April’s First Friday Block Party Celebrates Sarasota Arts

SARASOTA, FL — Fresh Fridays, Sarasota’s first Friday event, is back this week and celebrating the city’s vibrant arts community Friday night.

The block part will take over N. Lemon Avenue between Main Street and 1st Street from 7 to 10 p.m., according to a news release from the city.

Featuring showcases from various arts organizations in a broad assortment of mediums, this month’s Fresh Fridays event, called “Art on the Block,” offers area residents an opportunity to engage with the creative talent that helps make Sarasota a destination for art and culture afficionados.

“Going all the way back to the Ringlings, we have such a rich legacy of supporting visual artists and performers that it was only natural to make it a theme for the Fresh Fridays series,” said Joseph Grano of event partner, Next-Mark.

For event co-sponsor, the Arts and Cultural Alliance of Sarasota County, the event promises to help fulfill their mission of highlighting and supporting the region’s arts.

“Our number one mission is to raise the profile of arts in Sarasota and direct community engagement in an event like this is such a powerful tool to accomplish that with,” said Jim Shirley, executive director of the organization.

Like previous Fresh Fridays, April’s events will feature free signature party favors, free polaroid portraits, libations al fresco and giveaways, the city said.

More than 3,000 people attended the March event, called “Neighbors & Newcomers” and featuring American Idol finalist Jonathan Cortez.