Living Arts Festival Sarasota

The Living Arts Festival’s inaugural event, held in November 2024, was a tremendous success, despite adjustments made to the original plans due to the impact of two hurricanes.

This year, the Living Arts Festival will take place from November 2 to November 9, 2025, at venues spanning from Bradenton to Venice. Events before and after the festival are sure to impress. Some events require tickets, while others are free. You can check this link for updates on events as they are announced.

The Living Arts Festival is more than just a celebration; it highlights what makes our area unique. This is your opportunity to come together in shared experiences, strengthening the connections that make our Cultural Coast a wonderful place to live, work, and visit. By attending our festival, you actively contribute to the growth and sustainability of our cultural landscape. Join us and be part of something special!

Statistics show that festivals attract thousands of attendees who contribute financially to the local economy, fueling our community. While the Living Arts Festival showcases the richness of the arts in our area, it also fosters economic growth by filling local shops, restaurants, and hotels during the “shoulder” season. The performing arts unite people, creating shared experiences that bring us together in a uniquely powerful way.

This event is YOUR festival! It is an annual, week-long celebration of the arts on our Cultural Coast. All of your beloved local arts and cultural organizations are included. During this celebratory week, you will encounter outstanding and talented performers, incredible productions and showcases, and unique collaborations. The festival provides a platform for emerging arts organizations to develop and present their work

Throughout the week, you’ll find an exciting variety of events at venues large and small—many of them free or low-cost:

• Live Theatre, Dance, and Music Performances
• Visual Arts Exhibits and Pop-Ups
• Collaborative Productions and World Premieres
• Family Activities, Culinary Arts, and More

From seasoned professionals to emerging talent, the Living Arts Festival gives a platform to everyone who makes our Cultural Coast shine.

Our annual “Rise and Shine Saturday” event gives students their first exposure to dance, music, theatre, art, and culinary arts, inspiring the next generation of artists and performers. Check out the photo gallery from last year!

While our founding organization, Sarasota Rising, nurtures local venues and performers year-round, the festival week showcases a diverse range of creatives: from large and established to small and new, and from professional to non-professional. Sarasota Rising will produce several significant events during festival week and support all other venue performances.

Learn more about Sarasota Rising.

Our monthly newsletter contains updates on the Living Arts Festival, Sarasota Rising , and collaborative events with our Cultural Coast organizations. Subscribe today and don’t miss a thing!