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All things Siesta Key. Stories, news, and event information about Sarasota, Florida's beautiful beach.
Everything You Need to Know About Sarasota’s NYE Pineapple Drop
What are you doing New Year’s Eve? If you are visiting Siesta Key for the holidays or find yourself in town just in time to celebrate the New Year, the local experts here at Best Western Siesta Key have the perfect free event for you to check out. Downtown Sarasota hosts one of the best and biggest New Year’s Eve bashes south of Manhattan at Selby Five Points Park. While festivities begin in the afternoon, be sure to stick around for the midnight countdown to 2022 and the annual pineapple drop! We know you have heard of it and cannot wait to experience the excitement in person.
An Afternoon of Fun & Live Music
Sarasota’s New Year’s Eve block party kicks off on Dec. 31st at 1 pm and attracts quite a tremendous crowd of all ages with games and amusement rides. Promptly at 9 PM, live music brings the streets to life on the corner of Main St. and Lemon Ave. Catch a range of genres from dance, rock, and alternative to bluegrass and classic rock, and even country until 1 AM. Food and drinks can be found up and down Main Street, in addition to your favorite bars and restaurants offering specials.
Ringing in the New Year Gulf Coast Style
Mirroring the ball drop in New York City’s Times Square, Sarasota, in true Florida Gulf Coast fashion, drops a pineapple to welcome the New Year! Once the pineapple drops at midnight, a spectacular fireworks display lights up the sky above Sarasota Bay. Even if you’re downtown enjoying the block party you, don’t need to go anywhere to find the best view of the fireworks.
Why a Pineapple Drop?
Since pineapples are a tropical symbol of hospitality, the city of Sarasota developed a plan a few years back for “Pineapple Square” to be established along Lemon Ave. and Main St. As pineapple-shaped light fixtures became installed on the exterior of each storefront, it was also a part of the plan to display a giant, light-up pineapple next to “Pineapple Square” to welcome each New Year. As some of the plans for the development fell through, others successfully came to life. Today, the large, glowing pineapple hangs from a crane every New Year’s Eve and is slowly lowered as the crowd counts down the final ten seconds to midnight.
Parking Advice for Downtown Sarasota
The largest party in town means parking in downtown Sarasota might be a little crazy. If street parking is nowhere to be found, we recommend checking out one of the three nearby parking garages. One block from Main St. is the Palm Ave Parking Garage, which lands you feet away from Selby Five Points Park. With 729 parking spots available, including easily accessible handicap spaces and four electric car charging stations, Palm Ave. might just be the best and easiest option.
There are also two additional parking garages conveniently located downtown near Ringling Blvd. and State Street and Whole Foods on 2nd Street. As you search for a spot here, be sure to read the signs posted. You might accidentally land yourself in a 2 hr or 4 hr parking limit zone or in a space reserved for Whole Foods customers only.
After the 12-hour celebration commences, and the New Year has officially begun, we will be waiting to welcome you back to Best Western Siesta Key with the most peaceful night’s rest.