Visit Sarasota County is proud to celebrate the 21st annual Savor Sarasota Restaurant Week, a beloved tradition that began as a way to support our local restaurants during a traditionally slower time of the year. What started as a somewhat isolated event, Savor's efforts have grown into a signature week that not only drives business but also shines a spotlight on the incredible stories behind our culinary community.

From passionate chefs and dedicated owners to the unique recipes that define Sarasota County’s dining scene, we invite our restaurant partners across our region to sign up and be part of this exciting program. This year’s restaurant week will take place June 1–14, and we encourage our community and visitors alike to dine out and experience the diverse flavors our restaurants have to offer during this special celebration.

Participating restaurants will benefit from extensive PR and marketing exposure provided by Visit Sarasota County, making this a can’t-miss opportunity to showcase your brand and connect with new guests. If you haven’t already, sign-up to participate in this year’s Savor Sarasota HERE.

In service,

Erin Duggan, CDME - President & CEO

Friendly reminder that your referrals matter! Recommend a local business to our partner program and share this information with partnership@visitsarasota.org, and for every successful referral that completes the onboarding process (including payment), you’ll receive rewards – including a comped partnership after 3 referrals!

Our recent Partner Coffee headed back to Downtown Sarasota, at Sarasota’s first cat café, Katy’s Cat Café—proving that networking is even better with a side of caffeine and kitty cuddles.

Hosted by owner Marian Morcos, the gathering featured fresh croissants, baklava, and a charming group of adoptable feline “co-hosts” in partnership with Satchel’s Last Resort.

Katy’s also hosts events like “Portraits and Kitties” to Cat Qi Gong and Trivia Nights. If you haven’t visited, or are considering adding another purring family member, this is your sign to do so—don’t “paws,” just go.

SAVE THE DATE: For our next Tourism U webinar on tapping into global markets and sales with GOSH PR on April 29 at 10am.

We’ve launched an Events webpage where all of our event links will always be; we highly recommend bookmarking it.

Siesta Beach has been nominated for USA TODAY 10BEST Readers’ Choice – Best Beach in Florida. Mark your calendars - voting starts on April 20th and winner will be announced on May 27th. 

Siesta Key wins US News & World Report award for #1 Beach in the US!

Our network of partners is FULL of winners to celebrate! This year’s Community Choice Awards, powered by the Sarasota Herald-Tribune recognized so many of you – our outstanding partners. Catch the full list HERE.

If you made the list, or have secured any other recent accolade, we want to make sure all our visitors know about it! Log onto your Partner Portal to update your digital listing on VisitSarasota.com to include these hard-earned and well-deserved wins. Brag about yourselves! Don’t be shy!

Need help finding your credentials? Email partnership@visitsarasota.org.

Garden & Gun is now accepting submissions for its 2026 Made in the South Awards, celebrating standout Southern makers across categories including Style, Crafts, Home, Outdoors, Food, and Drink, plus a Sustainability Award.

Winners and runners-up will be featured in the December 2026/January 2027 issue, with one overall winner receiving a $10,000 prize.

Deadlines: Early entry (discounted fee): April 15 & Final submissions: June 1

Partners with exceptional products or stories are encouraged to apply.

April is always a jam-packed month for Visit Sarasota County, and 2026 is no exception, with multiple events taking place each week across a wide range of sports. 

The month kicks off with the Open Water National & Junior National Championships  (April 2-4) at Nathan Benderson Park, bringing elite swimmers including Olympians and international competitors to race in the 10K, 5K, and debut 3K knockout event, streaming live nationwide. At the same time, the LECOM Suncoast Classic (April 2-5) at Lakewood National Golf Club welcomes 156 professional golfers competing for a $1M purse in the only Florida stop on the Korn Ferry Tour, drawing over 17,000 spectators and national media coverage. On April 4, the USATKD Florida State Championships at Robarts Arena will serve as a key national qualifier for USA Taekwondo, attracting more than 350 athletes and 700 spectators.

The following weekend, the Sarasota Cup Girls Weekend (April 10-12) takes over Premier Sports Campus, welcoming 3,700+ athletes and 7,600 spectators for one of Florida’s premier youth soccer tournaments. Also, April 11-12, the FSRA State Sculling Championships return to Nathan Benderson Park, bringing over 1,400 athletes and 2,000 spectators for one of the nation’s largest youth rowing regattas.

Mid-month, the Senior PGA Championship (April 16-19) at The Concession Golf Club headlines the schedule as the first Major of the Champions Tour, drawing more than 31,000 attendees, while the YMCA Masters National Meet (April 16-19) at Selby Aquatic Center welcomes 350+ swimmers for its return to Sarasota. That same weekend, the Sarasota Cup Boys Weekend (April 17-19) will host over 580 teams, 6,500 athletes, and nearly 16,000 spectators at Premier Sports Campus, while the Sarasota International Dragon Boat Festival (April 18) brings a vibrant, community-driven event to Nathan Benderson Park with more than 1,300 participants.

To close out the month, the Spring Fling Skim Jam (April 25-26) at Nokomis Beach delivers international skimboarding competition with live broadcast coverage, alongside the FSRA State Sweep Championships (April 25-26) at Nathan Benderson Park, welcoming over 2,400 athletes and spectators for another major rowing event. The American Conference Men’s Golf Championship (April 27-29) at The Ritz-Carlton Members Golf Club rounds out the month with top collegiate competition broadcast on ESPN+.

Throughout April and into May, Fox Lea Farm’s Spring Concours Circuit keeps the equestrian calendar active with weekly competitions, continuing to drive visitation and showcase the region’s strength in hosting world-class events.

Visit Sarasota County will be exhibiting at Connect Marketplace in the Tampa Convention Center, August 24–26, and we are excited to invite our hotel partners to join us in our booth. If you are interested in attending, please let us know by April 15! 

What makes your business unique? 

The Bazaar on Apricot & Lime isn’t your typical retail space. It’s a funky, ever-changing marketplace where more than 40 local artists, makers, and small businesses share one colorful home. Every booth has its own personality, so walking through feels like discovering dozens of tiny shops filled with art, vintage finds, handmade goods, and unexpected treasures. With Hamlet’s Eatery right on site, people don’t just come to shop. They come to wander, eat, explore, and soak up the creative, community-driven energy that makes The Bazaar such a special place.

What would visitors find interesting/intriguing about your business?

Visitors are often surprised by how much there is to discover tucked inside The Bazaar. Every corner has something different going on, from vintage oddities and handmade art to funky fashion, home décor, and gifts you didn’t know you needed until you saw them. Because each vendor curates their own little world, wandering through feels a bit like a creative treasure hunt. People come in curious and end up exploring, chatting with makers, and usually leaving with a story about the unexpected thing they found.

Do you offer specials and/or any special events?

We are open Thursday - Saturday 10-3 year round and it always feels special mingling with our vendors. Most Saturdays, we host something extra. That could be live music, guest vendors, themed events, young entrepreneurs, or so much more. You never know what we will have in store so we always recommend being on our email list to be in the know!

How long have you been in operation?

We opened in May 2018. This May will be 8 years.

What are you currently working on/developing that you want to share and/or partner with other local businesses on?

We’re always excited to collaborate with other organizations in creative ways that benefit everyone involved. The Bazaar prides itself on being a true community space, and partnerships like these help bring new energy and experiences to our visitors. One of my favorite events this year was a theater showcase where several local theater groups performed throughout the day. It was such a fun way to highlight local talent and bring different parts of the arts community together in one place.

If you could describe what you do in one sentence, what would it be?

We create a vibrant home for local artists, makers, and small businesses where visitors can wander, discover unexpected treasures, grab a bite, and feel part of our community.

What do you value most about your VSC partnership?

VSC truly supports partners. They don't just talk the talk - you walk the walk!

Interacted with 5,409 visitors visitors and residents at the Visitors Centers.

Mailed and distributed 462 Visitor Guides and mailed 33 Relocation Packets.

Created 375 info bags for various groups.