washing Well Wenches to washing down a turkey leg with a cup of mead (or cold beer!) 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday; Woods of Mallaranny, 29847 FL-70 E., Myakka City; $12.95-$23.95 single-day, $23.95-$41.95 two-day; sarasotamedievalfair.com
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Wade Tatangelo is Ticket Editor for the Sarasota Herald-Tribune, and Florida Regional Dining and Entertainment Editor for the USA TODAY Network. Follow him on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. He can be reached by email at wade.tatangelo@heraldtribune.com. Support local journalism by subscribing.
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Best fun things to do in Sarasota, Bradenton Thanksgiving weekend
