My Hometown Fest returns for a day of music, food, drink and community

Sertoma Club of Greater Sarasota is proud to bring together a diverse membership united by a common goal: to support children facing speech and language challenges, and provide therapy services through the nonprofit’s flagship initiative, Sertoma Kids Inc. And to support its work, the organization has a long and successful history of throwing successful large-scale community fundraisers, like My Hometown Fest.

On Saturday, March 21, from noon-5 p.m., the Sertoma Club will present the 11th annual My Hometown Fest at Nathan Benderson Park. Core to the event is hours of live music; this year’s artists are: Hell in Heels, a high-energy, female-fronted country tribute act; Sweet Fleet, a premier Fleetwood Mac tribute band; and J Santi & The Vital Groove, performing a mix of blues, rock, soul, funk and country covers.

Additionally, My Hometown Fest will feature more than 30 local food vendors and restaurants, 60+ craft beers, spirits and THC drinks, and family-friendly activities that will entertain all ages.

“My Hometown Fest was born from one simple idea: to bring our community together over what we all love – great music, great food and great beer – while raising funds to benefit kids with speech and language needs,” said Sertoma Club Chairman Tim Self, who founded the event in 2016. “We invite the community to come sip, snack, and sing along, knowing that the good time they’re having is helping children with speech and language needs to find their voice.”

Last year, approximately 4,000 members of the community came out to enjoy the festival. Over $55,000 was raised to support the work of Sertoma Kids.

Established in 1956, the Sertoma Club of Greater Sarasota is a dynamic and volunteer-driven organization. Its core mission, “SERvice TO MAnkind,” is geared toward helping children through Sertoma Kids but the Sertoma Club also supports numerous hearing initiatives – such as hearing aids, hearing loops and the bedside fire alarm and clock for those who are severely heard of hearing – for people of all ages, to promote better hearing health and safety.

Some important statistics: 1 in 500 infants are born or develop hearing loss in early childhood, more than 1 in 10 children and teens have some degree of hearing loss, and 1 in 31 children are identified with autism spectrum disorder (which impacts language development skills). Nearly 1 in 12 children ages 3-17 in the U.S. has had a disorder related to voice, speech, language or swallowing, but nearly half of those children have not received intervention services in the past year.

The earlier children with hearing and communication challenges start getting services, the more likely they are to reach their full potential. The Sertoma Club helps children to build better futures by learning critical skills that will help them in school, in their relationships, and throughout their lives.

In 2025, Sertoma Kids served 130 children, providing nearly 2,750 therapy sessions (individual and group) as well as parent training. Additionally last year, the Sertoma Club fully paid off its outpatient clinic – which offers treatment by certified speech language pathologists for speech, language, literacy and social skills – located on Stickney Point Road in south Sarasota.

Priorities for the coming year include increasing funding for Sertoma Kids in order to help more children, expanding partnerships with local nonprofits and schools, and increasing overall community awareness of the organization’s work.
Major sponsors are Sunset Automotive Group, Siesta Wealth, Verano MUV Medical Cannabis, Gold Coast Distributing, and Hale Law.

Tickets are $40/general admission, which includes all concerts, vendor access, and beer and food samples (21+ only); $30/general admission, which includes music, vendor access and food samples only (all ages); free/children 12 and under. Visit myhometownfestsarasota.com for more information and tickets.

About Sertoma Club of Greater Sarasota
Our mission is to transform lives by empowering those with hearing loss and communication challenges. Through community outreach, education, and support, we strive to provide a voice for the unheard, ensuring every individual can experience the joy of connection. With compassion and dedication, we foster a community where everyone has the opportunity to thrive, overcoming the barriers that silence their world. Together, we listen, we care, and we make a difference – one life, one sound at a time. Visit sertomasarasota.org.