Tents on the Great Lawn: 5 Things to Do This Weekend in Venice & Wellen Park (Nov. 13–15)

If you drive down Wellen Park Blvd this weekend, look for the festival gates at the corner of Springtide Way in front of Solis Hall. That's the sign the third annual Wellen Park Wine Festival is here, and it kicks off a weekend with a big band concert, a free Friday night show at the Centennial Park gazebo, and two Downtown farmers markets.

Here are five things to do in Venice and Wellen Park from Friday, Nov. 13 through Sunday, Nov. 15. Everything below was checked on the organizers' own pages or the Venice MainStreet calendar before this went up.

1. The Wellen Park Wine Festival (Saturday, Nov. 14)

This is the big one. The Grand Tasting is in Downtown Wellen Park, with General Admission starting at 1 p.m. and VIP entry an hour earlier at noon. Wellen Park lists wines from around 40 vintners, live music from Doug Deming & The Jewel Tones on the Solis Hall stage, and bites from Wellen Park's restaurant partners.

General Admission is $95 and includes a souvenir tasting glass, a spot in the General Admission tent on the Great Lawn, four food tickets and a tote. VIP adds a tent with a view of the stage and indoor, air-conditioned seating at Solis Hall. Everyone enters at the gates on Wellen Park Blvd and Springtide Way (19745 Wellen Park Blvd.). It's 21 and over with a photo ID, sales are final, and the Rotary at Wellen Park is the charity partner. Wellen Park says tickets are limited and expected to sell out.

Two extras if you want to make a weekend of it: a five-course Wine Dinner on Friday, Nov. 13 at 6 p.m. in Solis Hall (separate ticket), and a Wine Class 101 on Saturday from 11 a.m. to noon in Solis Hall for $25. Details and tickets are on the Wellen Park Wine Festival page. Parking is free throughout Downtown Wellen, but give yourself extra time to park and walk.

2. Friday Night Concert in the Park (Friday, Nov. 13)

Venice MainStreet's free Friday Night Concert in the Park runs 7 to 9 p.m. at the Centennial Park gazebo on Venice Avenue. The calendar lists the performer as "TBD," so it's a little bit of a surprise this week. Bring your own chairs, and leave the alcohol at home; it isn't allowed. Watch the Venice MainStreet calendar for the name.

3. The Venice Symphony Big Band at the Performing Arts Center (Saturday, Nov. 14)

The Venice Symphony Big Band welcomes singer Danny Sinoff for "The New Voice of the Great American Songbook" at the Venice Performing Arts Center, 1 Indian Ave. The venue lists it for 3:30 p.m., though one line on its page says 7 p.m., so check your ticket or call the box office at 941-218-3779 (weekdays 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.). The venue lists tickets at $44 to $84. More at The Venice Symphony.

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4. Two Farmers Markets, Two Mornings

Saturday morning, the Venice Florida Farmers Market is open 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Venice City Hall parking lot at 401 W. Venice Ave. It runs every Saturday, year-round.

Sunday morning, the Fresh Harvest Farmers Market sets up in Downtown Wellen from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. with produce, seafood, plants, flowers and specialty foods from a rotating group of vendors. It's a nice way to walk off Saturday's wine.

5. Start Your Holiday Shopping at the Nokomis Sunday Market (Sunday, Nov. 15)

With Thanksgiving less than two weeks away, holiday shopping season is close. If you like to buy gifts from local makers, the free Nokomis Sunday Market runs 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Big Wave Gamefish Gallery, 801 S. Tamiami Trail (second floor), with art and craft vendors. It's listed on the Venice MainStreet calendar.

Looking Ahead

Next weekend Wellen Park hosts its free Festival of the Arts in Downtown Wellen, Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 21 and 22, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. And Wellen Wonderland, with the Christmas tree lighting, is Friday, Dec. 4. I'll have the details as they get closer.

If all this has you thinking about living closer to it, or wondering what your own place would sell for this season, I'm happy to help either way.

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Details come from wellenpark.com (Wine Festival, events and farmers market pages), the Venice MainStreet calendar at visitvenicefl.org, The Venice Symphony, the Venice Performing Arts Center and the Venice Florida Farmers Market, all checked Nov. 11, 2026. Times and prices can change, so check with the organizer before you go.

I'm Scott Swonger, and I've lived in Gran Paradiso since 2017. I'm not a pushy realtor, just a neighbor who loves it here. Want more? Visit scottswongerrealtor.com or text me at 941-600-3534.

Scott Swonger, PA, REALTOR®
HomeSmart Residential & Commercial Realty