Top Things to Do in Sarasota January Through April

Up-close and personal with MLB stars, exclusive art tours, and a seafood festival are just a few reasons to visit Sarasota, Florida, during these select winter and spring months.

There’s a reason so many travelers flock to Sarasota during the winter and spring months. With sunny skies, comfortable temperatures often hovering in the 70s, and some of Florida’s most beautiful beaches, it’s an especially appealing time to trade winter layers for flip-flops. But there’s plenty more to this Gulf Coast destination than spending your days stretched out on the sand.

From January through April, Sarasota’s cultural calendar comes alive with art, opera, spring training baseball, and festivals, while the mild weather makes getting out on the water all the more inviting. Here are some of the best things to see and do during these four months.

SARASOTA ACTIVITIES & ATTRACTIONS

Sip & See Art on the Annual Art Crawl Trolley Tours

On select Fridays only during the months of January through April, Discover Sarasota Tours breaks out three of their 31-seat air-conditioned trolley for their annual Art Crawl Trolley Tours. Guided by local watercolorist and Sarasota art scene expert, Jerome Chesley (pictured above), the three-hour tours offer two routes showcasing the city’s downtown and Southside arts scenes. Depending on the route, you’ll visit local favorites like Creative Liberties Gallery, Art Center Sarasota, or Chasen’s Art Gallery, with a private museum tour along the way. The best part – beyond getting an inside look at Sarasota’s thriving art scene? An included lunch at a local restaurant to round out the afternoon.

Spot Wintering Birds at the Celery Fields

Winter visitors aren’t just flocking to Sarasota for the sunshine. From January through March, migratory birds make their seasonal home at the Celery Fields, a 400-acre wetland preserve just east of downtown Sarasota. With more than 200 bird species recorded in the area, including roseate spoonbills, herons, egrets, and a variety of wintering waterfowl, it’s a birdwatcher’s paradise. Explore the preserve’s walking trails and boardwalks on your own, or join a guided bird walk with the Sarasota Audubon Society for an expert’s eye on the feathered residents that make this time of year particularly special.

Visit “Birdland South” During MLB Spring Training

From February through March, Ed Smith Stadium becomes the spring training home for the Baltimore Orioles. Thanks to an intimate 8,500-seat capacity, fans can get closer to the action than at regular-season games, making it easier to interact with players and even snag a few autographs. Known as “Birdland South,” the renovated stadium blends retro charm with modern amenities, enhanced by affordable ticket prices and family-friendly activities.

Mingle with Manatees Before They Migrate

Thanks to an abundance of seagrass beds and warm-water outflows from power plants as well as natural springs that feed the area, Sarasota Bay provides the perfect winter refuge for cold-sensitive manatees, where the mammals mingle in large numbers until the end of March. For your best chance of getting up close with these slow-moving gentle giants, look for kayak tours that paddle around Lido Key mangrove tunnels. You’ll not only get to witness the exotic system of secluded mangrove tunnels but maybe a manatee or two.

Indulge in the Winter Opera Season

The upcoming 2027 Winter Opera Festival – an annual tradition by the Sarasota Opera House – promises to hit all the high notes with four productions taking the historic stage of the 1926 Mediterranean Revival opera house from February 6 through March 21. This year’s lineup includes Giuseppe Verdi’s romantic tragedy La traviata, Richard Strauss’s Ariadne auf Naxos, and H.M.S. Pinafore, marking Sarasota Opera’s first-ever production of a Gilbert and Sullivan work. Rounding out the season is Leoš Janáček’s Jenůfa, featuring world-renowned soprano Karita Mattila in her Sarasota Opera debut.

2027 SARASOTA FESTIVALS & EVENTS

Sarasota Seafood & Music Festival | January 8–10, 2027

This lively annual weekend event brings together delicious fresh seafood, live music, and a vibrant atmosphere at the Sarasota Fairgrounds. Mouthwatering seafood dishes are prepared by local and regional chefs, alongside a variety of other culinary options, while live music spans genres like rock, jazz, blues, and reggae, creating the perfect soundtrack for a day of fun. The festival also includes an array of arts and crafts vendors, interactive activities, and a welcoming community vibe.

Thunder by the Bay Music & Motorcycle Festival | February 19–21, 2027

Raising funds for Suncoast Charities for Children, this signature annual Sarasota event features high-energy performances from national and local bands, as well as thrilling bike shows, charity rides, and scenic cruises across three days. This year, Friday TBA headlines the Friday night entertainment.

Circus Sarasota | February 19–March 21 2027

Step right up for a circus spectacular a century in the making! Celebrating 100 years of circus history in Sarasota, the 2027 production promises an extra-special tribute to the city’s storied legacy as the winter home of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus. Under the Big Top at University Town Center, internationally acclaimed acrobats, aerialists, and daredevils – including performers from America’s Got Talent and the prestigious Monte Carlo Circus Festival – will come together for five weeks of breathtaking acts and larger-than-life entertainment.

Sarasota County Fair | March 19–28, 2027

For a little old-fashioned fun, head to the Sarasota County Fairgrounds for 10 days of carnival rides, midway games, classic fair food, and family-friendly entertainment. Beyond the bright lights of the midway, this annual tradition celebrates Sarasota’s agricultural roots with livestock shows, exhibits, and competitions that offer a taste of local life.

Farm to Fillet | March 14, 2027

Hosted under the towering shady oaks at the 200-acre Mote Aquaculture Research Park in eastern Sarasota, this one-of-a-kind dining experience treats guests to a gourmet multi-course meal featuring fresh, sustainably raised seafood straight from the surrounding aquaculture farm. But beside a delicious meal, expect expertly paired fine wines, engaging conversations, and behind-the-scenes insights into Mote’s groundbreaking efforts in sustainable seafood production.

Sarasota Film Festival | April 9–18, 2027

This 10-day Florida film fest offers a diverse lineup of screenings that draws filmmakers, actors, and film enthusiasts from around the globe. In addition to the thought-provoking documentaries, narrative features, international films, and shorts, the festival is also known for its engaging panel discussions, Q&A sessions with filmmakers, and star-studded red-carpet events. In 2024, actor Steve Buscemi attended, participating in a Q&A that followed a screening of one of his most recent films.