Sunday, September 13 | 11 am–5 pm
In Sarasota, where a morning at the beach can turn easily into an afternoon of music, galleries, and conversation, the best cultural outings often begin with a simple invitation: come as you are, brin
By Edit Sarasota Staff
In Sarasota, where a morning at the beach can turn easily into an afternoon of music, galleries, and conversation, the best cultural outings often begin with a simple invitation: come as you are, bring the family, and stay awhile. On Sunday, September 13, that invitation arrives in the form of a day devoted to art, performance, and the pleasure of making something with your own hands.
Held on the second Sunday of each month, the program offers free admission to visitors, opening the doors to an arts experience that feels welcoming rather than formal. That matters in a community as culturally rich—and as varied—as Sarasota. Families with young children, longtime patrons, seasonal residents, and curious first-time visitors can share the same rooms, encounter the same works, and find different ways into the conversation.
The day’s special performances add an element of occasion, bringing the energy of live presentation into an environment typically associated with quiet looking. Just as important are the art-making activities designed for the whole family. These invitations to create offer a useful reminder that art is not only something to admire from a distance. It can also be playful, tactile, collaborative, and wonderfully imperfect.
There is particular value in a recurring program like this one. A single visit can be memorable, but a monthly gathering can become part of the rhythm of family life—a standing date that encourages return visits and lets children grow more comfortable in cultural spaces. For Sarasota, a city whose identity is closely tied to the arts, that kind of accessibility helps sustain the next generation of audiences, makers, and patrons.
Visitors can shape the day as they please: arrive for the opening hours, spend time with the exhibitions, join an activity, catch a performance, and linger over the parts that spark the most interest. The generous five-hour schedule leaves room for an unhurried Sunday, with no pressure to experience everything at once.
The family art and culture program takes place from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday, September 13, 2026, at its Sarasota host venue. Admission is free, and the event welcomes visitors of all ages.