Pictured: Fresh Fridays enhances the urban environment of Sarasota. Photo Courtesy of Next-Mark, LLC.

With the start of season just around the corner, there’s no shortage of fun and exciting events for Sarasotans to enjoy. Among those is Fresh Fridays, a monthly event series in downtown Sarasota made possible by Next-Mark, LLC, the Downtown Improvement District and the City of Sarasota. This year marks the third season of Fresh Fridays, which creates a block-party atmosphere, complete with live music, tasty eats and more. “We started Fresh Fridays in November of 2021. At the time, the driver was Commissioner Hagen Brody. What he wanted to do was create events that really elevated the whole downtown experience where people could come, have super high-quality entertainment and be part of that rich downtown experience,” says Next-Mark President Joseph Grano, the event’s producer.

Each month has a different theme, and October’s is Paint the Town Fresh, a nod to the city’s arts community. “We’ve always gone out of our way to get super high-end live entertainment, not just from this area but from across the state,” he adds. “We’ve always kept it free, and we don’t have VIP areas. Everyone is on an equal playing field.” Attendees will enjoy affordable light bites and drinks from beloved Sarasota restaurants including Beso, Art Ovation Hotel and Azul Steak and Sushi Lounge. All food and drink purchases are required to be under $10. They will have the opportunity to partake in classic games like Jumbo Jenga and the ever-popular cornhole. Another highlight is the free signature giveaway, which people stand in line to receive. “In October, we’re launching a digital guestbook. People can sign in on their phones, drop a video and create a whole string of content with videos and photos that we’ll post on social,” Grano says. The Brett Foreman Band will perform, giving guests a wonderful dancing soundtrack. “It’s music you can dance to. That was one of the biggest discoveries for us,” he adds, “because I didn’t know how much Sarasota loves to dance.”

Grano hopes that the October kick-off will help Sarasotans get back into the swing of things following the slower summertime months, with more innovative themes to come such as Art and Jazz in November and Fresh and Frosty in December for the holidays. “Early interest in the October event is at an all-time high,” Grano says. “The real success of it is that you can have a downtown experience that’s safe, welcoming and free.”

Paint the Town Fresh runs from 7-10pm on Main Street in Downtown Sarasota. To learn more, visit downtownsarasotadid.com/fresh-fridays, Instagram at downtownsarasotadid or Facebook at Downtown Sarasota.

Pictured: Fresh Fridays enhances the urban environment of Sarasota. Photo Courtesy of Next-Mark, LLC.

Fresh Fridays