Siesta Key
Lido Key
Clearwater Beach
Just because it may not feel like early Fall in Florida doesn’t mean the season hasn’t come to the Sunshine State! If you find yourself in Siesta Key at this time of year, be sure to add the Fruitville Grove Pumpkin Festival to the top of your list of things to do in Siesta Key.
The Festival is a popular and fun outdoor event that fills every weekend starting at the end of September and through the entire month of October. There are plenty of activities for both kids and adults.
About Fruitville Grove Farms
Family-owned and -operated Fruitville Grove Farms hosts the annual Fruitville Grove Pumpkin Festival. This is a farm fresh market with fruits, vegetables, jams and jellies, cheeses, honey, and even ice cream! Depending on the season, you’ll find everything from blueberries and bell peppers to tomatoes and strawberries.
The farm also offers a list of Amish-made goods, along with a wide range of organic, vegan, gluten-free, and non-GMO items. These include 100% grass-fed beef, free-range chicken, and 100% grass-fed raw cow and goat’s milk. December through March is the peak season for organic fruits and vegetables.
The owners of the farm, Kim and Terry White, come from a long line of farmers; Kim’s grandparents operated a farm in Ohio and later started a new farm in Florida. The Whites have carried on the tradition for well over 30 years and host tons of Siesta Key activities throughout the year.
Fruitville Grove Farms is open Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m. – 6 p.m., and Sunday, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. It is located at 7410 Fruitville Road in Sarasota.
Annual Pumpkin Festival
The 39th Annual Fruitville Grove Pumpkin Festival will kick off on Saturday, September 30th, and will continue through the end of October!
Daily activities at this weekend-only event include pony rides, a wildflower maze, a craft show with locally made arts and crafts, rock wall climbing, zip lining, pumpkin painting, face painting, bounce houses, a petting zoo, and a playground. Kids and adults will get to hug a goat and even hold a skunk.
At the Pumpkin Festival, fairy tales can even come true: you might get to meet an enchanted unicorn! Walk through a butterfly garden, browse vendor tables selling everything from food and artisan crafts to Halloween and other fall decorations, take a mini train ride, and attend a food truck rally and try a wide variety of foods. Past food trucks have offered deli sandwiches, grilled foods, and Kona Ice.
The Torres Family Circus and Extreme Riders, which includes acrobats, aerialists, and motorcycle riders, come to the Festival, and live music is performed every weekend, some right in the pumpkin patch. The Circus is free and performs Saturday and Sunday at noon and 3 p.m.
A children’s costume contest is held at the barn each Saturday at 2 p.m.
Throughout the festivities, the Farmer’s Market and Pumpkin Palace are open, so you can purchase fresh Siesta Key produce, jellies, and other usual items and pick a pumpkin to bring home.
The Festival runs from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, rain or shine. Admission is FREE; only a $5 parking fee applies. Some individual activities and rides could charge a fee anywhere between $1 and $10.
Plan Your Siesta Key Vacation
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Other Farm Activities
Besides the Pumpkin Festival and the farm’s market, Fruitville Grove is known for other activities and events as well.
Each spring, the farm hosts a Berry Festival, where it’s all about the fresh strawberries and blueberries growing on the farm at this time of year. Just like the Pumpkin Festival, there are lots of fun things to do and foods to try (though foods and vendors and even the music are different than those found at the Fall event), including homemade strawberry milkshakes, shortcakes, and berry pastries.
The farm also hosts goat yoga classes—lots of laughter, holding goats, and even performing typical yoga poses with goats.
Guided tours of the working farm and birthday parties with a petting zoo, hayride, and mini train rides are other activities the farm offers.
Fruitville Grove is also home to The Venue, a wedding and event center. It’s a great open barn setting, with a seating capacity of 250, and hosts not only weddings but corporate events, baby showers, and anniversary parties.
Where to Stay
There is no end to the fun and festive things to do in Siesta Key; now, all you need is the perfect place to stay, and there’s no better place than with Vunique Vacations!
Our Siesta Key rentals are equipped with everything you need for the perfect Siesta Key escape, with gourmet kitchens, Smart TVs, king- and queen-sized beds, private heated pools and spas, washers/dryers, and BBQ grills. You could relax on patios, balconies, or even rooftop decks, take a short walk to the beach, and enjoy supplied beach chairs, beach carts, and bikes for short rides to shops and restaurants!
Our Siesta Key luxury rentals are the perfect place to call home during your next beach getaway! So what are you waiting for? Book your stay today and experience a vacation like no other with Vunique!
