🍦Christmas Activities Kickoff & Kuro Review

Best Things To Do in SRQ: 12/4 - 12/7

Author

Carson B
December 02, 2025

Happy Tuesday, Sarasota!

I hope everyone enjoyed a wonderful Thanksgiving and has been soaking up the beautiful weather we’ve been lucky to have here in Sarasota.

As we turn the corner into the busy holiday season the energy around town is picking up.

There’s so much happening over the next few weeks, from festive events to outdoor activities, and I’m excited to share all the highlights with you.

—

In today’s edition of the Sarasota Scoop:

Thanks for reading,

Carson

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📰 Local Headline Roundup

Longboat Key Races to Rebuild Its Storm-Battered Beaches

Longboat Key officials are scrambling to find 800,000 cubic yards of sand after storms in 2024 stripped the beaches bare. Roughly 200,000 dump-truck loads were lost, leaving beaches lower and dunes flattened — critical protection vanished. The planned re-nourishment could cost over $30 million, funded partially by FEMA, the state, tourism taxes and leftover funds.

Town engineers say not just any sand will do: it must meet environmental standards and survive scrutiny from competing projects dredging nearby Gulf channels. Beach restoration won’t just dump sand back — it will rebuild dunes and berms to shield against future storms and help protect sea turtles too.

Record Setting Oyster Bay Estate Hits the Market at $26.4 Million

A grand waterfront estate in Oyster Bay Estates just hit the market for $26.4 million — the highest housing asking price ever in Sarasota County. The house, known as Villa Meraviglia at 1310 S. Lake Shore Drive, packs more than an acre of bayfront land with 146 feet on the water, a dock, gardens and a resort-style pool. Inside the 10,700-square-foot mansion you’ll find four bedrooms, six bathrooms, Venetian plaster walls, 24-carat gold-gilded millwork and fresco-style décor under imported roof tiles and reclaimed brick.

A wrought-iron, gold-gilded gate with a Medusa-head detail sets the tone at the gate and the home blends Neo-Classical Italian Renaissance style with “Old World” artistry — all while offering modern, waterfront living.

 🔦 Spotlight: Kuro Sushi Review

After three straight days of leftover turkey, I needed a hard reset. We headed over to Main Street in Lakewood Ranch to try the new Kuro Sushi spot, and it turned out to be exactly what I was looking for.

We sampled a little bit of everything to get the lay of the land. The Yellowtail crudo with its bright lemon vinaigrette hit first with a clean, refreshing pop. The Roku roll kept that momentum going with a solid balance of texture and flavor.

If you are in the area and want something light and well executed, those two dishes alone make the stop worth it.

The whole menu is served small-plates style and comes out as its ready. So I recommend staggering your order.

Yellowtail Crudo

Roku Roll

Thursday

Moonlit Kayak Tour

📍Mote on City Island | 🕦 4:45pm | 🔗 details 

Christmas Walk 2025

📍Venice Main St | 🕦 5pm | 🔗 details

Festive Photos with Santa

📍LWR Main Street | 🕦 6:30pm | 🔗 details 

Oak Ridge Boys Farewell Tour

📍Van Wezel | 🕦 7pm | 🔗 details 

Friday 

Demonstration Garden Tour

📍Shamrock Park and Nature Center | 🕦 9am | 🔗 details

Sarasota Coin Show

📍600 North Beneva Road, Sarasota | 🕦 10am | 🔗 details

North Jetty Food Truck Rally

📍North Jetty Park | 🕦 5pm | 🔗 details

Holiday Night of Lights

📍St Armands Circle | 🕦 5:30pm | 🔗 details 

Sarasota Ballet: The Nutcracker

📍Sarasota Opera House | 🕦 6pm | 🔗 details 

Festival of Trees

📍Mall at UTC | 🕦 See details | 🔗 details

Saturday

28th Annual Jingle & Jog 5k

📍See details | 🕦 8am | 🔗 details

7th Annual Jingle Jam

📍Tomahawk Tiki Bar & Grill | 🕦 9am | 🔗 details   

7th Annual Toy Drive Breakfast

📍VFW Post 3233 | 🕦 9:30am | 🔗 details     

European Holiday Market

📍1 Haben Blvd, Palmetto | 🕦 11am | 🔗 details

Lawn Party by the Bay

📍Ken Thompson Park | 🕦 12pm | 🔗 details 

Fall Family Fishing Tournament

📍Venice Fishing Pier | 🕦 See details | 🔗 details

Lakewood Ranch Blues Festival

📍Waterside Park | 🕦 See details | 🔗 details

North Port Poinsettia Parade

📍City Center Front Green | 🕦 3pm | 🔗 details

Lights in Bloom

📍Selby Gardens | 🕦 5:30pm | 🔗 details

Close Encounters

📍Van Wezel | 🕦 7:30pm | 🔗 details

Sunday

Campus-to-Campus Boat Tour

📍Selby Gardens | 🕦 See details | 🔗 details 

Orchid Show 2025

📍Selby Gardens | 🕦 See details | 🔗 details

Holly Jolly Village Christmas

📍Village of the Arts | 🕦 See details | 🔗 details

Nutcracker & the Mischievous Elves

📍Sarasota Opera House | 🕦 6pm | 🔗 details

Comedy Show: Mike Rivera

📍McCurdy's Comedy Theatre | 🕦 Multiple shows | 🔗 details

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