Pictured: Photo Courtesy Visit Sarasota County.

When John Ringling opened St. Armands Circle to the public in 1926, he forever coupled Sarasota County with a legacy not only of the circus but also of elegance and cultural charm. What the circus magnate isn’t often credited with–but certainly should—is being one of the first to catalyze our destination’s tourism economy.

 A century later, tourism and hospitality stand strong as the top drivers of economic impact in our area. Neither luck nor resting on laurels built these industries. Decade by decade, neighborhood shops, restaurants, and attractions alike have designed our character, drafted our reputation with visitors near and far, and defined our way—and quality— of life. 

This year at Visit Sarasota County, our tourism team has the privilege of ensuring everyone who calls our community their getaway or home knows about the businesses commemorating 100-year anniversaries in 2026–and feels compelled to take part. 

The performing and visual arts put Sarasota County on the map, so it’s no coincidence several institutions are now generations deep in inspiring audiences. Art Center Sarasota has grown into an anchor for the visual arts and will expand its 2026 Members Show to all four of its galleries in honor of its 100 years. The Sarasota Opera House will host an open house that’s free to the public in April and put on nostalgic “A Century in Sarasota” mini-events with their company throughout the year. And the building that was once Sarasota Senior High School, now the Sarasota Art Museum, honors the moments made within this iconic structure through its ongoing Memory Project program.  

With its holiday parade last month, the City of Venice kickstarted its 18-month program of festivities, art installations, and community events —from a dedicated exhibition at the Venice Museum to a downtown block party. To mark Your City on the Gulf’s milestone year, we’ve created a Venice Centennial Pass to serve as your mobile guide to the area’s most iconic historic buildings, parks, and landmark sites. 

Next year will bring even more centennial charm, commemorating John Ringling’s decision to move the winter quarters of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey to Sarasota, one of our first–and Florida’s first–tourist attractions. Special tours, shows, and exhibitions curated by The Ringling and Circus Arts Conservatory are already in the works; but in the meantime, we’ll soon be unveiling another mobile pass–the Circus Legacy Trail–to give our area’s identity as the “Circus Capital of the World” the big-top treatment.

You can trust we’ll be flexing our media muscles to pitch circus-themed, centennial stories to national and international press, as well as leaning into these diversifiers to keep our coast competitive and connected to national moments like America’s 250th Anniversary.

If you’re just as eager as we are to rediscover Sarasota County’s legacy this year, we’ve devoted a full-page spread to all these celebrations and more in our new Visitor Guide, hot off the presses and available to grab at either of our Visitor Centers in Downtown Sarasota or Venice. You can also head to our website at VisitSarasota.com to tap into the many articles and passes we’re developing around these once-in-a-lifetime moments. 

For tourism, centennials provide an invitation for visitors to be a meaningful—if only momentary—part of our destination’s history. But for residents, they hold a more profound meaning–inspiring pride in place, encouraging all of us to embrace rediscovery as tourists in our own hometown, and reminding us why we continue to love where we live. 

 is President and CEO of Visit Sarasota County.

Pictured: Photo Courtesy Visit Sarasota County.