Free Sarasota Grand Expo Brings 80-Plus Local Businesses to Robarts Arena August 27
Sarasota-area residents will have an opportunity to discover local businesses, meet community leaders and enjoy an evening of complimentary food and prizes when the Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce presents its 2026 Grand Expo.
The free community event will take place Thursday, August 27, from 4:30 to 7 p.m. at Robarts Arena, located at 3000 Ringling Boulevard in Sarasota. Admission and parking are free, and the expo is open to the public.
Presented by Mike Douglass Plumbing, the annual Grand Expo is expected to feature more than 80 Chamber-member businesses, nonprofit organizations and service providers. The event is designed as both a major business-networking opportunity and an accessible community marketplace where residents can learn more about companies operating throughout the Sarasota area.
A Free Way to Discover Sarasota Businesses
Visitors will be able to walk through the arena, speak directly with business owners and representatives, compare products and services and learn about organizations they may not encounter during their normal routines.
Participating exhibitors are expected to represent a broad range of industries, including professional services, home improvement, health and wellness, hospitality, financial services, education, technology, tourism and nonprofit organizations.
The Chamber says guests can also expect complimentary light bites from local restaurants, a beer and wine bar, door prizes, raffle items and opportunities to support locally owned businesses. Attendees who complete the event’s Expo Passport will be eligible for additional prize drawings.
While the expo provides businesses with an opportunity to generate leads and build professional relationships, it also gives residents a convenient way to learn more about the companies, organizations and services available in their own community.
Celebrating Business During America’s 250th Year
The theme of the 2026 event is “America 250: Celebrating Business, Innovation & Community.”
The United States marked the 250th anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 2026. The Grand Expo will continue that yearlong commemoration by highlighting the entrepreneurs, inventions, partnerships and locally owned businesses that help communities grow.
Exhibitors are being encouraged to incorporate the patriotic theme into their displays. Participating businesses may also compete for recognition in the Best America 250-Themed Booth competition.
The theme gives exhibitors an opportunity to showcase not only what they sell, but also the role that small businesses and entrepreneurs have played in the nation’s development.
Pre-Register for a Tampa Bay Rays Experience
Guests who pre-register for the Grand Expo will automatically be entered into a special drawing for four tickets to the Tampa Bay Rays game against the Boston Red Sox on Sunday, September 20, at Tropicana Field.
Major League Baseball’s official schedule lists the September 20 game for 1:40 p.m.
According to information provided by the Chamber, the prize includes four premium seats in The Baldwin Group Club, an all-inclusive buffet, beer, wine and soft drinks, along with a parking pass.
The Baldwin Group Club features leather-padded seating along the first-base side and access to a buffet offering featured entrees and traditional ballpark food. Beer, wine and soft drinks are included, while spirits are available for purchase.
The game is scheduled during the closing weeks of the Major League Baseball regular season, adding to the potential excitement of the prize.
A Growing Sarasota Business Tradition
The Grand Expo has become one of the Greater Sarasota Chamber’s largest public-facing networking events. Suncoast Post coverage of the 2023 Grand Expo shows the event’s earlier role in connecting Chamber members with the local community.
The 2025 expo attracted more than 500 registered attendees, and exhibitor space sold out nearly two months before the event. That response demonstrated the demand for an event that connects businesses directly with local consumers and other professionals.
Past expos have included dozens of exhibitors representing companies of different sizes and industries. Unlike a traditional trade show limited to business professionals, the Grand Expo invites residents to participate, ask questions and discover new services while enjoying an informal evening atmosphere.
“The Grand Expo is one of our community’s premier business showcases and a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the businesses that make Sarasota such a vibrant place to live, work and grow,” Greater Sarasota Chamber President and CEO Heather Kasten said in the event announcement.
“Whether you’re looking to support local businesses, discover new services, or make valuable connections, this event truly demonstrates that your business belongs here.”
The Chamber’s broader recognition of local companies and community leaders is also reflected in the 2026 Sarasota Business Awards and its 2026 Outstanding Leadership Awards.
Exhibitor Registration Remains Available
Exhibiting at the Grand Expo is limited to members of the Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce.
A 10-by-10-foot in-line booth costs $545, while a corner booth costs $595. Booth packages include an eight-foot skirted table, two chairs and an identification sign. Electricity is available for an additional $25.
Exhibitors will also have access to a private networking reception from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m., immediately before the doors open to the public.
Businesses that are not currently Chamber members but would like to participate can contact Membership Investment Manager Zach Henkel at zhenkel@sarasotachamber.com for membership information.
Questions concerning the event may also be directed to Chamber Events Manager Celeste Lloyd-Jones at 941-556-4035.
2026 Grand Expo Event Details
Event: 2026 Grand Expo: America 250 – Celebrating Business, Innovation & Community
Date: Thursday, August 27, 2026
Time: 4:30-7 p.m.
Location: Robarts Arena
Address: 3000 Ringling Boulevard, Sarasota, Florida 34237
Admission: Free
Parking: Free
Presented by: Mike Douglass Plumbing
Advance registration is encouraged, particularly for attendees who would like to be entered into the Tampa Bay Rays ticket drawing.
For attendee registration, exhibitor information and additional event updates, visit the Greater Sarasota Chamber website.
Leave a Reply