Great Dining and live Music in Venice Florida

Cafe Venice

You love great dining and live music? Café Venice in downtown Venice is THE place for you.

If you are looking for delicious dining with live music, Cafe Venice in downtown Venice has it for you. Catch great live music from 7pm to 10pm Fridays and Saturdays.

How about Deven Starr on June 25th or Ramona Hermansa on June 26th?

Café Venice is a small, intimate bistro-style restaurant featuring an exquisite menu with American Cuisine with Homemade sauces, specialty side dishes, and delectable desserts paired with a fine wine selection. Whether you are looking for a casual spot to enjoy lunch and a glass of wine or an intimate location to celebrate your anniversary or special occasion, the staff at Café Venice will welcome you and ensure you have a great dining experience.

More info on cafevenicerestaurantandbar.com

Cafe Venice  Cafe Venice

 

Myakka River Blues Festival at Snook Haven in Venice on May 31

Myakka River Blues Festival

Don’t miss the 9th Annual Myakka River Blues Festival at Snook Haven on Memorial Day – Monday, May 31st. Rain or shine, enjoy the festival along the River from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Snook Haven is one of Florida’s most unique restaurants, tucked away on the banks of the Myakka River in a true Old Florida setting and a perfect venue for this annual festival. Proceeds from the event will benefit Venice Challenger Baseball, a non-profit adaptive baseball league designed for children and adults with special needs.

Tickets are available for purchase online at www.eventbrite.com and will cost $10. Ticket sales will be limited to a maximum of 600 to keep audience size minimal and allow adequate spacing for social distancing.

The lineup for this year’s festival will appeal to all audiences, with styles from Western New York, Americana and crossover blues to everything in between.

Please go to their website for more info and order your tickets now!

snookhaven.com

Snook Haven

Siesta Key Crystal Classic Nov 15 – 18

Siesta Key Sand Sculpting

Sand Sculpting Festival in Sarasota

You are fascinated by sand artists who create magnificent sand buildings? Come to Siesta Key Beach from 15.-18. November 2019!

“The Siesta Key Crystal Classic” is an amazing Master Sand Sculpting competition. Since 2010, international sand sculpting artists meet every November to create numerous sculptures out of tons of fine sand. The jury selects winners for solo and team artists. The announcement will be made on Sunday afternoon.

Competitions

Even for amateurs there will be the opportunity to prove their skills in the “The Crystal Classic Amateur Competition”. For this competition on Saturday, there are different classes. The winners will be awarded the same day.

The “Quick Sand Contests”, which take place several times on Friday and Saturday, are also fascinating. Within 10 minutes, a participant has to create something out of a pile of sand, that fits to a given word. The applause of the audience will be used as an indicator for the best result. Winners advance to the next round. The competition culminates at the finals on Sunday at 12:30.

Highlights

Other highlights of the festival are:

– Learning Curve Tent with tips for building yourself

– Bearfoot Beach Party Tent with live music and bar

– Vendor Village with food, drink and stalls

– Evening illumination of the sculptures

Info

More info at siestakeycrystalclassic.com.

 

Siesta Key Sand Sculpting

Celebrate Downtown Venice Day – August 11th 2019

Venice Day

The Venice Downtown Beaufication Project is finished. Come and enjoy the beautiful result on  Downtown Venice Day, Saturday, August 11, 2019.

The event starts at noon with a free trolley tour of the city. You will be accompanied by Harry Klinkhamer, Manager of Historical Resources. Learn interesting and amusing facts about the history of the “City on the Gulf”. One lap lasts 45 minutes and starts at the kiosk of the Centennial Park. The trolley will go until 3 pm in the afternoon.

Be active

If you like to be active, bring your bike! At 12.30 pm and at 4 pm, a guided tour will start at the Gazebo in Centennial Park. The bicycle experts from “Bicycles International” will bring you on a leisurely trip to and from the Jetties. For those interested, there is also a free “Fix-a-Flat” workshop where you will learn how to easily and quickly mend a flat tire yourself. The workshop starts at 3:30 pm at the Gazebo.

Local businesses

How about visiting a full-face-painting artist at work? You will meet him by the kiosk between 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. Or relax with with Afternoon High Tea – at 2 pm at “Café 124” and at 3 am in the “Upper Crust”. Other restaurants and shops along the roads offer specials, raffles and appetizers, such as the famous Rum Punch of the “Down Island Way Boutique”.

Moving into the evening, downtown goers will be able to enjoy extended Happy Hours at “Daiquiri Deck”, “TJ Carney’s”, “Made in Italy”, “Abby’s on Miami”, and “Ciao Gelato” (Wine & Gelato Floats) from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Are you a wine lover? “Café Longet” between 5 and 7 pm, to “Olive Grove Wine Bar” or the “Zebra Piano Bar Lounge” welcome you for a wine tasting.

Organizers

Celebrate Downtown Venice Day is organized by Venice Newcomers Club and Newcomers of Venice Alumni.

Read more here.

Venice Day    Venice Day

Welcome to the Downtown Venice Craft Festival January 26 + 27

craft festival Venice

Downtown Venice Florida with its lovely historic buildings is the perfect setting for a Craft Festival. Along West Venice Avenue, some of the nation’s best crafters offer a wide variety of ceramics, jewelry, metal works and much more. Stroll along the numerous small stands and talk directly with the artists. Chances are good that you fell in love with something that seems to be perfect for you or your home.

There is also a Green Market with live flora and delicious food such as freshly popped kettle corn and spicy sauces.

Combine your visit with some shopping in the unique little stores and enjoy a rest at one of the cozy cafés, restaurants and bars within the charming downtown streets of Venice, the City on the Gulf.

12th Annual Downtown Venice Craft Festival

When:                       Saturday, January 26th, 2019 – 10:00am to 5:00pm

Sunday, January 27th, 2019 – 10:00am to 5:00pm

Where:                     401 West Venice Ave in Venice, FL

Cost:                         Free Admission

Info:                         artfestival.com

Enjoy the Venice Christmas Boat Parade on Dec 1st

Venice Christmas Boat Parade

The Venice Christmas Boat Parade is an amazing attraction since 1989. Every year it gets bigger and better. Off course, Venice with its Intercoastal Waterway is the perfect place for a boat parade, as there are a lot of public areas for visitors to enoy the beautifully lighted and decorated boats passing by. There are also several great restaurants along the water that offer spectacular views.

The parade starts December 1st at 6 pm just north of the Albee Rd. Bridge near Casey Key. It continues down the Intracoastal Waterway and out to the channel marker in the jetty. The parade continues south and turns around before Circus Bridge.

Best is to have a look at the map to pick your favorite location. And be sure to be early as this event is very popular!

For info please visit the website VeniceChristmasBoatParade.com.

Venice Christmas Boat Parade

Where to eat in Venice: Snook Haven at Myakka River

Snook Haven

Experience Snook Haven, one of Florida’s most unique restaurants, tucked away on the banks of the Myakka River in a true Old Florida setting. Enjoy your meal in the dining room, or on the deck while taking in the peaceful view of the river and wildlife.

Snook Haven features a delicious Back Woods Smokehouse menu featuring ribs, chicken, pulled pork as well as fresh fish, and shrimp. They have over 30 different beers to choose from, including some of Florida’s own craft beers, and other international favorites.  Snook’s outdoor stage is home to a rich history of local live music entertainment. Check out their monthly entertainment calendar to see who is performing. Come out for an afternoon of blues, country, rock music and more!

River Tours and canoe/kayak rentals

You are looking for activities? Book a River Tour or rent a canoe or kayak with Logan River Tours.

More info

Read more about the History of Snook Haven here. For opening hours and menu as well as for river tours and boat rentals please go to their website snookhaven.com.

Snook Haven

 

How about a Venice Culinary Tour?

Venice Culinary Tour

 

Take your taste buds on a culinary adventure in beautiful Venice!

You are on vacation in Venice and would love to learn more about this city so rich in architecture and history? Even Thomas Edison enjoyed the early social life on his frequent visits to Venice.

Do you know how the intracoastals were dredged? Wouldn’t it be great to hear about Megalodons, that swam in local waters over 2 million years ago? Ponce de Leon, the famous Spanish conquistador, is said to have died nearby.

And wouldn’t it be absolute fantastic to combine all this interesting stuff with delectable food?

Book a Key Culinary Tour through Venice! Their experienced food tour guides are chosen for their knowledge of the area as well as their love of food and all things culinary. They provide an entertaining and memorable event, and of course, the cuisine samplings will delight and excite you!

To book your ultimate culinary experience and for more info, please visit the website keyculinarytours.com.

 

Venice-Culinary-Tour-1

Venice Culinary Tour

Venice Culinary Tour

Come and visit the 26th Annual Downtown Venice Craft Festival June 16 + 17

Venice Arts Festival 2018

The charming city of Venice in Sarasota County is the location of this popular event. Some of the nation’s best crafters will gather at City Hall. Peruse booths filled with stained glass, photography, personalized products for children and dogs alike, and much more!

Find original art and unique gift items. This is a real alternative to crowded mall shopping.

You can also stroll the Green Market for plants, handmade soaps, tangy BBQ sauces, and live orchids.

Admission is free. For direction and info, please visit the artfestival’s website.

Oscar Scherer’s 29th Annual Earth Day – April 21 – Oscar Scherer Statepark Osprey FL

Oscar Scherer State Park

Celebrate Earth Day in the great outdoors of Oscar Scherer State Park in Osprey.

Enjoy a day full of planned, fun family-oriented activities like live music, earth friendly food vendors, tram tours and kayaking. There will be a photo contest & exhibit and some guided hikes.

Oscar Scherer’s 29th Annual Earth Day will be Sat. April 21st. Free Event 10:00 – 4:00. Check back on their website for more information and beginning April 1st see 22 days with 22 ways to help the environment with a random winner each day and a top winner announced at the festival.

The park is over 1,380 acres in size, with 15 miles of nature walks and a 3 acre fresh-water lake, Lake Osprey, where you can rent canoes and kayaks as well. And there’s a playground for the kids.

Make sure to get a list of the day’s schedule and activities when you stop at the ranger booth at the entrance.

Oscar Scherer State Park
1843 S Tamiami Trail
Osprey FL 34229
941.483.5956