Wellen Park’s Spooktacular is on Friday, October 30!

The Child Protection Center’s Runaway Pumpkin 5K & Family Fest is on Saturday, October 31! The event will feature a 5K race, a 100m children’s Mini Monster Dash, and a FREE Fall family festival. A virtual 5K is also available. Race activities begin at 8 a.m., followed by the free Family Fest from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Festival attendees will enjoy food trucks, trick-or-treating, pumpkin painting, child-friendly activities and sensory stations, lawn games, photo opportunities, community partners, inflatable games, and PAWS therapy dogs in the popular puppy pit. Children can also participate in age-based costume contests. Admission to the Family Fest is FREE and open to the public — you do NOT need to register for the race to attend the festival, though all runners are encouraged to join in the fun! The goal is to provide local families with an accessible, low-to-no-cost day of connection, celebration, and support for safe childhoods all while having fun!

Kids’ costume contest:

- 0 to 2yrs: 11 a.m.

- 3 to 5yrs: 11:15 a.m.

- 6 to 8yrs: 11:30 a.m.

- 9 to 12yrs: 11:45 a.m.

Proceeds from the event will support the Child Protection Center’s mission of the prevention, intervention, and treatment of child abuse across Sarasota and DeSoto Counties.

Learn more or register for the races and/or the free Family Fest: https://cpcsarasota.org/events/runaway-pumpkin/ *Registering for the Family Fest is not required but is encouraged!

Businesses and organizations that would be a good fit for local families and are interested in participating in our Vendor Village, or to inquire about volunteering, please reach out to Kingsley Event Consulting at KingsleyEventsTeam@outlook.com. 

Community members are also encouraged to bring non-perishable food donations during the event to support local families facing food insecurity during the holiday season.

The 38th Annual Downtown Venice Art Festival is on Saturday, October 31 and Sunday, November 1!

The Downtown Venice Halloween Strut is on Saturday, October 31! Children can trick or treat at local businesses and show off their costumes!

The 38th Annual Downtown Venice Art Festival is on Saturday, October 31 and Sunday, November 1!

Create a Decorative Book Birdhouse at Elsie Quirk Library on Monday, November 2!

*Registration required.

Join a Seashell Tree Art Class at The Artistic Flip Flop on Tuesday, November 3!

*Registration required.

Off the Page with Dalia Colón at Jacaranda Library is on Wednesday, November 4!

*No registration required, seating is first come, first seated

Off the Page with Robert K. Wittman is at Selby Library on Thursday, November 5!

Repurpose old books to create Book Folding Vases at North Sarasota Library on Friday, November 6!

*Registration required.

The North Port Community Yard Sale is on Saturday, November 7!

Celebrate Venice’s first fire engine at Old Betsy’s Birthday Bash on Saturday, November 7!

North Port Newcomer Day is on Saturday, November 7!

Shellback's Freedom Festival is on Saturday, November 7!

Enjoy free admission at Sarasota Art Museum on the second Sunday of each month and visit Sarasota County’s Pop Up Library!

The Forestry Fun and Arboretum Walk at Wets Blalock Park is on Monday, November 9! According to the City of Venice, “Venice Library is hosting a program led by a local forester. As part of the program, we would like to walk to/through the arboretum to learn and practice tree identification.“

Off the Page with Vladislav Yeliseyev is at Osprey Library on Tuesday, November 10!

*No registration required, seating is first come, first seated.

Veterans Walkathon - Supporting The Long Walk Home is on Wednesday, November 11!

Enjoy Familiar Songs with a Breath of Fresh Air at Centennial Park on Thursday, November 12!

Wellen Park Night Market and Dueling Pianos are both on Thursday, October 8!

The Child Protection Center’s Night of Hope & Healing is at the Venice Community Center on Thursday, November 12!

Join the Child Protection Center for an evening of delicious food with bites from over 10 restaurants, premium drinks, running hot over at the casino games, stellar live and silent auctions, and dancing to fabulous music with the Occasions! Night of Hope & Healing is a unique event with a relaxed feel that will give you more than a great experience – it will give you the chance to be the hero in a child’s life.

“Night of Hope & Healing” truly is its name – an evening that brings hope and healing by raising funds to provide vital support to vulnerable children and survivors of child abuse right here in our own community. This event allows us to strengthen prevention education in local schools, provide critical interventions and medical assessments, and give more children access to highly specialized, trauma-informed therapy.

Tickets and sponsorships are available at https://cpcsarasota.org/events/night-of-hope/  

Events like this don't happen without a community that believes in what we're building. If you’re interested in sponsoring, volunteering, or supporting this event in another meaningful way, we'd love to talk – please contact LouAnnL@cpcsarasota.org.

The 2026 Siesta Key Crystal Classic Sandsculpting Festival is November 13-16!

The 2026 Siesta Key Crystal Classic Sandsculpting Festival is November 13-16!

The Wellen Park Wine Festival is on Saturday, November 14!

*Tickets required.

Enjoy a 60's 70's Classic Rock Concert at Centennial Park on Saturday, November 14!

The 2026 Siesta Key Crystal Classic Sandsculpting Festival is November 13-16!

The 2026 Siesta Key Crystal Classic Sandsculpting Festival is November 13-16!

The Gulf Coast Mineral Fossil and Gem Club meets the third Monday of each month, and everyone is welcome! The goal of the club is to: “promote, educate, and instruct in the many fields of earth sciences, fossil and mineral specimen collecting, and jewelry design.”

Off the Page with Gary Monroe is at North Sarasota Library on Tuesday, November 17!

*No registration required, seating is first come, first seated.

Off the Page with Phyllis Biffle Elmore is at Fruitville Library on Wednesday, November 18!

*No registration required, seating is first come, first seated.

Off the Page with Kate Quinn is at Venice Community Center on Thursday, November 19!

Ray Rees and the Coastal Keys perform at Centennial Park on Friday, November 20!

Candlelight: Tribute to Michael Jackson is at St. Boniface Episcopal Church on Friday, November 20!

*Tickets required.

Turkey Trot for The Twig is on Saturday, November 21!

*Registration required.

The Wellen Park Festival of the Arts is on Saturday, November 21 and Sunday, November 22!

Venice Night Market & Music is on Saturday, November 21!

The Wellen Park Festival of the Arts is on Saturday, November 21 and Sunday, November 22!

Enjoy a Classic Rock 60s & 70s Concert at Centennial Park on Sunday, November 22!

The Venice Coin & Currency Club meets the 4th Monday of each month.

Play Quirky Mahjong at Elsie Quirk Library on Tuesday, November 24!

*Registration required.

Diamond paint a seasonal coaster at Gulf Gate Library on Wednesday, November 25!

The Mayor's Hometown Christmas is at Centennial Park on Friday, November 27!

Don’t miss the Venice Holiday Parade on Saturday, November 28!

Create a Embroidered Holiday Greeting Card at North Port Library on Monday, November 30!

*Registration required.