An Urban Forest Opens on Venice Avenue: Your Week in Venice & Wellen Park (Nov. 9–15)

by Scott Swonger

Lakefront splash pad and palm trees in Downtown Wellen, Wellen Park, Venice, FL

Red header graphic reading An Urban Forest Opens on Venice Avenue, This Week in Venice and Wellen Park, Nov. 9 to 15

If you've wondered what's been growing at 308 E. Venice Ave., Saturday is your chance to walk in: the Venice Urban Forest holds its grand opening on Nov. 14. It caps a full week that also brings Venice's first city bike ride of the season, a night market in Downtown Wellen and the Wellen Park Wine Festival.

Here's what's on my calendar for Nov. 9 to 15, plus the City Hall dates worth knowing.

Saturday: The Venice Urban Forest Opens

Venice Area Beautification Inc. (VABI) is hosting the Grand Opening of the Venice Urban Forest on Saturday, Nov. 14, from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. at 308 E. Venice Ave. It's an easy stop to pair with the Venice Florida Farmers Market, which runs every Saturday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 401 W. Venice Ave., in the City Hall lot and along Avenue Des Parques. The market grows from November through April, so this is the time of year it's at its fullest.

Historic San Marco building with arched windows on West Venice Avenue in downtown Venice FL

Thursday: Venice's Monthly Bike Ride Is Back

The City of Venice's monthly bicycle ride returns Thursday, Nov. 12, at 10 a.m. Riders meet in the west parking lot of Venice City Hall, 401 W. Venice Ave., for a ride of about 7 miles that includes part of the Venetian Waterway Park trail. Bring a bike and a helmet. The rides run on the second Thursday of each month through April, and the city asks riders to RSVP to the ride leader, Darlene Culpepper, at dculpepper@venicefl.gov (details here).

Thursday Night: Wellen Park Night Market and Dueling Pianos

That evening, Downtown Wellen hosts the Wellen Park Night Market and Dueling Pianos from 6 to 9 p.m. Independent artists and makers set up with home decor, fashion, art and food, and dueling pianos supply the soundtrack.

Brick-paved main street in Downtown Wellen Park lined with shops and palm trees

See Wellen Park homes for sale

Friday and Saturday: The Wellen Park Wine Festival

The third annual Wellen Park Wine Festival starts Friday, Nov. 13, with a wine dinner at Solis Hall, then moves outdoors Saturday, Nov. 14, for the Grand Tasting, with wines from more than 40 vintners and bites from Wellen Park restaurants. General admission opens at 1 p.m. (VIP entry at noon) and runs until 4 p.m. The entrance is at Wellen Park Blvd. and Springtide Way, in front of Solis Hall. General admission tickets are $95, there's a $25 Wine Class 101, and Wellen Park says tickets are limited.

Friday Night: Concert in the Park

Venice MainStreet's Friday Night Concert in the Park features Steve Haines on Friday, Nov. 13, at the gazebo in Centennial Park, 200 W. Venice Ave. The series runs on the second and fourth Fridays from 7 to 9 p.m., and it's free.

Centennial Park sign in downtown Venice FL, home of the Friday night concerts at the gazebo

Wednesday: Veterans Day

On Wednesday, Nov. 11, American Legion NO-VEL Post 159 holds its No Veteran Forgotten Ceremony at 9 a.m. at the post, 1770 E. Venice Ave. In North Port, the city's Veterans Day Ceremony with VFW Post 8203 starts at 11 a.m. at Veterans Park, 13750 Tamiami Trail. Venice City Hall and North Port city offices are closed that day.

More This Week

Freaky Friday at Venice Theatre: the musical runs through Nov. 22 at the Raymond Center, 140 Tampa Ave. W. Tickets are $19 to $40; box office 941-488-1115 (venicetheatre.org).
Show Jumping Under the Stars: Saturday, Nov. 14, at Fox Lea Farm, 800 N. Auburn Rd. Gates open at 4:30 p.m. and the first horse goes on course at 6:30 p.m. Admission is $10, parking is free, and proceeds benefit the Venice High School Chorus (Visit Sarasota).

City Hall Notes

There's no Venice City Council meeting this week. The Historic and Architectural Preservation Board meets Thursday, Nov. 12, at 9 a.m. in Council Chambers, and the Nov. 16 Planning Commission meeting is cancelled (city meeting calendar). Mark next Tuesday, Nov. 17: the winners of the Nov. 3 city election are sworn in at 8:30 a.m., and council meets at 9 a.m.

One more thing for homeowners: the City of Venice is asking residents to take its Floodplain Management Plan survey, which helps shape the city's flood planning (find it on the city's floodplain management page). Flood zones are one of the first things buyers ask me about, so tomorrow's post is a plain-English guide to checking the flood zone for any Venice or Wellen Park address.

Shaded arcade walkways along West Venice Avenue in downtown Venice FL

If you're thinking about buying or selling this season, I'm happy to search homes with you or pull up what's selling around Venice and Gran Paradiso.

What's my home worth?

Details come from VABI, Venice MainStreet (visitvenicefl.org), the City of Venice meeting calendar and election page, WWSB, wellenpark.com, American Legion Post 159, the City of North Port, Venice Theatre, Marketspread and Visit Sarasota, all checked Nov. 8, 2026. Times and details 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