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Sarasota will celebrate the Fourth of July with a splash this weekend as we host some exciting special events. First, the P1 Offshore Sarasota Grand Prix returns for its 37th year. The fun will kick off with a block party from 6-10 p.m. tonight (Friday, July 1) on Gulfstream Avenue between Cocoanut Avenue and McAnsh Square in downtown Sarasota.
Then on Saturday and Sunday, you’re invited to check out the spectacle of powerboat races speeding just offshore at Lido Beach. There will also be a "Racing Village" with vendors, food trucks, live music and more.
And on Monday, the Bayfront Fireworks Spectacular will light up the night sky starting at 9 p.m. at Bayfront Park.
We’re expecting big crowds and lots of traffic on the roads for these popular holiday events, so you might want to consider parking your car in one of the City’s three public garages and hopping on the free Bay Runner trolley or renting a Veo scooter or bike for a fun and stress-free experience getting around town.
City administrative offices will be closed on Monday in observance of the holiday, as will many of our recreational facilities, including Arlington Park and Aquatic Complex, Lido Pool, Payne Park Tennis Center and the Robert L. Taylor Community Complex.
There will be no residential garbage, recycling or yard waste pickup on Monday for City customers. Monday collections will be shifted to Tuesday, and Tuesday pickups will occur on Wednesday. Thursday and Friday collections will not be interrupted. For questions or more info, contact our Solid Waste Division at 941-365-7651 or visit the Solid Waste page on our website.
We hope everyone has a safe and enjoyable holiday weekend!
The City of Sarasota is leading the way in creating new transportation options for our residents and visitors, and the international community is taking note of our success.
The City’s Bay Runner trolley and e-scooter/bicycle rental program were recently recognized by the International Parking & Mobility Institute (IPMI) with an Award of Excellence for innovation. The award jurors from IPMI, the largest association in the world for parking, transportation and mobility professionals, complimented the “experiential journey” provided by the free Bay Runner, which transports employees, residents and tourists between the beach and downtown “in a stress-free, fun manner.”
The open-air trolley service has been a big hit so far, with more than 40,000 people opting to take a ride and leave their cars behind in just the first two months of operation.
The program works hand-in-hand with the scooter and bike rentals operated by Veo throughout the City. More than 37,000 individuals rented a scooter or bike for a short-distance trip in the first two months following the program’s launch, and we’ve seen many of those riders also take the trolley.
Having these new, quick and convenient modes of transportation available and working as part of a coordinated micromobility plan has allowed people to take first-mile and last-mile trips and explore all that Sarasota has to offer while reducing traffic on our roadways.
Information about the Bay Runner, including a route map, mobile app, accessibility and parking options, can be found at SarasotaBayRunner.com. The Bay Runner mobile app allows for real-time trolley tracking and can be downloaded through the App Store and Google Play.
To learn more about Veo’s Sarasota service, visit VeoRide.com/Sarasota or check out our FAQ page.
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We want to give Sarasota families a heads up about some necessary renovations and repairs that began earlier this week on the popular circus playground at Payne Park. Our Parks and Recreation team has already completed much of the work on the age 2-5 play area, and the work has been paused so the playground can be fully open throughout the holiday weekend.
We know there’s a demand for play space in Sarasota, especially with the kids out of school for the summer, so as renovations continue, we'll be closing different portions of the playground and doing the work in phases. Next up will be the age 5-12 free-standing equipment (climbing, swinging and rotating equipment), followed by the age 5-12 composite play systems. As each phase is completed, we expect that section to reopen as we move on to the next phase.
The renovation work will resume Tuesday morning, and we hope to have everything completed by July 20, barring any unforeseen circumstances and weather permitting. The plan is contingent upon our ability to maintain a safe play environment in the open areas, and there may be intermittent closures of the entire playground so that we can ensure everyone’s safety.
We look forward to welcoming you back to a beautiful and freshly renovated play space!
Get ready to hear the sweet sounds of jazz on select Saturdays this summer at St. Armands Circle! The St. Armands Business Improvement District (BID) has announced dates for its upcoming Summer Concert Series, where residents and visitors can enjoy free performances from various jazz artists:
- Jazz on the Circle – Saturday, July 9, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
- JAC of All Trades - Saturday, Aug. 13, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
- Big Band Concert – Saturday, Sept. 17, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Bring your lawn chairs and blankets and come experience these family-friendly shows in the center of the world-class shopping and dining district at St. Armands Circle.
The concert series is a joint effort by the BID and the City of Sarasota.
For more information about the events and artists, visit starmandscircleassoc.com/events-happenings/
Each year, the City of Sarasota partners with United Way Suncoast on a fundraising campaign to benefit area families and children in need. Employees have the opportunity to contribute through various raffles and other fun events throughout the campaign, or sign up to make contributions directly from their paychecks. It’s our way of giving back to the community we all serve and love.
In this year’s campaign, our workforce took its generosity to a new level. Employees donated almost $15,000 – a 56 percent increase from last year!
Kudos to Team Sarasota for its amazing dedication and giving spirit. And thank you to United Way Suncoast, which will direct these funds toward early childhood education, financial stability and workforce development programs and other initiatives that are greatly needed in our community.
Looking for a laugh? This fall the Van Wezel is bringing comedy to Sarasota! Comedian, actor, writer and musician Paul Reiser is one of Hollywood’s most prolific creatives—and he shows no signs of slowing down. He was voted one of Comedy Central’s “Top 100 Comedians of All Time” and is currently starring in two hit Netflix shows. Now, the "Mad About You" star returns to his standup roots to perform his unmistakable brand of observational and story-based humor. See Paul Reiser on Sunday, Nov. 20, at 7 p.m.
Best known from the Comedy Central show "Tosh.O," Daniel Tosh will perform an evening of stand-up comedy. Experience the "Florida Trash Tour" on Sunday, Nov. 27, at 7:30 p.m.
Lewis Black, known as the King of Rant, is one of the most popular performers working today. Receiving critical acclaim as a stand-up comedian, actor and author, he performs more than 200 nights annually, to sold-out audiences throughout Europe, New Zealand, Canada and the United States. Now, Black returns with his "Off the Rails Tour" on Sunday, Dec. 11, at 7 p.m.
Tickets are on sale now. For more information, visit VanWezel.org
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