As the City of Sarasota continues to reaffirm its commitment to hosting the best in dining, entertainment and retail, the Downtown Improvement District (DID) unveiled its plans for a new monthly event initiative – Fresh Fridays. The initiative is expected to elevate Downtown Sarasota’s profile by offering themed events on the first Friday of each month. Each event will take a fresh approach to engage residents and visitors with dynamic opportunities to celebrate the city’s diverse music, food and arts assets.

The Fresh Friday inaugural event will take place on Friday, November 5 from 8:00 PM to 11:00 PM within the same area as the Saturday Farmer’s Market on Lemon Avenue between First Street and Paul N. Thorpe Jr. Park. Called “Best Night Ever,” the event features live music and digital light displays throughout the cobbled Lemon Avenue corridor, setting the tone for the festive outdoor programming to come. “This is a passion project I’ve been really excited about for a long time,” says Mayor Hagen Brody of the initiative. "It's high time to bring our community out and back together to enjoy the heart of our beautiful city once again," Brody added. 

Other scheduled Fresh Friday monthly themes include a dance party, a live wedding, neighbors and newcomers night, Sarasota’s finest chefs and a holiday-themed night, with inclusivity and revelry at the heart of every event. For DID board member and State Street Eating House + Cocktails owner Chris Voelker, the events offer a great opportunity for downtown businesses. “The DID has always worked with the city to make sure downtown is a hospitality, retail and cultural center for the region,” said Voelker. “So, it makes perfect sense to offer an elevated event series in the evening. We want this pilot series to show how impactful it is for businesses when people get out and about.”

For more information, visit FreshFridaysSarasota.com