- Sarasota Scoop
- Posts
- 🍦Spring Training Guide & Local Buzz
🍦Spring Training Guide & Local Buzz
Best Things To Do in SRQ: 3/5 - 3/8
Carson B
March 03, 2026
Happy Tuesday, Sarasota!
Spring training is in full swing, Sarasota just got its own pro soccer team, and the Van Wezel replacement is looking a whole lot more real. Plenty to talk about this week.
—
In today’s edition of the Sarasota Scoop:
Thanks for reading,
Carson
🧠 Think You Know Sarasota? Trivia!
Which country did a large group of settlers come from when they arrived in Sarasota in 1885? |
📰 Local Headline Roundup
Sarasota's Pro Soccer Team Kicks Off March 7 — And It's Already a Sellout
Sarasota Paradise, the area's brand-new professional soccer team, plays its first-ever home game at Premier Sports Campus in Lakewood Ranch on March 7 against AC Boise. Owner Marcus Walfridson moved here from Sweden, saw the growth coming, and figured this community needed something to rally behind. Tickets are basically gone already.
Sarasota's New Performing Arts Center Gets a Major Redesign
The long-planned performing arts center to replace the Van Wezel just got a serious makeover. "Concept 2.0" from Renzo Piano's workshop moves the building, drops 500 seats, adds parking structures, and cuts the price from $425 million down to the $260–295 million range. It was just presented to the City Commission this week.
🔦 Local Guide: Spring Training This Week
Spring training is one of those things that makes you feel lucky to live here. The Orioles are in the thick of their Grapefruit League schedule at Ed Smith Stadium, and this week is a great one to catch a game.
Here's the rundown for the week:
Tuesday, March 3 — Orioles vs. the Netherlands (WBC Exhibition), 1:05 PM. This is a fun one — you don't see international exhibition games every day. Great excuse to play hooky from work.
Wednesday, March 4 — Orioles vs. Houston Astros, 1:05 PM. A solid matchup if you want a more traditional spring training feel.
Friday, March 6 — Orioles vs. St. Louis Cardinals, 1:05 PM. Friday afternoon baseball? Hard to say no.
Saturday, March 7 — Orioles vs. Minnesota Twins, 1:05 PM. Weekend game, so expect a bigger crowd and more energy in the stands. (Split squad day — the other half heads to North Port to face the Braves.)
A few tips if you're heading out to Ed Smith: the box office is open weekdays from 10 AM to 3 PM if you want to grab tickets in person. Get there early enough to watch batting practice — it's one of the best parts of spring training, honestly. And the lawn seats are underrated if the weather's nice (spoiler: it will be). Pack sunscreen, grab a cold one, and soak it in. This is what March in Sarasota is all about.
📍 Ed Smith Stadium — 2700 12th Street, Sarasota
🎟️ Tickets at orioles.com or call 941-893-6300
Contribute to the Scoop!
Sarasota Scoop is 100% free to read, independently owned, and locally operated (heck, it’s just me).
Your contributions go toward keeping the Scoop going so we can have more fun and build more community. I appreciate any and all support! — Carson
Thursday
ArcoStrum (Violin-Guitar Duo)
📍 Sarasota Yacht Club, Sarasota | 🕦 11:00 AM | 🔗 Details
Flute Through the Ages with Emi Ferguson
📍 Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, Sarasota | 🕦 7:00 PM | 🔗 Details
Cinema at The Bay: Hamilton (Free Outdoor Movie)
📍 The Oval at The Bay, Sarasota | 🕦 7:00 PM | 🔗 Details
Ringling Underground (Live Music, Food Trucks)
📍 The Ringling, Sarasota | 🕦 8:00 PM | 🔗 Details
34th Annual Pinecraft Days Arts & Crafts Festival
📍 Der Dutchman, 3713 Bahia Vista St., Sarasota | 🕦 9:00 AM | 🔗 Details
Friday
Music on Main ft. Mixed Signal (Free Block Party)
📍 Main Street at Lakewood Ranch, Bradenton | 🕦 6:00 PM | 🔗 Details
📍 Main Street, Downtown Sarasota | 🕦 7:00 PM | 🔗 Details
Moon Over Myakka: The Applebutter Express
📍 Myakka River State Park, Sarasota | 🕦 7:00 PM | 🔗 Details
Michael Palascak (Comedy Show)
📍 Oscura, Bradenton | 🕦 8:00 PM | 🔗 Details
Idina Menzel (Sarasota PAF Gala)
📍 Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, Sarasota | 🕦 8:30 PM | 🔗 Details
One Book Sarasota: Author Patrick Bringley
📍 Selby Library, Sarasota | 🕦 7:00 PM | 🔗 Details
Saturday
Megalodon Challenge: Shark's Tooth 10K & Shark Fin 5K
📍 Venice Airport Festival Grounds, Venice | 🕦 7:15 AM | 🔗 Details
Master Gardener's Spring Plant Sale
📍 Twin Lakes Park, Sarasota | 🕦 8:30 AM | 🔗 Details
Parrish Heritage Parade, Festival & Chili Cook-Off
📍 Florida Railroad Museum, Parrish | 🕦 10:00 AM | 🔗 Details
Le Marché Bohémien (Parisian Outdoor Market)
📍 Selby Five Points Park, Sarasota | 🕦 10:00 AM | 🔗 Details
Bay Fest (Free Family Waterway Festival)
📍 The Bay, Sarasota | 🕦 11:00 AM | 🔗 Details
Irish Celtic Festival & Lucky Dog Parade
📍 Greenbrook Adventure Park, Bradenton | 🕦 11:30 AM | 🔗 Details
Palmetto's Heritage Festival
📍 Palmetto Historical Park, Palmetto | 🕦 10:00 AM | 🔗 Details
Manatee Community Concert Band: As Seen on TV & In Theaters
📍 Neel Performing Arts Center, Bradenton | 🕦 3:00 PM | 🔗 Details
Wycliffe Gordon & Venice Symphony Big Band
📍 Venice Performing Arts Center, Venice | 🕦 3:30 PM | 🔗 Details
Venice Airport Day (Free Family Aviation Event)
📍 Skyport Aviation at Venice Airport, Venice | 🕦 9:00 AM | 🔗 Details
Sunday
Lakewood Ranch Fine Art Festival (Day 2)
📍 Main Street at Lakewood Ranch, Bradenton | 🕦 10:00 AM | 🔗 Details
Interested in advertising in the Sarasota Scoop? Let’s Chat
Thanks for reading! Be sure to support us by sharing with a friend
Reply