Sarasota Seafood & Music Festival

"Normal" is back!  So get up and join us May 20-22, 2022 in JD Hamel Park for the Sarasota Seafood & Music Festival. Fun, food, festivities and relaxation start Friday evening from 4pm-10pm, continuing Saturday 11am-10pm and Sunday 11am-6pm. The event is produced by Paragon Festivals, hosted by the Downtown Sarasota Enrichment Association with the Humane Society of Sarasota County joining the festivities as the event's Special Guest.  General admission is FREE!!!

This seafood & music festival is created like an outstanding meal, incorporating and blending the finest ingredients.  Choose entrees (seafood, meat and vegetarian) cooked fresh onsite.  Select from a diversity of side dishes, alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks and of course – scrumptious desserts!  

Then sit back and be caressed by the captivating sounds of live musical performances on stage by some of Florida’s and the region’s top musical talents. Performers in 2021 included the Sarasota Steel Pan Band (jazz, Caribbean), Twinkle & Rock Soul Radio (rock, soul), Brenda Watty & Her Peeps (jazz, R&B, Motown), Mike Tozier (blues, rock, variety), Kettle of Fish (rock, blues, reggae), Fleetwood Max (Fleetwood Mac Tribute Band), Out of the Blue (classic rock, Yacht rock, blues - formerly North Jetty Allstars) and Damon Fowler (blues), Randy Stephens (classic rock, blues, jazz), Jack’d Up (rock, pop, dance) and the Dr. Dave Band (country rock, bluegrass). Check back as the event approaches in 2022 for the current and updated Performance Schedule.

The final ‘seasoning’ is shopping a marketplace of arts and crafts (e.g., painting, mixed-media, glass), gourmet food items and specialty products.  Enjoy during the breaks between band performances!

The Humane Society will have their "Big Mac" mobile adoption center onsite Saturday May 21st. Please take a few moments to stop by and say “hi” to the dedicated staff.  Meet their extended family of ‘friends’ awaiting adoption and perhaps find yourself a new life companion while showing your appreciation and support to a wonderful, caring organization that makes a difference in our communities.

There you have it.  What is there not to love!!!  Treat yourself to fun and relaxation.  We will lay the feast - do come enjoy!

NOTE:  Bands and performance times subject to change - please check back periodically!

GPS Address: JD Hamel Park 199 Bayfront Dr., Sarasota, FL

Driving Directions to the Sarasota Seafood & Music Festival

1) from St. Armands Circle: take John Ringling Blvd (SR-789) across Rt. 41 to the intersection of Cocoanut and Gulfstream (~4 minutes / 2.33 miles). Proceed south on Gulfstream. The show is in JD Hamel Park that begins at the intersection of Gulfstream and Main Street.

2) from North or South of downtown Sarasota: take Rt. 41 toward Marina Plaza and Main Street. Turn east on Main Street and continue to Gulfstream. JD Hamel Park and the seafood & music festival are to your right.

The Palm Avenue Garage (1289 Palm Avenue)

Garage parking is available at the Palm Avenue Garage, located one block from Main Street on North Palm Avenue, only steps away from Five Points intersection in downtown Sarasota. The Palm Avenue Garage is a newly designed and LEED Certified facility utilizing the latest technology in equipment and design. The garage has spaces for 729 vehicles with handicap parking located on each floor close to the elevators. The city provides four reserved electric car-charging stations on the ground floor. The Palm Avenue parking garage is a perfect location to park short or long-term visits to downtown Sarasota.

State Street Garage (1538 State Street)

The parking garage bilateral entrance and exit points will provide excellent access from both State Street and Ringling Blvd. Parking spaces are located on levels 2 through 6, with motorcycle, bicycle and handicap van access on the ground floor. With downtown parking demands so high, parking time limits will ensure there is always a parking spaces available in either the 2-hour parking "shopper zone", or the 4-hour time restricted area on levels 4 through 6.

2nd Street Garage (1400 Block of 2nd Street)

The 2nd Street Garage is located between First and Second streets, directly across from Whole Foods. Ground floor parking is intended for customers of Whole Foods, while the second and third level of the garage are open to the public (except where posted). The public parking access ramp is located on Second Street, near the corner of Central Avenue. There are time restrictions in the facility that are monitored by the City Parking Division and for which citations are issued for time violations. The time restrictions are as follows:

Ground level: 2 hours              Levels 2 and 3: 4 hours