15 | SOUTHWEST FLORIDA • NEWCOMERS GUIDE TO PARADISE
OCTOBER
Sun Fiesta: Features arts and crafts, Miss Sun
Fiesta, bed races, music and more. Centennial Park,
200 W. Venice Ave, Venice www.womenssertoma.com/
sun-fi esta.
Haunted Trails: Scary moments with costumed
monsters, noises and lights. Oscar Scherer State Park,
1843 S. Tamiami Trail. www.friendsofoscarscherer.com/
haunted-trails.
Halloween Notte: Includes a haunted house,
pumpkin patch, pony rides, food, games, zombie
paintball, ghost stories, hayrides and more. Charlotte
County Fairgrounds, 2333 El Jobean Road, Port
Charlotte. halloweennotte.com.
Haunting on the Harbor: Halloween festival
and haunted house in downtown Punta Gorda.
puntagordahaunting.com.
Tour De North Port: Explore North Port on either
a 15-, 35- or 65-mile route. The ride benefi ts People for
Trees. www.peoplefortrees.com.
All Florida Championship Fall Rodeo: Includes
bareback bronc riding, steer wrestling, team roping,
saddle bronc riding, tie down roping, barrel racing and
bull riding. arcadiarodeo.com.
Sarasota Rocktoberfest: An authentic 3-day
Oktoberfest experience coupled with live musical
performances in JD Hamel Park, 199 Bayfront Drive,
Sarasota. https://bit.ly/3uHIC98.
Charlotte County 'Fit for Life' Senior Games:
This Olympic-style event focuses on athletic competition
and recreation opportunities for men and women 50
and over. Events will take place at various Charlotte
County recreation facilities and parks. www.Tinyurl.
com/2022SeniorGames.
NOVEMBER
Sarasota Medieval Fair: Enjoy the majesty
and madness of knights, jesters, minstrels, belly
dancers, wenches, and sword swingers. Woods of
Mallaranny, 29847 FL-70 E., Myakka City. www.
SarasotaMedievalFair.com.
Downtown Venice Art Festival: Artists will
exhibit and sell work in a variety of mediums during
this weekend community festival. www.artfestival.com/
festivals/downtown-venice-art-festival-venice-fl orida.
Waterfest: Features the Offshore Powerboat
Association World Championship at Englewood Beach.
englewoodbeachwaterfest.com.
Lighting of the Village: Fishermen's Village is
decorated with more than a million lights to bring in the
Christmas season. 1200 W. Retta Esplanade, Punta
Gorda. www.fi shville.com.
Venice Holiday Parade: The parade is the Saturday
night after Thanksgiving. veniceholidayparade.com.
International Sand Sculpting Festival: Artists
converge on Siesta Key to compete in an amazing sand
sculpting competition. Plus lessons, demonstration,
live music and more. 948 Beach Road, Sarasota. www.
siestakeycrystalclassic.com.
Florida International Air Show 2023: The
show is at Punta Gorda Airport and hosts jets and
planes, including stunt teams, antique planes and
displays. 28000 Airport Road www.fl oridaairshow.com.
'Artful Lobster': This signature event raises valuable
funds for the Hermitage Artist Retreat's artist residency
program. 6660 Manasota Key Road, Englewood.
HermitageArtistRetreat.org/ArtfulLobster2022.
DECEMBER
Venice Boat Parade: Decorated boats will take
to the intercoastal waterway to celebrate the holiday
season. www.venicechristmasboatparade.com.
Punta Gorda Lighted Boat Parade: Lighted
boat parade sponsored by the Punta Gorda Isles Civic
Association. www.puntagordaboatparade.com.
The Wonderland of Lights: Enjoy a plethora of
festive pageantry as you journey through more than
a mile of spectacular light display and holiday wonder
at the Charlotte County Fairgrounds, 2333 El Jobean
Road, Port Charlotte. https://thewonderlandofl ights.
com.
Poinsettia Parade and Festival: Gather your
friends or family and kick off the holiday season with a
whole lot of holly jolly fun at the annual Poinsettia Parade
& Festival. North Port. www.visitsarasota.com/events.
Punta Gorda Christmas Parade: Steps off
at noon from Charlotte High School and ends at
the Charlotte Harbor Event & Conference Center.
puntagordachamber.com.
Tree lighting: Join Venice Area Beautifi cation, Inc for
the annual tree lighting. www.vabi.org.
Punta Gorda Tree Lighting: Annual tree lighting
in downtown Punta Gorda. Live music, Santa Claus and
snow in the forecast.
Pineapple Drop: In a bit of a quirky tradition, the
city of Sarasota hosts tens of thousands for its annual
Pineapple Drop at midnight on New Year's Eve. It takes
place at the intersection of Lemon Avenue and Main
Street in downtown Sarasota. www.visitsarasota.com
New Year's Eve fi reworks: Fireworks display at
Fishermen's Village in Punta Gorda. www.fi shville.com.
Selby Gardens' Lights in Bloom: One of the
most visually stunning event of the holiday season,
features two million lights in the gardens and walkways
that will be transformed into illuminated tunnels. selby.
org.
OCTOBER
Sun Fiesta Features arts and crafts, Miss Sun
show is at Punta Gorda Airport and hosts jets and
planes, including stunt teams, antique planes and
displays. 28000 Airport Road www.fl oridaairshow.com.
'Artful Lobster'
funds for the Hermitage Artist Retreat's artist residency
Communi Events
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