Around Sarasota

The City of Sarasota says the Halloween-themed tournament runs tonight from 6 to 9 p.m. at Payne Park Tennis Center, with costume play, light bites and prizes for top teams.

Families can apply through Nov. 23 for up to three school choices; placements are by lottery and a second window opens in February.

The free 30th Annual Downtown Sarasota Craft Festival runs Saturday and Sunday at Selby Five Points Park. City Halloween events follow later in October, and two of them require registration by Oct. 20 or Oct. 21.

Commissioners voted Oct. 6 to turn down a 126-home settlement beside the Celery Fields and to negotiate a possible purchase of the land. No price, funding source or timetable was announced. They also voted to seek financial help to buy the former Gulf Gate Golf Course for stormwater use.

About 2,700 volunteer-grown plants, free admission and on-site gardening advice are planned for the 20th annual UF/IFAS Extension Master Gardener Plant Sale/EdFest, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Oct. 10.

An investigation by Suncoast Searchlight and the Florida Trident finds Sarasota County's stormwater overhaul has made some headway since Ben Quartermaine's 2025 hiring, but staffing gaps, a growing maintenance backlog and delayed Phillippi Creek dredging mean flood-prone neighborhoods are still waiting.