Sarasota For Free | Florida Fun Free Things To Do | Free Activities
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Find Free Things To Do in Sarasota & Her Islands
Amuse yourself without breaking into your wallet or maxing out your credit cards! The Sarasota area on the west coast of Florida abounds with fun free things to do.
See below for what's on in Sarasota & Her islands.
No matter how prosperous the times, it's always engaging to discover ways to enjoy Sarasota & Her Islands without spending money.
We like to search out freebies as though we're on a scavenger hunt!
Birding ranks as one of those didya-know free activities: Did you know that Sarasota hosts more than 300 varieties of birds? They show off their flying skills for you to watch for free.
As you explore suggested free activities, you will kick your creativity into high gear and we hope that you will add your favorite fun free things to do in Sarasota to the list.
The Sarasota starts with FREE in its beaches and tropical climate. The community adds free activities ranging from concerts to art shows to share its cultural resources with residents and visitors. Some of the best things to do in Sarasota are free!
Photo of Holiday Wreath on St Armands Circle: Louis Wery
23rd Annual Christmas Boat Parade
On Sarasota Bay 6 pm December 12
23nd Annual Christmas Boat Parade of Lights on Sarasota Bay begins at 6 pm Saturday December 12, 2009
Photo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/fontplaydotcom/ / CC BY 2.0
Free Events for December 2009
Open to the Public at No Charge in Sarasota & Her Islands
Visit the link and/or call the info number to confirm details. Event information believed accurate but is not warranted. To submit information about activities in Sarasota & Her Islands that are open to the public at no charge, email complete information to Sarasota For Free.
- Books & Coffee | Selby Public Library 10:30 am December 8
- The Friends of the Selby Public Library present Retribution, The Battle for Japan 1944-45 by Max Hastings
as reviewed by Lionel Olmer, former Undersecretary of Commerce for International Trade. 10:30 am Tuesday, December 8, 2009 in Jack J. Geldbart Auditorium of Selby Public Library, 1331 First Street
Jack J. Geldbart Auditorium. Info: 941.861.1140 - Fall Lecture | Pierian Spring Academy 2 pm December 10
- Pierian Spring Academy presents fall lecture by Stan Nikkel titled "Daniel Chester French and the Creation of the Lincoln Memorial." 2-3:30 pm Tuesday, December 8, 2009 in Jack J. Geldbart Auditorium of Selby Public Library, 1331 First Street. Info: 941.716.2471
- Wine & Cheese Scavenger Hunt | Downtown Sarasota Alliance 6-9 pm December 10
- Meet the shop owners, sample wines and cheese, shop and mingle. Enter to win a prize package fron your downtown shops & restaurants. David Jones & Christina Crane from 107.9 WSRZ broadcasting live from Mattison's at Lemon & Main. 6-9 pm Thursday, December 10, 2009. Lemon Avenue at Main Street. Info: 941.957.1877
- Sarasota Farmers Market | Downtown Sarasota 7 am-1 pm December 12
- Established in 1979, the Sarasota Farmers Market brings more than 50 local vendors to the downtown area so that Sarasotans and visitors may shop local produce, plants, prepared foods and artisans. 7 am-1 pm Saturday, December 12, 2009. Lemon Avenue & Main Street in downtown. Info: 941.951.2656
- Lakewood Ranch Farmers Market | Main Street Lakewood Ranch 8 am-1 pm December 12
- Lakewood Ranch Farmers Market features fresh fruits and vegetables, local honey, fresh-baked bread, flowers and more. Santa visits the market at 11 am and Out of Door Academy Jazz Ensemble perform and offers free gift wrapping from 10 am-12 noon. 8 am-1 pm Saturday, December 12, 2009. Main Street Lakewood Ranch. Info: 941.462.2357
- Porsche's in the Park | St. Armand's Circle Association 9 am-4 pm December 12
- Suncoast Porsche presents the 5th Annual Porsches in the Park Car Show showcase Porsche, all years and models. 9 am-4 pm Saturday, December 12, 2009. St. Armands Circle Park Info: 941.388.1554
- SRQ Santa Paws Holiday Pet Parade | SRQ MEDIA GROUP 10 am -12 noon December 12
- Dress up in holiday costume and bring your human to Five Points Park. Pose for a picture taken with Santa Paws and join the Holiday Pet Parade where the best costumes will be judged. 10 am-12 noon Saturday, December 12, 2009. Five Points Park in Downtown Sarasota. Info: 941.365.7702
- Artists Market | Historic Burns Square 10 am-5 pm December 12
- Creative artists of mixed media display and sell their creations.10 am-5 pm Saturday, December 12, 2009. Pineapple and Laurel Streets in the Historic Burns Square District. Info: 941.927.6845
- 23rd Annual Christmas Boat Parade of Lights on Sarasota Bay 6 pm December 12
- 23nd Annual Christmas Boat Parade of Lights On Sarasota Bay begins at 6 pm Saturday December 12, 2009
- Docent Tour | Sarasota Season of Sculpture 3 pm December 13
- Sarasota Season of Sculpture offers free docent-guided tours every Sunday at 3 pm during the exhibition, which runs through May 31, 2010. Info: 941.366.7767
- Sarasota Earlye Music Consort | Sarasota Music Archive 2:30 pm December 13
- The Sarasota Music Archive presents Sarasota Earlye Music Consort in a Season Program performed on period instruments with Lynelle Williams, Director, piano. Doors open at 1:45 pm Program begins at 2:30 pm Sunday, December 13, 2009 in Jack J. Geldbart Auditorium of Selby Public Library, 1331 First Street. Info: 941.861.5000
- Trio Viola Mini-Recital | GuitarSarasota 7:30 pm December 14
- GuitarSarasota presents a min-recital by Trio Voilá, guitar-flute-viola to begin the monthly meeting. 7:30-9:00 pm Monday, December 14, 2009 at Art Center Sarasota, 707 North Tamiami Trail. Info: 941.362.2991
- Fall Lecture | Pierian Spring Academy 2 pm December 15
- Pierian Spring Academy presents fall lecture by Paul Sarno titled "Recent Developments in Southeast Asia." 2-3:30 pm Tuesday, December 15, 2009 in Jack J. Geldbart Auditorium of Selby Public Library, 1331 First Street. Info: 941.716.2471
- Munchtime Musicales | The Sarasota Concert Association 12:00 noon December 16
- Munchtime Musicales, a free concert series sponsored by the Sarasota Concert Association, presents The Weintraub Duo, Oboe and piano. 12:00 noon Wednesday, December 16, 2009 at Beatrice Friedman Symphony Center, 709 N Tamiami Trail. Info: 941.351.7467
- Opening Winter Training Session | Hermanns' Royal Lipizzan Stallions 3 pm December 17
- Hermanns' Royal Lipizzan Stallions present opening Wintert Training Session/Show. 3 pm Thursday, December 17, 2009. 32755 Singletary Road, Myakka City 34251 Info: 941.322.1501
- Docent Tour | Sarasota Season of Sculpture 3:00 pm December 20
- Sarasota Season of Sculpture offers free docent-guided tours every Sunday at 3:00 pm during the exhibition, which runs through May 31, 2010. Info: 941.366.7767
- Docent Tour | Sarasota Season of Sculpture 3:00 pm December 27
- Sarasota Season of Sculpture offers free docent-guided tours every Sunday at 3:00 pm during the exhibition, which runs through May 31, 2010. Info: 941.366.7767
- New Year's Eve Celebration | Downtown Sarasota Alliance 12 noon-12 midnight December 31
- Daylong events continue into the evening with live music, street vendors and more. Watch the Pineapple drop at Lemon and Main Street at Midnight. Sponsored by Downtown Sarasota Alliance. 12 noon-12 midnight Thursday, December 31, 2009. Info: 941.957.1877
Ongoing Freebies
- Paul Rudolph: The Florida Houses exhibition through December 11
- Paul Rudolph's (1918-97) early residential work in Florida, produced over a twenty year period beginning in the 1940s, provided the testing ground for Rudolph's developing design methodology. Widely publicized at the time, these houses played an important role in mid-twentieth century American design. The Paul Rudolph: Florida Houses book and exhibition are an attempt to educate about American architectural history. Location: Visitor Information Center, 701 North Tamiami Trail. Info: 941.957.1877
- 6th Annual Florida Photography Open Juried Exhibition | Art Center Sarasota Through January 9
- 6th Annual Florida Photography Open Juried Exhibition featured art photography by Florida artists. Includes black & white, color and digital. Hours: 10:00 am-4:00 pm Tuesdays-Saturdays. Closed Sundays. Through January 9, 2010. Main Gallery of Art Center Sarasota, 707 N Tamiami Trail. Info: 941.365.2032
- Shades of Light - Water Color Paintings by Dean Mitchell | Art Center Sarasota Through January 9
- An award-winning painter of figures depicting black middle and lower class people and landscapes from his southern background and other personal experiences, Dean Mitchell was inspired by grizzled laborers, time-worn elderly faces, and people like him who have lived in a segregated environment. His career hit an upswing 2002 when art critic Michael Kimmelman wrote in The New York Times that Mitchell was 'a virtual modern-day Vermeer'. Hours: 10:00 am-4:00 pm Tuesdays-Saturdays. Closed Sundays. Through January 9, 2010. Front Gallery of Art Center Sarasota, 707 N Tamiami Trail. Info: 941.365.2032
- Featured Artists | Art Center Sarasota Through January 9
- Featured Artists: Richard Brownbill, Jimmy Peters, and Arieh Aizenberg. Three outstanding artist and Art Center Sarasota Members show their recent photographs each exploring a unique perspective of humanity, animal life, and patterns and textures of our environment. Hours: 10:00 am-4:00 pm Tuesdays-Saturdays. Closed Sundays. Through January 9, 2010. Glassed-in Gallery of Art Center Sarasota, 707 N Tamiami Trail. Info: 941.365.2032
- Sarasota Season of Sculpture | Season Five Exhibition
- Season five of the Sarasota Season of Sculpture displays 12 sculptures on the Bayfront through May 31st.Titled "Organic Lyricism," the exhibit is curated by the Sculpture Foundation, which owns the sculptures. The curator narrowed the pieces under consideration to 20. Then a local
- The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art at Sarasota Bay, near Bradenton and a few miles from Tampa,Florida
- Located on a 66-acre estate on Sarasota Bay, The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art was established in 1927 as the legacy of John Ringling (1866-1936) and his wife, Mable (1875 to 1929). Recognized as the official State Art Museum of Florida, the Museum of Art offers 21 galleries of European pain
Santa Claus Shows Up All Over Town
Spotted Saturday at Sarasota Farmers Market
Dressed warmly in red with snow-white trim and his trademark beard, Santa Claus took photo duty at Sarasota Farmers Market on Saturday. Looked like he was triple-checking his list!
The Jolly Old Elf plans additional stops throughout Sarasota & Her Islands before returning to the North Pole for the big night ride. We count Santa among our favorite snowbirds!
Photo: Louis Wery
Call to Florida Artists
The City of Sarasota, Florida extends a call to professional Florida artists to submit applications for a public art competition titled "Intersections." This Call to Artists closes Friday, January 15, 2010. Please click here for more information.
What's David In The Palm Trees Got To Do With Freebies?
Mondays, That's What!
Mondays rate free admission to The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art (right) and that's a pretty big savings. Tuesdays through Sundays admission to the museum complex costs $25 per adult. For a complete list of admission prices, please visit the official Ringling Museum website.One caveat: The free admission on Mondays applies only to the art museum (does not include the Cà d'Zan or the Circus Museum).
As for David, he may stand at the center of the Ringling Museum Courtyard but he also stands for Sarasota. Watch him ride by on everything from garbage trucks to police cars!
And remember to say "thank you" to John Ringling who insisted on free admission to the art museum one day a week in perpetuity.
Photo: Louis Wery
Free: The Future of a Radical Price
Listen to the podcast for free!
Free: The Future of a Radical Price
Amazon Price: $21.59 (as of 12/08/2009)
In the digital marketplace, the most effective price is no price at all, argues Anderson, who wrote The Long Tail. He illustrates how savvy businesses are raking it in with indirect routes from product to revenue with such models as cross-subsidies (giving away a DVR to sell cable service) and freemiums (offering Flickr for free while selling the superior FlickrPro to serious users).
Avg. Customer Rating: 
Top 10 List
The Best Free Things To Do in Sarasota & Her Islands
Siesta Key Drum Circle Photo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/bellatrix6/ / CC BY-SA 2.0
Please help me keep this list up to date and properly ranked by adding your suggestions and voting items up or down.
Join the Siesta Key Drum Circle Sunday Evenings
Every Sunday starting a couple of hours before sun more...0 points
Stop by Ringling Museum of Art on Mondays
Free admission on Mondays at John and Mable Ringli more...0 points
Catch the Green Flash When the Sun Sets on the Gulf of Mexico
Just before sunset, look for the green flash above more...0 points
Pose On the Toes of "Unconditional Surrender" Statue
Based on a famous 1945 Life Magazine picture of tw more...0 points
Build a Sand Castle on a Sarasota' Area Beach
Siesta Key Beach shows up many top-beach lists and more...0 points
Practice Birdwatching
Sarasota County and its many bird "hot spots& more...0 points
Graze the Downtown Sarasota Farmers Market
Every Saturday 7 am-1pm (12 noon May-September) at more...0 points
Go Round St. Armands Circle
There's no charge for a walkabout on The Circle. A more...0 points
Tour Sarasota Season of Sculpture
Season 5 celebrates Organic Lyricism along the Sar more...0 points
Take the Sarasota County History Center Stroll
Sarasota History Alive! posts Historian Ann Shank' more...-2 points
Smile for the Camera!
For Your Digital iReporting
Nikon D60 10.2MP Digital SLR Camera with 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G AF-S DX VR Nikkor Zoom Lens
Amazon Price: $639.95 (as of 12/08/2009)
The D60 is the third incarnation of Nikon's compact, user-friendly entry-level SLR line that started back in 2006 with the D40 (which replaced the first Nikon 'starter' model, the D50).
The Best of Sarasota For Free
Watch a Tour of Some Top-Ranked Free Things to Do in Sarasota
I photographed this cardinal in my backyard as an example of how easily you can spot birds in Sarasota. In fact, our area welcomes more than half of the 480 bird species found in Florida. Photo: Louis Wery
What's On in Sarasota & Her Islands
- Creative Loafing
- Home for what local events are happening in Sarasota. Check out events, new restaurant reviews, poli...
- Sarasota Herald Tribune
- Daily newspaper that has feature articles on local and national news, sports, politics, weather, art...
- Sarasota Shopping Guide
- A weekly newspaper that has articles on local news and events, as well as the USA Arts and Entertain...
- I Want To Know Where The Locals Go
- A Tried and true shopping and dining guide for Lakewood Ranch and surrounding areas, written by a lo...
- OurTown 50 Newspaper Sarasota
- OurTown 50 is Sarasota's largest local news and resource publication with over 8,000 resources.
Please Admire the Vintage & Antique Cars
Talk about Curb Appeal!
Other Resources for Free Things To Do
- Simply Sarasota
- 50 Fun And Free Things To Do In Sarasota Florida: Having fun in Sarasota doesn't require a lot of money. In fact, many things to see and enjoy in Sarasota are absolutely free. With 35 miles of beautiful beaches and six barrier islands, near-perfect weather and a variety of fairs, concerts, arts and cultural events, Sarasota offers a fun and inexpensive getaway.
- Sarasota Calendar of Events
- The best of the best fun, free (or next to nothing) things to do in our Sarasota Calendar of Events.
- Discover the Ultimate Beach Destination: Beaches, Museums, Arts & Shopping
- Discover Siesta Key, Casey Key, Longboat Key and all of Sarasota. From shopping and nature tours to Florida's best beaches, performing arts and dining -- explore it all.
- Free and Wonderful Things to Do Around Sarasota - Associated Content - associatedcontent.com
- A Great Vacation Destination: Sarasota, Florida Senior Living In Sarasota, Florida Why You Should Visit Sarasota, Florida
- Free Attractions and Free Things to Do in Sarasota, Florida
- Free Attractions and Free Things to Do in Florida
- Discover Things To Do - Sarasota Herald-Tribune
- Search Zvents to find things to do and promote events such as concerts, sales, festivals, live music, and other things to do near you. Zvents is a free search engine where you can search for what to do by location, time, or event type.
- Things to do in Sarasota, FL & Sarasota Attractions . - Yahoo! Travel
- Things to do Sarasota in Sarasota, FL - Find the best things to do, museums, attractions, and travel advice about Sarasota on Yahoo! Travel.
- Sarasota FL Cheap and Free Things To Do and Attractions - UpTake.com
- Uptake searches 5,000 travel sites so you don't have to Sarasota Hotels Attractions
- Things to Do in Sarasota
- Ten fun things to do in Sarasota. Our team put together a neat list of the best places to see and do around Sarasota. Make sure you have been to every fun destination on this list.
I'm Havin' Fun in Sarasota
I'm Having Fun In Sarasota!
Who knew Sarasota had it's own jingle? Sing-a-long with a Sarasota original. Produced By: Sarasota History Alive! Photo Stills: Sarasota County History Center Music: John A. McGee (writer), Sunshine Records, 1952 - Hack Swain and His Music (Recording Studio), Singers: Shirley Scott and Billy Leach *music provided by special arrangement with Swain Studios
Runtime: 132
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What's Your Favorite Free Thing to Do in Your Town?
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- nice lens! good information.... http://www.squidoo.com/buying-furniture-online-store
Locations for Some of the Top 10 Free Things To Do in Sarasota
Located on the West Coast of Florida
Celebrating Santa's Sleigh Ride
Looks Like Rudolph's Up to Something!
Mostly Sunny in Sarasota & Her Islands
361 Sunny Days a Year!
Current weather conditions in Sarasota, FL (34236)
Local Pollen Reports
64°F (Feels like 64°F)
Last update: 12/8/09 5:53 AM EST
Humidity: 93%Visibility: 0.5 mi
Dew Point: 62°F
UV Index: 0 (Lawn and Garden Weather)
Barometer: 30.05in rising
Moon: Rush Hour Traffic
Wind: 6mph From: Airport Conditions
Today
Fog
High: 79°F
Low: 67°F
Sunrise: 7:08 AM
Sunset: 5:37 PM
Wednesday
Dec 9
Mostly Cloudy
High: 78°F
Low: 66°F
Sunrise: 7:09 AM
Sunset: 5:37 PM
Thursday
Dec 10
Partly Cloudy
High: 75°F
Low: 54°F
Sunrise: 7:10 AM
Sunset: 5:37 PM
Friday
Dec 11
Few Showers
High: 71°F
Low: 60°F
Sunrise: 7:10 AM
Sunset: 5:37 PM
Brought To You by Louis Wery
Please call me at 941.232.3001 for more information
Focus on Sarasota & Her Islands
Located on the West Coast of Florida
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Unconditional Surrender | Big Kiss Remembers World War II
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Approach Island Park on Sarasota Bay and you will see people lined up for a photo with the town's biggest celebrity, the statue titled Unconditional Surrender. Seward Johnson mined history and turned Alfred Eisenstaedt's famous photograph of...
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Venezia Italian Restaurant Draws Foodies to St Armands Circle
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Years ago my wife and I enjoyed visiting St Armands Circle in Sarasota for coffee and delicious pound cake at The Swiss Coffee House near where The Walking Company stands today. We liked basking in winter sunshine, watching people stroll by and, most...
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St Armands Circle | Cosmopolitan Marketplace | Upscale Shopping
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Given a little free time, my wife and I head St. Armands Key. We always expect lots of fun on The Circle. We relish the luxury of lingering in pleasant cafes or dining in award-winning restaurants. On evenings when jazz plays in St Armands Circle Par...
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le macaron | French Pastries
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Rosalie Guillem and her daughter, Audrey Guillem Saba, recently opened le macaron, a French pastry shop on St. Armands Circle in Sarasota, Florida. From Provence, the mother-daughter team brings a variety of European confections to our town. le maca...
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The Louis Wery Collection: Sarasota & Her Islands
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As a top REALTOR in Coldwell Banker's Longboat Key office, I help buyers and sellers accomplish their real-estate goals. After living and working on every continent, except Australia and Antarctica, I chose Sarasota, a community rightly nicknamed...
Search For Your Dream Home
My Local Knowledge & Global Connections Work to Your Advantage!
- Your Personal Tool to Search for Real Estate
- Use this tool to search privately for your dream home. Please call me at 941.232.3001 for a private tour of your selections.
- Properties Available in Sarasota & Her Islands
- For more about Sarasota & Her Islands, please visit my website where you can search for properties that interest you or call me at 941.232.3001 for more information.
- October 2009 eNewsletter for Sarasota & Her Islands
- Today Show Says Sarasota #1 for Buying a House
- Louis Wery's Free Gift to You | iPhone App Helps You Check Property Listings & Values
- Whether you're a first time homebuyer or someone looking for the ideal spot to retire, Louis Wery helps you access more information and insights on real estate, through more channels, than ever before using the new Coldwell Banker iPhone application.
Sarasota & Her Islands
Located on the West Coast of Florida
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End Abuse of Big Cats
Free Ways to Help
Devoted to rescuing and housing exotic cats who have been abused, abandoned, bred to be pets, retired from performing acts, or saved from becoming fur coats, and to educating the public about them.
Free Events for January 2010
Open to the Public at No Charge in Sarasota & Her Islands
- Sarasota Season of Sculpture through May 31, 2010
- Sarasota Season of Sculpture partnered with The Sculpture Foundation, a New Jersey-based public sculpture park, arts center and arts foundation founded by J. Seward Johnson, who created the colossal Unconditional Surrender statue currently installed on the Sarasota bayfront, for the exhibition titled Organic Lyricism also on the Sarasota bayfront. Through Monday. May 31, 2010. Info: 941.366.7767
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