This weekend in Sarasota: October 30–November 1, 2026

Last updated: October 27, 2026.

Forty-five verified picks for Halloween weekend — Sarasota Opera opens its 68th season with Hansel and Gretel, Urbanite Theatre kicks off its main stage season with Ahoy-hoy, Golden Girls: The Laughs Continue plays the Van Wezel on Halloween itself, the Pops Orchestra's Hocus Pocus Pops II brings the family-friendly spooks, Freaky Friday opens at Venice Theatre and Urinetown at the Sarasota Players, Dear Evan Hansen and Carrie: The Musical play their final weekend in Bradenton, the final weekend of the 38th Fruitville Grove Pumpkin Fest, a free Best of The Bay Music Fest to close out The Bay's anniversary month, the UCI BMX Racing World Cup finals at Sarasota BMX, Sarasota Fright Fest's last four nights, Wild-O-Ween at Big Cat Habitat, the UTC Fall Carnival, Halloween parties from the Sarasota Modern to Sage, a free Ski-A-Rees water ski show, farmers markets, and the drum circle. Also running: Sophisticated Ladies at Westcoast Black Theatre, the Orchid Show at Selby Gardens, and three new exhibitions at Sarasota Art Museum. Weather note: warm all weekend, upper 80s Friday and Saturday and low 80s Sunday, with afternoon showers possible Friday, possible afternoon thunderstorms on Halloween, and afternoon thunderstorms likely Sunday — check the organizer's page for weather calls on outdoor events. And remember: daylight saving time ends Sunday, Nov 1 — clocks fall back an hour, so sunset comes around 5:46pm. Event details change — verify dates, times, and tickets on the official site before you go.

Friday, October 30

• Hansel and Gretel — season opener — Sarasota Opera House, 61 N. Pineapple Ave, 7pm (also Sunday 1:30pm). Sarasota Opera opens its 68th season with Humperdinck's fairy-tale opera — the Brothers Grimm story, sung in English, in the first mainstage collaboration between the Opera, Sarasota Youth Opera, and Sarasota Ballet. A family pack is available: two adult tickets with two free children's tickets. Tickets $25.75–$164.80 — sarasotaopera.org.
• Hocus Pocus Pops II — Riverview Performing Arts Center, 7pm. The Pops Orchestra of Bradenton & Sarasota returns with a spellbinding, family-friendly Halloween concert — a spooky set list, on-stage dancing to Thriller and The Monster Mash, a performance by Sarasota Ballet's Dance – The Next Generation, and costumes encouraged. Use code MACKID2026 for 50% off — check the Pops Orchestra's site for tickets.
• Ahoy-hoy — season opener — Urbanite Theatre, 1487 Second St, 7:30pm (also Saturday and Sunday; runs through Nov 29). Urbanite kicks off its main stage season with Jenny Stafford's play about the true story of the telephone's invention — Bell vs. Elisha Gray, with songs, silliness, and sharp comedy; it won Audience Favorite at last year's Modern Works Festival. Tickets $52, $32 under age 40, $5 students with ID — urbanitetheatre.com.
• Freaky Friday — opening weekend — Venice Theatre, 140 W. Tampa Ave, Venice (also Saturday and Sunday; runs through Nov 22). The musical based on the children's novel — mother and daughter swap bodies for a day — opens at Venice Theatre. Check venicetheatre.org for showtimes and tickets.
• Urinetown — The Sarasota Players, 3501 S. Tamiami Trl, Suite 1130 (also Saturday and Sunday; closes Nov 1). The Tony Award-winning comedy-musical about a town where you pay to pee — check theplayers.org for showtimes and tickets.
• Dear Evan Hansen — final weekend — Manatee Performing Arts Center, Stone Hall, 502 Third Ave W, Bradenton (also Saturday and Sunday; closes Nov 1). The six-Tony-award musical about a high schooler pulled to the center of a tragedy. Tickets $35–$43 — manateeperformingartscenter.com.
• Carrie: The Musical — Manatee Performing Arts Center, 502 Third Ave W, Bradenton (also Saturday, with a special Halloween show). Rise Above Performing Arts' production of the Stephen King musical — check the venue's site for showtimes and tickets.
• Sophisticated Ladies — Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe, Donelly Theatre, 1012 N. Orange Ave, 7:30pm (also Saturday 2 & 7:30pm, Sunday 2pm). The Tony Award-winning Duke Ellington revue — "It Don't Mean A Thing If It Ain't Got That Swing," "Don't Get Around Much Anymore," and more — playing through Nov 22. Tickets $60, $25 students/active military with ID — westcoastblacktheatre.org.
• Sarasota Fall Fest & Carnival — The Mall at UTC, 140 University Town Center Dr (also Saturday and Sunday; runs Oct 29–Nov 1). Four days of carnival rides and games, food trucks, arts and crafts, and live entertainment — free admission, rides and games extra. Check utcsarasota.com for hours.
• Boofest — Lakewood Ranch Main Street, 6–9pm. Kids trick-or-treat along a festive street of vendor booths and merchants handing out sweets — bring a costume and a trick-or-treat tote. Free.
• Wellen Park Spooktacular — Wellen Park, 4–7pm. A family Halloween event in Wellen Park — check the Wellen Park events page for details.
• 107.9 WSRZ Monster Mash — Sahib Shrine, 600 N. Beneva Rd. The radio station's Halloween party — tickets from about $13 via Eventbrite; check the station's site for the lineup and start time.
• Halloween After Dark — Aleur Event Collective, 1001 Central Ave, 9pm. A Halloween night party in downtown Sarasota — tickets from about $59 via Eventbrite.
• Dueling Pianos — Art Ovation Hotel, 1255 N. Palm Ave, 7pm. Two pianos, one stage, endless requests — a free Friday-night singalong in the hotel's gallery lounge. VIP tables available.
• Sarasota Fright Fest — Sarasota County Fairgrounds & Robarts Arena, 3000 Ringling Blvd, 7:30–11:30pm (also Saturday 7:30–11:30pm, Sunday 7:30–10:30pm; final nights Oct 29–Nov 1). Two haunted houses — the Tomb of Terror and Virus — plus live entertainment, music, food, and merch. Check the official site for this weekend's nights and tickets.
• Lights at Spooky Point — final weekend — Selby Gardens, Historic Spanish Point campus, 401 N. Tamiami Trl, Osprey. Two entries nightly, 6:30 & 7:45pm, ends 9pm (nightly through Oct 31). A Halloween lights stroll through the historic campus, with a designated "super spooky" area for older kids. Tickets $34 adults ($24 members), $19 ages 5–17, free ages 4 and under — buy ahead at selby.org, since some nights sell out.
• Haunted Sarasota Tour — final night — Discover Sarasota Tours, 1826 Fourth St., 7pm. A 75-minute air-conditioned trolley ride through Sarasota's eerie past: haunted buildings, murder tales, and costume prizes, with complimentary beer or wine for 21+ at the Trolley Cottage Tiki Bar before boarding. $62.99, ages 12 and up — discoversarasotatours.com.
• Ride and Paddle at The Bay — Kayak launch at The Bay Park, 1055 Blvd of the Arts, 9am. A free guided kayak tour through The Bay's restored mangroves — intermediate level, led by a Ride & Paddle guide. Check thebaysarasota.org for reservations.
• The Market at NBP — Nathan Benderson Park, 5851 Nathan Benderson Circle, 9am–1pm. The park's Friday market: browse vendors, then walk the lake. Check nathanbendersonpark.org for the week's vendor lineup.
• Florida Studio Theatre: Sailing: Yacht Rock and Beyond — John C. Court Cabaret, 1265 First St. The winter cabaret revue of smooth '70s and '80s yacht-rock hits, running through Feb 7 — tickets from $59. Check floridastudiotheatre.org for this weekend's showtimes.

Saturday, October 31 — Halloween

• Golden Girls: The Laughs Continue — Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, 777 N. Tamiami Trl, 1:30 & 7pm. The sassiest seniors are back on Halloween itself: Sophia out on bail, Blanche and Rose running a seniors' sex app, and Dorothy holding it all together — a drag comedy for ages 18 and up. Tickets $34–$80 — vanwezel.org.
• 2026 UCI BMX Racing World Cup — final rounds — Sarasota BMX Track, 1590 N. Tuttle Ave, racing from 9am (also Sunday). The final rounds of the 2026 UCI BMX Racing World Cup: the world's elite BMX riders chasing Olympic qualifying points on the road to Los Angeles 2028, at the oldest continuously operating BMX track in the U.S. Check raceto28.com for tickets.
• 38th Annual Fruitville Grove Pumpkin Fest — final weekend — Fruitville Grove, 7410 Fruitville Rd, 10am–5pm (also Sunday). Hay rides, pony rides, pumpkin painting, a petting zoo, mini train rides, live music, plus Mermaid Encounters, the Kountry K-9 Dog Show, Bunny Village — and the Hollowgraves Haunted Manor walk-through (ages 8+). Admission $5 (free ages 6 and under), parking free; rides extra. Runs through Nov 1.
• Sarasota Farmers Market — Main St & Lemon Ave, downtown, 7am–1pm. The year-round Saturday market: produce, plants, prepared foods, and local art. Free to browse — arrive before 10am for the best pickings.
• Halloween Dragon Egg Hunt — 1670 10th Way, hunt starts 10:15am. The 23rd annual hunt: kids search for a dozen hidden Halloween-themed eggs filled with trinkets, candy, and prizes, then Halloween crafts and storytime at 11am — plus a free scoop of ice cream from Ben & Jerry's. Purchase tickets in advance.
• Art Center Sarasota Family Saturdays: Halloween Art Party — Art Center Sarasota, 707 N. Tamiami Trl. Come in costume and make a haunted-house collage, hit the spooky art stations, and stick around for Halloween tunes, tricks, and treats. Check artsarasota.org for time and tickets.
• Wild-O-Ween — Big Cat Habitat, 7101 Palmer Blvd, 12–4pm (also Sunday). The sanctuary's annual family-friendly Halloween event — free admission for kids. Check bigcathabitat.org for details.
• Repticon Reptile & Exotic Animal Show — Sahib Shrine, 600 N. Beneva Rd. A day of reptiles and exotic animals: vendors, breeders, and hands-on encounters. Check repticon.com for hours and tickets.
• Carrie: The Musical — Halloween show — Manatee Performing Arts Center, 502 Third Ave W, Bradenton, 7:30pm. A special Halloween performance of the Stephen King musical — costumes encouraged, trick-or-treat goodie bags, and themed cocktails. Check manateeperformingartscenter.com for tickets.
• We're Doomed! — one night only — Florida Studio Theatre, Bowne's Lab, 1265 First St, 7:30pm. FST's resident improv team creates an original movie-style adventure on the spot — cinematic chaos and spine-tingling suspense, made up live. Tickets $12–$15 — floridastudiotheatre.org.
• Murder, She Improvised — Florida Studio Theatre, Bowne's Lab, 1265 First St, 7:30pm. The audience-driven whodunit where the killer is truly TBD — the detective solves it with the crowd's deeply unhelpful suggestions. Tickets $12–$15 — floridastudiotheatre.org.
• Michael Jackson Thriller by MC Album Ensemble — Music Compound, 775 Bell Rd, 2 & 8pm. The teen and adult Album Ensemble performs Michael Jackson's iconic Thriller album live, front to back. Tickets $18 — check musiccompound.com for tickets.
• A Very Modern Halloween Party — The Sarasota Modern, 1290 Boulevard of the Arts, 7–10pm. The hotel's Halloween party with access to the Vampire Circus pop-up patio — VIP tickets include a complimentary cocktail, and a trolley runs to Main Street afterward. Tickets $16–$32 via Eventbrite.
• Sage's Haunted Mansion Party — Sage Restaurant, 1216 1st St, 7pm–1am. Four themed floors and a rooftop dance floor in downtown Sarasota. Tickets from $65, ages 21+.
• "Halos & Horns" Halloween — Perspective Rooftop Pool Bar, 1255 N. Palm Ave, 9pm–1:30am. A rooftop Halloween bash — angel-or-demon dress code, costume contest with prizes for best dressed, and skyline views. Tickets from about $30, ages 21+ — via Eventbrite.
• "Monroe Madness" Halloween — Art Ovation Hotel Gallery Lounge, 1255 N. Palm Ave, 8pm. A Halloween party in the hotel's gallery lounge — tickets from about $13 via Eventbrite.
• Mellow Mushroom's 5th Annual Melloween — Mellow Mushroom, 6727 S. Tamiami Trl, 7pm. The pizza spot's Halloween party — tickets via Eventbrite.
• Halloween Boo Bash at Dog Bar — Dog Bar, 1314 10th St. A dog-friendly Halloween party — costumes for pups and people. Check the venue's page for time and details.
• Sarasota Singles Halloween Party 30+ — The Fat Rabbit Pub, 1359 Main St. A 30-and-over Halloween singles party — tickets via Eventbrite.
• Sarasota Fall Fest & Carnival — The Mall at UTC, 140 University Town Center Dr. Day three of the carnival: rides, games, food trucks, and live entertainment — free admission.
• Sarasota Fright Fest — Sarasota County Fairgrounds & Robarts Arena, 3000 Ringling Blvd, 7:30–11:30pm. Halloween-night scares: two haunted houses plus live entertainment and food. Check the official site for tickets.
• Lights at Spooky Point — final night — Selby Gardens, Historic Spanish Point campus, 401 N. Tamiami Trl, Osprey, 6:30 & 7:45pm entries. The last night of the Halloween lights stroll — tickets $34 adults ($24 members), $19 ages 5–17 — selby.org.
• Sophisticated Ladies — Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe — Donelly Theatre, 1012 N. Orange Ave, 2 & 7:30pm. Saturday matinee and evening performances of the Tony Award-winning Duke Ellington revue — tickets $60, $25 students/active military with ID, westcoastblacktheatre.org.
• Closing Saturday for the theater weekend — Freaky Friday plays its second night at Venice Theatre, Urinetown continues at the Sarasota Players, Dear Evan Hansen plays its penultimate night in Bradenton, and Ahoy-hoy plays its second night at Urbanite — check the venues' sites for showtimes.

Sunday, November 1

• "Best of The Bay" Music Fest — The Bay, 1055 Blvd of the Arts, 1–7pm. The grand finale of The Bay's month-long 4th anniversary celebration: an all-day, all-out music festival with top regional talent — The Rockefellers, ROSINE, and The White Crowe Band — plus special surprises. Free — bring lawn chairs. thebaysarasota.org.
• 2026 UCI BMX Racing World Cup — final day — Sarasota BMX Track, 1590 N. Tuttle Ave. The World Cup's closing round, with the 2026 overall winners crowned — the world's elite BMX riders on the road to Los Angeles 2028. Check raceto28.com for the day's schedule and tickets.
• Hansel and Gretel — matinee — Sarasota Opera House, 61 N. Pineapple Ave, 1:30pm. The Sunday matinee of the season opener — a family-friendly fairy-tale opera, sung in English, with a family pack (two adult tickets, two free children's tickets). Tickets $25.75–$164.80 — sarasotaopera.org.
• 38th Annual Fruitville Grove Pumpkin Fest — final day — Fruitville Grove, 7410 Fruitville Rd, 10am–5pm. The festival's last day: rides, petting zoo, pumpkin painting, and the haunted manor. Admission $5 (free ages 6 and under).
• Wild-O-Ween — day two — Big Cat Habitat, 7101 Palmer Blvd, 12–4pm. A second day of the sanctuary's family-friendly Halloween event — free admission for kids.
• Ski-A-Rees Water Ski Team — Ski-A-Ree Stadium, 1602 Ken Thompson Pkwy, 2pm. Sarasota's own water ski team's free Sunday show on the water — a beloved local tradition. Free.
• Siesta Key Farmers Market — 5211 Ocean Blvd, Siesta Key Village, 9am–2pm. Produce, baked goods, local art, and live music in the Village — an easy stop before the beach.
• Siesta Key drum circle — Siesta Beach (south of the main pavilion), starting about 1–2 hours before sunset. The beloved weekly tradition: drummers, dancers, and a crowd gathered by the sand as the sun goes down. Free — and with daylight saving time ending, sunset comes around 5:46pm.
• Sarasota Fright Fest — final night — Sarasota County Fairgrounds & Robarts Arena, 3000 Ringling Blvd, 7:30–10:30pm. The last night of the season's haunted houses. Check the official site for tickets.
• Sarasota Fall Fest & Carnival — final day — The Mall at UTC, 140 University Town Center Dr. The carnival wraps up — free admission, rides and games extra.
• Seranation / Ichroniq / Kaleb Woods — Encore Live, 8341 Lockwood Ridge Rd, 6pm. A triple bill of live music to close the weekend — check the venue's page for tickets.
• The Orchid Show 2026 — Selby Gardens, Downtown Sarasota campus, 1534 Mound St. The annual orchid show runs through Dec 6, with thousands of blooms staged by floral designer Christian Sampson. Garden admission $28 adults, $12 ages 5–17, free ages 4 and under — selby.org.
• Three new exhibitions at Sarasota Art Museum — Sarasota Art Museum, 1001 S. Tamiami Trl. Presence: The Photography Collection of Judy Glickman Lauder (about 100 photographs by Arbus, Avedon, Gordon Parks and more), Chie Fueki: Painting the Floating World, and an interactive Eszter Sziksz installation — all run through Apr 4. Admission $20, free ages 17 and under — sarasotaartmuseum.org.
• Closing Sunday for the theater weekend — Urinetown closes at the Sarasota Players and Dear Evan Hansen closes in Bradenton; Freaky Friday continues at Venice Theatre, Ahoy-hoy plays at Urbanite, and Sophisticated Ladies plays a 2pm matinee at Westcoast Black Theatre — check the venues' sites for matinee and evening times.

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