Sarasota is the right place to come if you’re looking for an active “art scene” from galleries along Palm Avenue to museums and performing arts. These include the Art Center of Sarasota, Florida State University Center for Performing Arts, Glenridge Performing Arts Center, Golden Apple Dinner Theatre, Houdini’s Showplace, Sarasota Ballet of Florida, Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, John & Mable Ringling Museum of Arts and the Tibbals Learning Center, Beatrice Friedman Theater at the Flanzer JCC, and Longboat Key Center for the Arts.

The Ringling Circus Museum is located on the 66-acre Ringling Estate and features costumes and historic circus objects. It also offers tours and courtyard concerts.

Among the popular annual art events are the Town of Longboat Key Open Juried Exhibition, the Circus Spectacular Family Festival, the “Visions of Art” Art Walk downtown, and the Winter Arts Festival.