The St. Armands Fall Festival of the Arts fills St. Armands Circle with artists' booths this weekend, Saturday, October 17, and Sunday, October 18, 2026. Admission is free, and it's one of the easiest art festivals in Sarasota to enjoy on foot, since the shops, restaurants and Lido Beach are all a short walk away. Our shop sits right on the Circle, so this guide covers what you need for a smooth visit: hours, where the booths are, how parking works this weekend, and a few tips for making a day of it.
St. Armands Fall Festival of the Arts at a Glance
- Dates: Saturday, October 17, and Sunday, October 18, 2026.
- Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days.
- Where: St. Armands Circle, the shopping district on St. Armands Key between downtown and Lido Key.
- Organizer: Paragon Festivals.
- Admission: free.
- What you'll see: painting, sculpture, jewelry, photography, glass, ceramics, fiber art, mixed media, metalwork and woodworking, with the artists on hand at their booths.
- Parking: the city garage at 57 N. Adams Drive plus metered street spaces. Details below.
What to Expect at the Festival
Think of it as an outdoor gallery. Artists from Florida and around the country set up white tents and show original work, and the person in the booth is usually the person who made it. That's the best part of a show like this: you can ask how a piece was made, what inspired it, and whether it will survive the trip home.
The organizer's published festival address is 434 St. Armands Circle, and last year's show spread all around the Circle. Expect booths along the sidewalks and around the park in the middle, with the regular shops and restaurants open behind them. Paragon hasn't posted an exact artist count for 2026, so plan on browsing rather than racing through.
Our tip: walk the full loop once before you buy. The Circle is a ring, so it's easy to see everything and come back to the booth you can't stop thinking about.
Parking This Weekend
Parking is the question we hear most on any festival weekend, and it matters more when the Circle is busy. Here's how it works.
The St. Armands garage. The city garage is at 57 N. Adams Drive, a short walk from the Circle, with room for about 480 cars plus a small surface lot next door. On a normal day, your first hour is free once you register your license plate in the city's Passport parking app or at a pay station. After that, the city charges $2 for the first two hours combined and $1 for each additional hour. The garage is gateless, so pay or register within 15 minutes of parking to avoid a ticket.
Special event and Sunday rules. The city says its garages are free on Sundays and holidays, and that it may charge a flat $5 rate during special events. The Observer reported $5 garage parking during last year's fall festival. Read the signs and the app when you pull in, since event rates can differ from the everyday rules.
Street parking. Spaces around the Circle and side streets cost $1.50 an hour from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Monday through Saturday. Sunday street parking has been free, but check the meter before you walk away.
Our advice: come before 10 a.m. on Saturday, park in the garage, and walk. If you'd rather avoid the Saturday rush, Sunday is a good alternative, and the garage is normally free that day.
Skip the Car: Trolley and Walking Options
If you're staying downtown, the free Bay Runner trolley connects downtown, St. Armands Circle and Lido Beach. Check SarasotaBayRunner.com for current hours and stops before you go. Staying on Lido Key? You can walk over to the Circle and leave the car at your hotel.
Tips for a Great Festival Day
- Go early. The first hour is the best time to talk with artists before the crowds build, and it's cooler.
- Dress for sun. October afternoons here are still warm, and much of the festival is outdoors with little shade between booths. A hat, sunscreen and water make a long browse a lot more pleasant.
- Ask about shipping. Many artists can ship larger pieces, which helps if you flew in. Ask before you buy.
- Bring a tote. Small prints, jewelry and ceramics travel better in a sturdy bag than in your hands.
- Find the restrooms. Public restrooms are inside the St. Armands parking garage.
- Take a break. Lunch on a patio under the palms is half the fun of a day on the Circle. Our St. Armands Circle guide covers where to eat, the history and the Circus Ring of Fame plaques you'll walk past.
What to Bring (and What to Take Home)
We're at 410 St. Armands Circle, open every day from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., so you can stop in before the booths open at 10 or after they close at 5. A few things that help on a festival day:
- A hat for the sun. The Lido Key Cap Rempa Navy is an easy pick if you're heading to the beach afterward. Browse more in hats and visors.
- Sunscreen. Sun Bum Mineral Sunscreen Spray is quick to reapply between booths.
- Water. A refillable Sarasota Water Bottle keeps you going through a long afternoon outside.
- A light sun shirt. The Sarasota Performance Keys Long Sleeve covers your arms without feeling heavy, and it has a map of the keys on it.
- A souvenir that says where you were. The Lido Key Tee is a simple way to remember a weekend on the Circle and the beach next door.
Make It a Weekend: Lido Beach and More Art Ahead
The festival ends at 5 p.m., which leaves plenty of time for the beach. Lido Beach is a short walk or trolley ride west of the Circle and faces the Gulf, so it's a natural place to end the day with the sunset.
If you can't make it this weekend, more art is coming. The St. Armands Circle Association lists a Fall Art Festival and Sidewalk Sale on the Circle for November 14 and 15, 2026, and Paragon's calendar shows its spring St. Armands Fine Art Festival over Memorial Day weekend 2027. Our art festivals calendar keeps the season in one place. Dates can shift, so check each organizer's site before you plan around one.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the St. Armands Fall Festival of the Arts in 2026?
The festival runs Saturday, October 17, and Sunday, October 18, 2026, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days.
Is the St. Armands art festival free?
Yes. Admission is free. You only pay for parking and anything you buy from the artists.
Who organizes the St. Armands Fall Festival of the Arts?
Paragon Festivals produces the fall show on St. Armands Circle. Details are on ParagonFestivals.com.
Where is the festival on St. Armands Circle?
Booths are set up around the Circle itself, on St. Armands Key between downtown Sarasota and Lido Key. The organizer lists the address as 434 St. Armands Circle.
Where do I park for the St. Armands art festival?
The easiest option is the city garage at 57 N. Adams Drive. The city may charge a flat $5 rate during special events, and street spaces cost $1.50 an hour from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday.
Is parking free at St. Armands on Sunday?
The city says its garages are free on Sundays and holidays, and street meters are enforced Monday through Saturday. Special event rates can apply, so check the signs when you arrive.
Are there restrooms at the festival?
Public restrooms are inside the St. Armands parking garage on N. Adams Drive.
What kind of art is at the festival?
Expect painting, sculpture, jewelry, photography, glass, ceramics, fiber art, mixed media, metalwork and woodworking, with the artists at their booths.
Are the shops on St. Armands Circle open during the festival?
Yes, the Circle's shops and restaurants stay open. The Sarasota Style at 410 St. Armands Circle is open every day from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Can I walk to Lido Beach from the festival?
Yes. Lido Beach is a short walk west of St. Armands Circle, and the free Bay Runner trolley also connects the Circle with the beach and downtown.
What other art festivals are coming to St. Armands Circle?
The St. Armands Circle Association lists a Fall Art Festival and Sidewalk Sale for November 14 and 15, 2026. Check the organizers' sites for later dates.
Come Say Hello
Whether you're here for the art, the beach or both, stop by 410 St. Armands Circle. We're happy to point you toward the garage, the restrooms or the beach, and if the sun gets the better of you, we have hats. Not in town this weekend? You can shop Lido Key online anytime.