Free Sarasota Open House & Record Fair Celebrates Fogartyville’s Grand Reopening October 3
Music fans, vinyl collectors and families will have a chance to explore one of Sarasota’s longtime community arts spaces when WSLR+Fogartyville hosts a free Open House and Record Fair on Saturday, October 3, from 4 to 8 p.m.
The event will celebrate the grand reopening of Fogartyville Community Media and Arts Center following extensive renovations, while giving visitors an opportunity to discover the people, programming and community work behind both Fogartyville and WSLR Community Radio.
Admission is free and the event is open to the public.
Live Music, Vinyl and a Look Behind the Scenes
Folk-Americana musicians Trevor Bystrom and Nora Bear will perform during the celebration, with additional live music from Mateo Music Radio.
Record collectors will also want to leave plenty of time for browsing. The event will feature a vinyl and CD sale where visitors can search through records while supporting the nonprofit organization.
Other scheduled activities include:
- Programmer-led tours of WSLR Community Radio
- Vinyl and CD shopping
- Live music
- Food trucks
- A photo booth
- Live mural painting
- Opportunities to learn more about WSLR+Fogartyville programs and community involvement
Organizers describe the afternoon as a gathering for music lovers, record collectors and families looking for an accessible community event in downtown Sarasota.
A Newly Improved Fogartyville
The October 3 event also marks an important milestone for Fogartyville.
The Community Media and Arts Center has undergone significant improvements designed to make the facility more comfortable, flexible and technologically capable for performances, nonprofit organizations and other community uses.
A major part of that effort was WSLR+Fogartyville's Built for Belonging initiative.
In January 2026, Impact100 SRQ awarded WSLR+Fogartyville a $108,000 transformational grant supporting the project. The improvements were designed to provide upgraded technology, furniture and infrastructure while increasing the ways local nonprofits, arts groups and community organizations can use the facility.
Additional renovation support cited by WSLR+Fogartyville came from the William G. and Marie Selby Foundation, The Patterson Foundation and individual lead donors.
The improvements fit into WSLR+Fogartyville's broader 2026-2028 strategic plan, which calls for enhancing the comfort, safety, flexibility and technological capabilities of the center for audiences and community organizations.
Record Vendors and Donations Welcome
The organization is also inviting participation from the record-collecting community.
Vendors interested in selling records during the Record Fair can contact WSLR+Fogartyville for information about participating.
People with unwanted vinyl records or CDs can also donate them to the organization for sale during the event. Donations may be dropped off Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Fogartyville, 525 Kumquat Court in Sarasota.
Leave Your Mark on the People's Patio
Visitors will also be able to learn more about the organization's Built for Belonging campaign and its People's Patio.
Supporters can purchase customized bricks that will become part of the patio, offering residents an opportunity to permanently recognize family members, friends, organizations or community connections while supporting WSLR+Fogartyville's work.
Fall Fund Drive Begins Just Days Later
The Open House also arrives immediately before WSLR+Fogartyville's annual Fall Fund Drive.
The 2026 drive is scheduled for October 7 through October 13, giving listeners and community supporters another opportunity to help sustain WSLR's independent community radio programming and Fogartyville's arts and cultural activities.
More Than a Concert Venue
Fogartyville has become known as a Sarasota listening room, but its programming extends well beyond concerts.
The center also presents art exhibitions, films, educational programs, civic discussions and community events. WSLR+Fogartyville describes its mission as supporting creative expression and community engagement while amplifying diverse voices across the region.
Its location in Sarasota's Rosemary District also places the center within one of downtown Sarasota's growing arts and cultural areas.
Event Details
WSLR+Fogartyville Open House & Record Fair
Saturday, October 3, 2026
4-8 p.m.
Admission: Free and open to the public
Location:
Fogartyville Community Media and Arts Center
525 Kumquat Court
Sarasota, FL 34236
Guests should enter the performance space from the alleyway.
Phone: 941-894-6469
For additional event information, music schedules and WSLR+Fogartyville programming, visit WSLR+Fogartyville.
For Sarasota-area residents who enjoy live music, independent radio, vinyl records and locally focused arts programming, the October 3 celebration offers a chance not only to see the newly renovated Fogartyville but also to learn more about the nonprofit community behind it.
Leave a Reply