Two Venice survivors have their big moments on back-to-back mornings this week. On Friday, Nov. 6, Sarasota County cuts the ribbon at Snook Haven, the riverside spot at 5000 E. Venice Ave. that has been fenced off since spring 2025. On Saturday, Nov. 7, the city and Venice Heritage, Inc. hold a birthday party for Old Betsy, the fire engine that turns 100 the same year the city does.
Venice's centennial program started with last year's Holiday Parade and runs through May 2027. In its final stretch, the events that matter most are about things that lasted. A fish camp the Myakka flooded for two weeks is back with a new bandshell. A fire engine celebrating her own 100th birthday will lead the 50th Holiday Parade. Even the newest storefront downtown opened a few doors from a fossil museum.
A Fish Camp Rebuilt From the Slab Up
Snook Haven started out as a 2.5-acre fish camp with a restaurant and cottages. Sarasota County bought it in 2006 and has since grown the property to more than 40 acres, as YourSun reported. The site's own billing, "Smack Dab on the Myakka River," says it plainly. That location is the appeal, and it has also caused the trouble.
When Hurricane Ian hit in 2022, the park and restaurant closed on Sept. 27 after the Myakka flooded the site for 14 days, according to WTSP. It reopened after repairs. Then the county chose to rebuild instead of patching it again. The Sarasota Herald-Tribune reported that Snook Haven has been closed since April 30, 2025. County updates show construction began May 16, 2025, and by the end of that August the old restaurant and bandshell had been torn down.
The county's project page lists what replaces them:
- A new ADA-compliant food service building
- An accessible pavilion with covered seating and a view of the river
- A new bandshell with an accessible patio
- A new fishing pier with accessible parking
- One existing cabin converted into a canoe and kayak outfitter with a public restroom
- Accessible walkways connecting the boat ramp and the canoe and kayak launch
Sweet Sparkman Architects designed the project and Jon F Swift Construction built it. Funding came from impact fees, two rounds of the county surtax, and tourist development capital.
The ribbon cutting starts at 8:30 a.m., is open to the public, and will be livestreamed on Facebook, per the Herald-Tribune. Before you plan a lunch around it, check the county's Sept. 30 update. Outdoor site work was finished, but kitchen equipment for the concession building was still being delivered, and final inspections depended on it. A Sarasota Record report from August said three vendors had applied to run the restaurant, including longtime operator Venice Pier Group. Food service and kayak rentals may start later than the ceremony.
The Engine That Is Exactly as Old as the Town
The Florida Legislature approved Venice's town charter on Nov. 21, 1925, and it took effect July 1, 1926. A May 9, 1927 amendment changed the name from town to city. That makes July 1, 2026 the official centennial. Old Betsy, the fire engine, is celebrating her 100th birthday this year too.
The city's parade page tells her story. She served the Venice Fire Department until 1959, then moved to the reserve fleet instead of being retired. She was called back out for the 1968 Christmas Eve fire at the Kash N' Karry across from the Venice Theatre, and again in 1973 when both of the city's fire engines were in the shop at once. Today she appears at parades and community events. Former City Councilman and Vice Mayor Earl Midlam and his wife, Karen, have kept her running.
The Birthday Bash on Nov. 7 celebrates the engine and a century of the fire department. Three weeks later, Old Betsy and the Midlams, along with her caretakers over the years, will be grand marshal of the Holiday Parade.
The 50th Parade Carries Three Anniversaries
The parade is always held the Saturday after Thanksgiving, which this year is Nov. 28. Step-off is 6:30 p.m., and downtown activities start as early as 2 p.m. The theme is "Golden Traditions!" The city explains it this way:
This year's Holiday Parade is extra special as we celebrate three incredible milestones; the 50th anniversary of the City of Venice Holiday Parade, the City's 100th birthday, and America's 250th birthday.
The lineup is capped at 80 units and already full. It hit the limit Oct. 5, more than a week before applications closed, and applicants are being notified this week. Every unit that will march is already decided, so your main decision is where to watch.
The route starts at W. Venice Avenue and Avenue des Parques, by City Hall and Hecksher Park. It heads east on W. Venice Avenue, turns south on Nokomis Avenue, then west on Turin Street, and ends at Riviera Street near W. Blalock Park and the Venice Community Center. The city allows viewing from:
- Both sides of Nokomis Avenue, from W. Venice Avenue to Turin Street
- The westbound lane of W. Venice Avenue, from Nokomis Avenue to Harbor Drive
- The eastbound lane of W. Venice Avenue, from Harbor Drive to Avenue des Parques beside City Hall
- Both sides of Turin Street, from Nokomis Avenue to Riviera Street
The eastbound lane of W. Venice Avenue between Harbor Drive and Nokomis Avenue is closed to spectators. It's kept clear as an emergency access route and for public safety drone operations. Floats cross Harbor Drive on the north side of W. Venice Avenue, so families who arrive early and set up chairs on the south side of that block will be asked to move.
The Centennial Season on One Calendar
The holiday events between now and the end of December are the same ones Venice holds every year. This year each one also counts as part of the centennial.
| Date | Event | Where | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fri., Nov. 6, 8:30 a.m. | Snook Haven ribbon cutting | 5000 E. Venice Ave. | Open to the public, livestreamed on Facebook |
| Sat., Nov. 7 | Old Betsy Birthday Bash | Hosted by the city and Venice Heritage, Inc. | 100 years of the engine and the fire department |
| Wed., Nov. 11, 6 p.m. | Venice High School Veterans Day Concert | Venice Performing Arts Center | Free |
| Fri.–Sat., Nov. 20–21 | Strauss and Surprises! | The Venice Symphony | Two performances |
| Sat., Nov. 21, 4–9 p.m. | Venice Nights Market & Music | Maxine Barritt Park, 1800 Harbor Drive S. | Hosted by GBack Media, with craft and food vendors |
| Fri., Nov. 27, 5–7 p.m. | The Mayor's Hometown Christmas | Centennial Park | Tree lighting, with local choirs including The Venice Chorale |
| Sat., Nov. 28, 6:30 p.m. | 50th City of Venice Holiday Parade | Downtown | Grand marshal Old Betsy |
| Thu., Dec. 3, 5–8 p.m. | Christmas Walk | Miami, Tampa and West Venice avenues | Shops open late, plus treats and live music |
| Fri., Dec. 4, 2:30–3:30 p.m. | Centennial Lecture, "Florida's Famous Outlaws and Villains" | Jacaranda Library | Venice Area Historical Society, with Jacob Winge |
| Sat., Dec. 5, 6 p.m. | Venice Christmas Boat Parade | Intracoastal Waterway | Details at venicechristmasboatparade.net |
| Sat., Dec. 12 | Glow Ride | Maxine Barritt Park | Bicycles International nighttime ride and fundraiser |
| Mon., Dec. 14, 7 p.m. | Songs of the Season | Venice Performing Arts Center | The Venice Chorale, premiering "The 12 Days of Venice Christmas" |
| Fri.–Sun., Dec. 18–20 | A Holiday Celebration | The Venice Symphony | Three dates |
Two of these dates come with caveats. The Glow Ride organizer calls its posted schedule tentative and subject to updates. The boat parade date comes from Venice MainStreet's 2026 events list. The city's Christmas Boat Parade page still shows the 2025 parade, so check route and parking with the organizer.
Downtown, Between the Big Nights
The Christmas Walk on Dec. 3 is the easiest night to see what has changed downtown. Earth Treasures and the Venice Fossil Museum have moved to 235 Miami Ave. W. The shop sells fossils, shark teeth, crystals, minerals, jewelry and beachcombing gear, and the museum's displays are in the same space. Around the corner, Wild Card Boutique scheduled its grand opening for Oct. 10 at 111 Tampa Ave. W, selling curated clothing, accessories and artful finds. A little south of downtown, Sarasota Magazine reports that Salty Neighbor Bar & Grill has replaced Rib City at 4187 S. Tamiami Trail. Owner Edwin Morales describes it as a local hangout serving Cuban-influenced dishes alongside American bar food.
The best background for the whole season is the "Venice Turns 100!" exhibit at Venice Museum & Archives. It's open Wednesday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., plus the first and third Saturdays from October through April, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The next Saturday openings fall on Nov. 7 and Nov. 21. You could see the exhibit after Old Betsy's party, or before the evening market at Maxine Barritt Park.
Carla Rayman Kidd and Patricia Tan of Your Global Agents work from St. Armands Circle and follow Sarasota County's south end closely, from the reopening at Snook Haven to the parade route downtown. If friends or family are visiting for the centennial holidays and want to know Venice beyond the parade, or you're thinking about your own next move here, we'd be glad to help. Request a Complimentary Consultation & Market Valuation.
