Explore North Sarasota

North Sarasota offers several distinct reasons to plan a trip: Newtown’s history, seasonal stage programs, and The Ringling with its grounds on the bay. Start by choosing your main interest; specific performances change with the season.

Newtown’s history across several locations

The Newtown neighborhood is in North Sarasota and includes the Newtown Historic District. On April 19, 2024, the district was officially added to the National Register of Historic Places. This date provides a clear point of reference alongside the older construction and founding dates of individual institutions.

The Greater Newtown Historical Gallery displays photographs, newspaper clippings, artifacts, and memorabilia related to the neighborhood’s history. The Newtown Heritage Trail offers another way to explore it: the trail includes 15 historic markers placed throughout the community. In this way, a collection of images and memorabilia differs from a theme spread across numerous markers in the neighborhood. If you want to explore Newtown’s history, this distinction can help you decide whether you’re most interested in objects, documents, or the markers.

The Betty J. Johnson North Sarasota Library also houses material on local history: historic photographs, books on Black history, and exhibits on Newtown’s cultural heritage. These collections and exhibits broaden the perspective offered by the Gallery and Heritage Trail with books and library exhibits.

Two dates are important for the Historic Leonard Reid House: it was built in 1926 and moved from Overtown to Newtown in 2022. The construction year and its later relocation describe different parts of its history. The Greater Hurst Chapel AME Church in Newtown was founded in 1928 and is a cornerstone of the Newtown community. The neighborhood thus offers both the story of a relocated house and that of an institution important to the community.

Plan around seasonal performances

For live theater, the Asolo Repertory Theatre in North Sarasota is a clearly identified destination. It presents up to ten productions per season; the lineup changes with the season. “Up to” indicates a maximum, not a fixed number for every season. If a performance is the focus of your stay, check the schedule before you travel and plan your dates around the specific program.

Another seasonal option is the Visual and Performing Arts department at Booker High School in Newtown, which presents performances and events. Together with the Asolo Repertory Theatre, it offers a way to compare seasonal schedules and event offerings: alongside live theater, seasonal events are also on the agenda here. Because programs vary, the specific date matters if you want to include a performance in your travel plans.

The Ringling and its grounds on the bay

The Ringling in North Sarasota has 66 acres of grounds on the bay. The size of the property makes it a focus in its own right, alongside stage programs tied to specific dates. These are two distinctly different reasons to visit: for a performance, you plan around the schedule, while The Ringling’s distinctive feature described here is the size and location of its grounds.

Explore more destinations

Explore more destinations: Gulf Gate Estates, Englewood, The Meadows, North Port, Venice Gardens, South Venice, Vamo, Longboat Key.

For the overview of the wider area: Sarasota.