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Community

Latest reporting from the Community desk.

Community

Latest reporting from the Community desk.

Community

Latest reporting from the Community desk.

Community

Sarasota's Fruitville Library reopens Oct. 15 after $28M renovation

Sarasota County's Fruitville Library reopens Thursday, Oct. 15, after a nearly $28 million renovation, with full services available but several new spaces and a 30,000-square-foot History Center still under construction.

October 12, 2026 · 3 min read

Single-story library building with palm trees and a covered glass entrance.

Community

Diverse Fest expands across Harvest campus for fourth year

Sarasota's fourth annual Diverse Fest expands to both buildings at the Harvest campus on Saturday, Oct. 10, with more than 50 vendors, food trucks, live music, new workshops and free family activities after drawing about 1,500 attendees last year.

October 7, 2026 · 2 min read

Rows of colorful vendor tents with string lights at an outdoor festival.

A bubbling pot of red chili on a propane burner with a ladle and tasting cups.

Community

Sarasota fire stations vie for chili title at 26th cook-off

October 6, 2026 · 2 min read

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Community

Sarasota's Fruitville Library reopens Oct. 15 after $28M renovation

October 12, 2026 · 3 min read

Community

Diverse Fest expands across Harvest campus for fourth year

October 7, 2026 · 2 min read

Community

Sarasota fire stations vie for chili title at 26th cook-off

October 6, 2026 · 2 min read

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Wed89°F0%

Thu90°F22%

Fri88°F41%

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Sun83°F42%

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Community

Sarasota's Fruitville Library reopens Oct. 15 after $28M renovation

October 12, 2026 · 3 min read

Community

Diverse Fest expands across Harvest campus for fourth year

October 7, 2026 · 2 min read

Community

Sarasota fire stations vie for chili title at 26th cook-off

October 6, 2026 · 2 min read

Tue88°F0%

Wed89°F0%

Thu90°F22%

Fri88°F41%

Sat85°F45%

Sun83°F42%

Mon84°F32%

Colorful painting of a large red flower with green leaves against a blue and green wavy background.

Community

Two artists begin summer residency at downtown Sarasota's ARCOS gallery

Creative Liberties hosts artists-in-residence Alina Olofinsky and Leah Brown at ARCOS in downtown Sarasota through Aug. 31, with a free opening reception on Wednesday, July 22, and free community programming throughout the summer.

July 15, 2026 · 2 min read

A performer in sunglasses and a peach suit jacket sings on stage with arms outstretched under colorful lights.

Community

Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe takes Marvin Gaye revue to national stage

Sarasota's Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe heads to the International Black Theatre Festival in Winston-Salem, N.C., for its seventh appearance, performing "Marvin: The Marvin Gaye Revue" Thursday, July 30 through Saturday, August 1.

July 15, 2026 · 3 min read

Front exterior view of Selby Public Library, a modern building in downtown Sarasota.

Community

Free jazz jam sessions at Selby Library run twice monthly through December

Sarasota County Libraries and the Jazz Club of Sarasota host Jazz Jam SRQ, a free twice-monthly open-mic jazz session at downtown Selby Library, with sessions scheduled through December 2026.

July 15, 2026 · 1 min read

White and pink orchid flowers growing among green foliage in a garden setting.

Community

Selby Gardens adds $5,000 orchid photography prize to annual juried exhibition

Marie Selby Botanical Gardens opens submissions August 3 for its 46th Annual Juried Photographic Exhibition, which for the first time includes the $5,000 Richard and Ellen Sandor Photography Prize for orchid images.

July 15, 2026 · 2 min read