🌈 Diverse Fest

Saturday, Oct. 10, 10 a.m.–4 p.m., Harvest Sarasota, 3650 17th St., Sarasota

Azara Ballet, DJ Brianna Lee, Georgia Moore and the Harvest Band join a community celebration with local vendors, food trucks and family activities. Wander between performances and meet the businesses and organizations taking part. This event is free. For more information, click here.

📖 No Club’s Bradenton Zine Fest

Sunday, Oct. 11, noon–4 p.m., Oscura, 816 Manatee Ave. E., Bradenton

Discover independent publications and meet the artists and zine creators behind them at this all-ages gathering. Defrauded, Spanish Bombs and Walled City provide the live soundtrack while you browse vendors and explore Florida’s DIY publishing community. This event is free. For more information, click here.

🎤 An Evening with Patti Smith Dedicated to Emily Dickinson

Tuesday, Oct. 13, 7–8 p.m., Marie Selby Botanical Gardens’ Historic Spanish Point campus, 401 N. Tamiami Trail, Osprey

The musician, poet and National Book Award-winning author returns to Historic Spanish Point for a performance honoring Emily Dickinson. The evening connects Smith’s residency with Selby’s forthcoming exhibition devoted to Dickinson’s poetry. Tickets are $175. For more information, click here.

🎃 Hunsader Farms Pumpkin Festival

Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 10–11, Oct. 17–18 and Oct. 24–25, 9 a.m.–5 p.m., Hunsader Farms, 5500 County Road 675, Bradenton.

Pumpkins share the spotlight with live music, a craft show, hayrides and a pioneer trades village at this annual farm festival. Browse the stalls, visit the petting zoo or tackle the corn maze, then refuel with roasted sweet corn and pumpkin pie. Admission is $15 for ages 10 and older, $5 for children ages 5–9 and free for children under 5. Parking is $5. Admission and parking are cash only, and some activities cost extra. For more information, click here.

🎃 Dakin Dairy Fall Harvest Festival

Saturday, Oct. 10 and Sunday, Oct. 11, 10 a.m.–5 p.m., Dakin Dairy Farms, 30771 Betts Road, Myakka City

Get lost in a corn maze, ride out to the cow pasture and watch lawn mower racing at this working dairy farm’s fall festival. Admission includes Moo Train rides, live music, milking demonstrations and children’s play areas. Tickets are $20 per person, with free admission for ages 5 and younger and free parking. Pumpkin picking, sunflower picking and other activities cost extra. For more information, click here.

🎸 Vinyl Release Party: J Santi & The Vital Groove + Jason White

Thursday, Oct. 8, 7–9 p.m., Fogartyville, 525 Kumquat Court, Sarasota

Blues riffs, heavy grooves and country songwriting share the bill as J Santi & The Vital Groove celebrate a vinyl release. Jason White opens at 7 p.m., followed by the band at 8 p.m. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Admission is $25 in advance or $30 at the door; admission with vinyl is $40 in advance or $45 at the door. For more information, click here. 

🌱 20th Annual Master Gardener Plant Sale

Saturday, Oct. 10, 8 a.m.–1 p.m., UF/IFAS Extension Sarasota County at Twin Lakes Park, 6600 Clark Road, Sarasota

Give your garden a Florida-friendly refresh with locally grown shrubs, palms, wildflowers, herbs and edibles. Master Gardener Volunteers can help match plants to your yard, and the Plant Clinic welcomes gardening questions and problem-plant samples. Arrive early for the widest selection. Plants are available for purchase. This event is free. For more information, click here. 

🚤 Waterfest Block Party

Friday, Oct. 9, 5–10 p.m., Dearborn Street and Pioneer Plaza, 325 W. Dearborn St., Englewood

Get a close look at offshore race boats, meet their crews and catch the Crossfire Creek Band before the weekend’s racing begins. Food and retail vendors round out the street party. This event is free. For more information, click here.

🎼 The Conductor’s Magical Book

Friday, Oct. 9, 7–8 p.m., Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, 777 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota

Young Tony Stradivarius discovers a magical book in this narrated adventure that introduces children to orchestral instruments and conducting. Stilian Kirov leads Sarasota Orchestra, with Rachael Lord narrating. No tickets are required. This event is free. For more information, click here.

🌸 The Orchid Show 2026: Christian Sampson

Saturday, Oct. 10–Wednesday, Oct. 14, 10 a.m.–5 p.m. daily, Marie Selby Botanical Gardens’ Downtown Sarasota campus, 1534 Mound St., Sarasota

Opening Saturday, the annual orchid show pairs living blooms with Christian Sampson’s installations of glass, acrylic and color-shifting film. Look for works in the conservatory, gardens and Museum of Botany & the Arts, which closes at 4:30 p.m. Admission is $28 for adults and $12 for ages 5–17; members and children 4 and under enter free. The exhibition continues through Dec. 6. For more information, click here.

🎭 Blood Relations

Friday, Oct. 9, 7:30 p.m., Pinkerton Theatre at Venice Theatre, 140 Tampa Ave. W., Venice

Did Lizzie Borden kill her father and stepmother? Sharon Pollock’s psychological thriller revisits the notorious double murder through a tense exploration of family and possibility. The production opens Friday and runs through Nov. 1, with audience discretion advised. Tickets are $40 for adults and seniors, $30 for college students and current educators and $19 for children through high school students. For more information, click here.

🎶 Fall Festival of Music

Thursday, Oct. 8, 7–9 p.m., SCF Neel Performing Arts Center, 5840 26th St. W., Bradenton

Hear what’s next from local student musicians as SCF’s ensembles open their concert season together. The program offers a sampling of the college’s musical range in one evening. Tickets are $15 for general admission, $10 for faculty and staff and $8 for students. For more information, click here.

📓 Arts & Crafts: Junk Journal Junkies

Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2–4 p.m., Gulf Gate Library Conference Room, 7112 Curtiss Ave., Sarasota

Turn paper scraps and personal keepsakes into a journal with character at this gathering for adults. Newcomers are welcome, and some scrapbooking paper and decorative punches are supplied. Bring your own journal, scissors, adhesive and materials you’d like to incorporate. Seating is first come, first served. This event is free. For more information, click here.

🗣️ Florida’s Resource Grab

Saturday, Oct. 10, 3 p.m., Unitarian Universalists of Sarasota, 3975 Fruitville Road, Sarasota

Investigative journalist Jason Garcia opens a forum examining development, data centers, education privatization and other uses of Florida’s resources. A panel discussion follows. Registration is required online or at the door. This event is free. For more information, click here.

🌶️ 26th Annual Morton’s Firehouse Chili Cook-Off

Sunday, Oct. 11, 1:45–5 p.m., outside Morton’s Gourmet Market, 1924 S. Osprey Ave., Sarasota

Local firehouses and first responders put their recipes to the test in a Southside Village street party with live music, raffles and family activities. Opening ceremonies begin at 1:45 p.m., followed by the cook-off at 2 p.m. This event is free while chili-tasting tickets are $15. For more information, click here.

🎻 Trio Sinfonia

Sunday, Oct. 11, and Monday, Oct. 12, 4 p.m., Fischer/Weisenborne Residence, 7459 Cabbage Palm Court, South Sarasota

Violinist Isabella Ling Sun, cellist Ching-Yu Tseng and pianist Daniel Chen-Wang perform Brahms’ Trio in B Major and Mendelssohn’s Trio in C Minor. The Boston ensemble won a grand prize at this year’s Coltman Chamber Music Competition. Tickets are $75 and include a reception with beverages after the concert. For more information, click here.

🍺 Park-toberfest at The Bay

Sunday, Oct. 11, 5–7 p.m., The Oval at The Bay, 1055 Blvd. of the Arts, Sarasota

The DeLeon Family Band brings oompah music to the waterfront, with a stein-hoisting contest, cornhole and the inevitable Chicken Dance. Pretzels, bratwurst and beer are available for purchase. This event is free. For more information, click here.

📖 Poetry Book Club: Mesopotopia by Anne Waldman

Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2–3 p.m., Bookstore1Sarasota, 117 S. Pineapple Ave., Sarasota

Doug Knowlton leads a discussion of Anne Waldman’s book-length poem, which moves through mythology, ecology, feminism and history. The group meets in the bookstore’s loft. Participation costs $20 and includes a copy of the book to collect before the meeting. For more information, click here.

💃 Salsa & Sunsets Fourth Anniversary Community Celebration

Wednesday, Oct. 14, 6:30–8:30 p.m., The Bay, 1055 Blvd. of the Arts, Sarasota

Bri Rivera & Friends supply live music for a waterfront dance party celebrating The Bay’s fourth anniversary. A champagne toast starts the festivities. Originally scheduled for Oct. 7, the celebration has moved to Oct. 14. This event is free. For more information, click here.

🎭 Sophisticated Ladies

Wednesday, Oct. 14, 7:30 p.m., The Donelly Theatre at Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe, 1012 N. Orange Ave., Sarasota

WBTT opens its season with Duke Ellington’s music, pairing vocals and choreography with songs including “Take the ‘A’ Train,” “Satin Doll” and “Mood Indigo.” Tickets are $60 for adults or $25 for students and active military with valid identification. The production continues through 

☀️ Paper Mâché Sun Workshop with Cosmic Art by Ari

Friday, Oct. 9, 10 a.m., Senior Friendship Centers, 1888 Brother Geenen Way, Sarasota

The second session of this two-part workshop continues the process of sculpting, designing and painting paper mâché suns. Finished pieces will become part of the upcoming Neon Moon: Nocturnal Bodies community exhibition. Supplies are provided and registration is required. This event is free. For more information, click here.

👑 Tea4T: Drag Open Stage

Friday, Oct. 9, 9 p.m., Fabulous Arts Foundation, 925 N. Lime Ave., Sarasota

Experienced drag artists and newcomers share the stage at this monthly celebration of performance and queer creativity. Bring cash to tip the performers and enter through the back door on Apricot Ave. Admission requires a ticket; guests must be 18 or older with identification. For more information, click here.

🏎️ Ferrari, Una Mostra di Eleganza

Saturday, Oct. 10, 10 a.m.–5 p.m., The St. Regis Longboat Key Resort, 1601 Gulf of Mexico Drive, Longboat Key

Ferraris take their places along the waterfront for a concours celebrating the Italian marque’s design and performance. The Saturday display is the centerpiece of a weekend gathering for owners and enthusiasts. For more information, click here.

🐕 Dog Bar Derby

Sunday, Oct. 11, 1–3 p.m., Dog Bar Sarasota, 1314 10th St., Sarasota

Short legs meet big ambitions as corgis race in puppy, adult and senior divisions at this afternoon fundraiser for CorgiAid. Racer registration has closed, making this a spectator pick. The venue’s regular admission is free for humans and $7 per dog; off-leash park areas are restricted to guests 16 and older. For more information, click here.

🎸 After Dark at Encore Live

Thursday, Oct. 8, 7 p.m., Encore Live, 8341 N. Lockwood Ridge Road, Sarasota

After Dark brings rock anthems, pop hits and classic favorites to Encore Live for a night built around the dance floor. Expect guitar-driven covers and plenty of familiar choruses to sing along with. For more information, click here.