Nathan Benderson Park

Alpha Win Triathlon
2024-01-07 06:00 - 17:00 (America/New_York)
Boasting of “a distance for everyone,” this event has sprint, Olympic and 70.3 triathlons. It’s a USA Triathlon-sanctioned event. Click here for the schedule.

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**Date change** - Learn to Outrigger Canoe
2024-01-12 - 2024-01-14
Learn the Outrigger Canoe
Learn all the basics of this unique sport and techniques to help you perform to your fullest! This sport is a great full body workout, as well as a ton of fun!
Sign up for our 5-hour course, divided into 3 sessions: (See new dates below that were changed due to inclement weather)

Friday, Jan. 12 from 6-7pm via zoom
Saturday, Jan. 13 from 10am-12pm
Sunday, Jan. 14 from 10am-12pm

Cost: $150
To register, click here
History of the Outrigger Canoe:
Outrigger canoe racing evolved as a natural extension of the peoples of Oceania’s use of these amazing craft for their everyday survival in fishing the oceans and in traveling between island groups, culminating in epic journeys of up to and over 3000 miles. These people journeyed in double hulled voyaging canoes which still exist today.
Canoe racing became an important part of island life, as much pride and prestige was placed on victory. During the European occupation of many of the islands, specifically in Hawaii in 1820, canoe racing was effectively banned and paddles were replaced with bibles. Later in 1876 King David Kalakaua reinstated the sport. By 1908 the first two outrigger canoe clubs were founded; Outrigger Canoe Club and Hui Nalu.
Hawaii became the birthplace of contemporary outrigger canoe racing, with a governing body being established in 1950 the Hawaiian Canoe Racing Association. The sport has since spread far and wide to Tahiti, New Zealand, Samoa, Cook Islands, New Caledonia, USA, Canada, France, England, Italy, South Africa, Guam, Hong Kong, Australia, Fiji and is expanding all the time. There are an estimated 35,000 outrigger canoe paddlers worldwide, and the sport is currently experiencing huge growth.

Big Bounce America
2024-01-12 08:00 - 2024-01-14 17:00 (America/New_York)
Big Bounce America is 25,000 square feet of crazy inflatable fun & action-packed entertainment for all ages. Learn more and purchase tickets on their website: https://thebigbounceamerica.com/event/sarasota/

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Matt Abel Speed Fiesta
2024-01-20 08:00 - 17:00 (America/New_York)
Hosted by Florida Scholastic Rowing Association. For full details and to register, please visit their event website

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Blood Drive
2024-01-27 09:00 - 14:00 (America/New_York)
January is blood donor month! Join us at our Blood Drive on Saturday, Jan. 27 from 9am-2pm. One Blood will here and will thank donors for saving lives with eGift Cards and special One Blood gift rewards for their donations. No need to register in advance – just show up and they will take care of the rest!

Hermitage Sunsets at Nathan Benderson Park
2024-02-02 17:00 - 20:00 (America/New_York)
This is the second installment of three programs scheduled. These outdoor events are one part of many “Hermitage North” programs, series, and collaborations planned throughout the season, spanning Sarasota County and the surrounding region. The programs feature industry-leading and award-winning playwrights, visual artists, musicians, poets, choreographers, and more — all free to the members of our community.
“Hermitage Sunsets @ Nathan Benderson Park: Theater on the Lake” showcases the talents of Hermitage Fellows Terry Guest and James Anthony Tyler. These two talents split the bill to share some of their latest work and discuss the creative process as the sun goes down over the lake. Admission is free, but registration is required ($5/person) at HermitageArtistRetreat.org.
Confirmed 2024 dates for this first official season of “Hermitage Sunsets @ Nathan Benderson Park” include:
· Friday, February 2, 2024, at 5pm
· Thursday, March 14, 2024, at 6:30pm

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RoboNation
2024-02-05 - 2024-02-11
Watch the 2024 RoboBoat competition with entries from around the world! High school, undergraduate and graduate students will compete. RoboBoat is an international student program established to generate, cultivate, and enhance a community of innovators capable of making substantive contributions to the Autonomous Surface Vehicle (ASV) domain. Student teams design and build Autonomous Surface Vehicles (ASV) and compete in an international competition. RoboBoat competitions unite an enhanced community of innovators, with results capable of making substantive contributions to the maritime field.
Click here to view RoboBoat in action!

Bridge A Life Superhero 5K
2024-02-10 08:30 - 12:00 (America/New_York)
The 13th Annual Superhero 5K & 1 Mile Fun Run will start and finish be ON THE ISLAND near the finish tower. This is a Foster Care Awareness Event. In-person and virtual racing options are available.
The Kids’ Fun Run starts at 8:30am. The 5K will be on a CHIP START between 9-9:05am. You will receive an official chip time and place. Master and Overall timed at gun time 9am. USATF Rules.
More than just a race, the Superhero race brings together child welfare agencies and the community to highlight the 1500+ youth who are in local foster care in Sarasota, Manatee, and DeSoto Counties, while providing a family-friendly event with music, a kiddie zone, food, and giveaways.

USRowing Speed Orders
2024-02-15 - 2024-02-18
The 2024 USRowing Winter Speed Order serves as an opportunity for rowers to test their speed ahead of April’s National Selection Regatta and gives them a chance to earn automatic invitations to USRowing’s first selection camp of the year. It’s the first step in making this year’s 2024 Senior National Team.
For schedule and full details, visit: USRowing 2024 Winter Speed Order page.

USRowing Speed Orders
2024-02-15 - 2024-02-18
2025 Winter Speed Order
W1x, M1x, W2-, M2-
PR1 M1x, PR1 W1x, PR2 M1x, PR2 W1x, PR3 M2-, PR3 W2-
USRowing is committed to fair play. All athletes participating in selection for, and competing as a member of, all U.S. national rowing teams must be in compliance with United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA), International Olympic Committee (IOC), United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC), World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), FISA and USRowing rules and requirements relating to banned substances, including but not limited to undergoing testing and obtaining and maintaining current therapeutic use exemptions as needed. Failure to adhere to anti-doping rules and requirements may result in an athlete losing eligibility to compete for the United States.
Selection Eligibility:

All competitors must have completed the USRowing Anti Doping Acknowledgement.
All competitors must be current Championship or Legacy Members of USRowing and have a signed liability waiver on file.

A reminder that in order for your membership to be considered current, you must have completed safe sport in the year of the event.

Entries are due by Friday, March 7, 2025 at 11:59pm PST. To place an entry, please visit Regatta Central.
Athletes will not be permitted to launch if they are not in compliance with these requirements. To renew or create a Membership, go to www.usrowing.org and click on “Join” or contact member services at 1-800-314-4ROW. To sign your waiver and Anti-Doping Acknowledgement, go here.
For questions contact Michael Zimmer michael.zimmer@usrowing.org

Circus Sarasota
2024-02-16 - 2024-03-10 | Regatta Island, 5851 Nathan Benderson Circle, Sarasota, FL, 34235, United States
Sarasota’s hometown circus returns under a brand new, custom-designed Big Top for another year of high-flying action, heart-stopping thrills, laugh-out-loud comedic antics, and acts that defy both expectations and the boundaries of physical limitations, performed by artists from around the globe.
Friday, Feb 16 – Sunday, March 10, 2024
Under the Big Top at Nathan Benderson Park
$10 Parking
For easiest access, please arrive 40 minutes prior to show time.
Food, beverages, beer and wine available.
See the circus website for exact dates, times and tickets

American Youth Cup I Regatta
2024-02-17 08:00 - 2024-02-18 17:00 (America/New_York)
The first of four AYC regattas, this series is a not-for-profit series of regattas leading up to the USRowing Southeast Youth Championships. The series works to give back to the athletes, giving crews opportunities to experience competitive, 2000-meter racing throughout the spring, ultimately preparing them to excel at the USRowing Youth National Championships in June at NBP.
Competing well consistently at the AYC regattas not only helps crews prepare to qualify for the Youth National Championships, but has the added bonus of a possible financial stipend towards their trip to the championships. At the end of the series, the team with the most points for an event is declared the AYC series winner for that event. A team will earn a monetary travel stipend towards their trip to the USRowing Youth National Championships should they be declared the winner of an event, and qualify for Youth Nationals in that event.

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Sarasota Invitational Regatta
2024-02-23 08:00 - 2024-02-25 17:00 (America/New_York) | Nathan Benderson Park, 5851 Nathan Benderson Circle, Sarasota, FL, 34235
Host club for this annual regatta is the Sarasota County Rowing Club.
Experience the excitement of sprint racing on one of the best rowing venues in the country! The annual Sarasota Invitational Regatta (SIR), held in February, features three days of youth and masters rowing at Nathan Benderson Park – the site of the 2018 Masters World Rowing and the 2017 World Rowing Championships.
In it’s inaugural year, SIR had a little over 300 boat entries and 600 competitors. Just ten years later, there were almost 800 boat entries and over 1,500 individual competitors and the numbers are growing!SCRC is proud to host the Sarasota Invitational Regatta and greatly appreciates the more than 200 volunteers, numerous sponsors and over 1500 participants who help make this event possible.

6th Annual Everything Buffalo Party
2024-02-28 17:00 - 22:00 (America/New_York)
The 6th Annual Everything Buffalo Party will be WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 28TH
This event features all the foods, drinks and favorite things of Buffalo, NY brought to Sarasota for you to enjoy! Hope Rises will be the WNY Charity of Choice again this year as Kate Glaser has done and continues to support and help so many families and charities in Buffalo area. Wagner Realty is back as the Exclusive Real Estate Company Sponsor. We’re here to help YOU with any of your Commercial & Residential needs. www.BUF2SRQ.com

Tickets include entry, parking, entertainment & food buffet, all from Buffalo, a drink ticket, opportunity to see almost 500 fellow Buffalonians and know a portion of proceeds are going to WNY non-profit, Hope Rises!
Ticket on Sale NOW! www.EverythingBuffaloParty.com

Southeastern Guide Dogs Walkathon
2024-03-02 09:00 - 12:00 (America/New_York)
Bring your family, bring your dogs, bring your friends, and bring your friends’ dogs! This free, family-friendly event includes a 3K walk and a Waggin’ Tails Festival with upbeat music, delicious food, a beer garden, a variety of vendors, and an exciting raffle drawing.

Hermitage Sunsets at Nathan Benderson Park
2024-03-14 18:30 - 21:00 (America/New_York)
This is the third installment of three programs scheduled. These outdoor events are one part of many “Hermitage North” programs, series, and collaborations planned throughout the season, spanning Sarasota County and the surrounding region. The programs feature industry-leading and award-winning playwrights, visual artists, musicians, poets, choreographers, and more — all free to the members of our community.
“Hermitage Sunsets @ Nathan Benderson Park: Theater on the Lake” showcases the talents of Hermitage Fellows Terry Guest and James Anthony Tyler. These two talents split the bill to share some of their latest work and discuss the creative process as the sun goes down over the lake. Admission is free, but registration is required ($5/person) at HermitageArtistRetreat.org.

Register Now

Walk MS: Sarasota 2024
2024-03-23 07:30 - 11:00 (America/New_York)
A walk that brings together passionate people for a powerful purpose: to end MS forever.
Click here to register now

Walk to End Summer Hunger
2024-03-24 08:30 - 13:00 (America/New_York)
Join All Faiths Food Bank to kick off the 2024 Campaign Against Summer Hunger with a walk around Nathan Benderson Park. The walk will mark the start of a six-week-long campaign to raise funds to feed children at risk of hunger over the summer. Register today!

My Hometown Fest
2024-03-30 12:00 - 17:00 (America/New_York)
Each year, My Hometown Fest draws thousands of people from Florida’s Suncoast for a day of fun featuring food from dozens of area restaurants, craft beer samples from around the country, and live music from the region’s best bands. The event features plenty of family friendly activities as well.
To purchase your tickets, please visit https://myhometownfest.com/

Dragon Boat 101
2024-04-01 - 2024-04-30
Join the Sport of Legends
Dragon boat paddling is not just a sport, it’s a celebration of unity and resilience. Stemming from Ancient China, this form of boat racing has evolved into a global phenomenon, binding people together in a spirit of fun, fitness and friendship. The vibrant boats, adorned to resemble dragons, symbolize boldness, courage, power and strength – qualities reflected in every paddler. Push your limits and compete in international events year-round with our dedicated competitive team, or join the recreational team for a more relaxed, pressure-free experience.
Join the sport of legends and begin your dragon boat adventure today! Click below to view course dates and pricing.

Register for Dragon Boat 101

Dragon Boat 101
2024-04-01 08:00 - 17:00 (America/New_York)
Begin your dragon boat adventure today!
Dragon boat paddling is not just a sport, it’s a celebration of unity and resilience. Stemming from Ancient China, this form of boat racing has evolved into a global phenomenon, binding people together in a spirit of fun, fitness and friendship. The vibrant boats, adorned to resemble dragons, symbolize boldness, courage, power and strength – qualities reflected in every paddler. Push your limits and compete in international events year-round with our dedicated competitive team, or join the recreational team for a more relaxed, pressure-free experience.
Join the sport of legends and begin your dragon boat adventure today. Click the REGISTER button below to view a list of dates the class is offered and pricing.

Register for Dragon Boat 101

US Olympic & Paralympic Team Rowing Trials
2024-04-02 - 2024-04-07
Watch history being made as Olympic hopefuls battle it out on the water for a chance to be nominated to the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic rowing teams.
You will find full details on the races, schedule, qualifications, streaming and media credential requests on this page.
Press conference scheduled:

Wednesday, April 3, 2024 at 10:00am at Nathan Benderson Park. Please confirm your attendance here.

Streaming: Saturday, April 6 & Sunday, April 7 from 8:00am-10:00am each day (Replay will be available)

Where to Watch:

Peacock
NBC.com
NBCSports.com

Other Olympic News:

Mar. 25, 2024: Trial competitors announced! See full list here.
Feb. 23, 2024: USRowing Announces Olympic Selection Camp Invitations
Feb. 17, 2024: Racing Wraps Up at USRowing’s 2024 Winter Speed Order
Feb. 15, 2024: USA Rowing begins 2024 Paris Olympics Selection process in Sarasota

Click here to see our FAQ for details about our Qualification Process

Olympic & Paralympic Trials - Schedule

Olympic & Paralympic Trials - Heats

Olympic & Paralympic Trials - Results

Row to Paris - Athlete Video Profiles

Media Credential Request Form

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Florida Scholastic Rowing Assn. Sculling State Championship (FSRA)
2024-04-13 08:00 - 2024-04-14 17:00 UTC
Florida Scholastic Rowing Assn. Sculling: April 13-14. More info at https://www.regattacentral.com/regatta/?job_id=7520
Can’t make it to Nathan Benderson Park? No Problem! Watch FSRA Sculling Championships LIVE STREAM on RHStv!
Available to download FREE on Roku, Amazon Fire, AppleTV, Samsung, LG, mobile devices and www.rhstv.com.
Immerse yourself in the action with our LIVE CHAT available during the event; accessible on mobile devices for you to cheer on YOUR team and send shoutouts! 📣
After our live broadcast ends, the event will be available Video on Demand. Watch anywhere, any time!
Follow @watchrhstv and share your favorite highlights with us! #FSRASarasota

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Mote SEAsonal Tasting
2024-04-17 18:00 - 21:30 (America/New_York)
Join Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium for a special event celebrating UTC’s ever-growing restaurant scene and benefiting Mote Science Education Aquarium (Mote SEA), our soon-to-be neighbor in the UTC community!
This ticketed event will feature delicious bites from 10 UTC restaurants, plus live music, cocktails and an exciting update on Mote’s new location.
Purchase Tickets

B1G Ten Women's Rowing Invitational Regatta
2024-04-19 08:00 - 2024-04-20 17:00 (America/New_York)
Join us to cheer for B1G 10 and collegiate rowers as they race along our world-class course.
24 Big Ten Invites:

Brown
Clemson
Duke
Indiana
Michigan State
Ohio State
Rutgers
Southern Methodist
Alabama
California – Los Angeles
Central Florida
Iowa
Michigan
Minnesota
Notre Dame
Oklahoma
Tennessee
Wisconsin-Madison

Watch the Livestream!
Can’t make it to Nathan Benderson Park? No Problem! Big Ten Invitational will stream LIVE on RHStv! 📺 Available to download FREE on Roku, Amazon Fire, AppleTV, Samsung, LG, mobile devices and at www.rhstv.com/bigten
. Immerse yourself in the action with our LIVE CHAT available during the event; accessible on mobile devices for you to cheer on YOUR team and send shoutouts! 📣 After our live broadcast ends, the event will be available Video on Demand. Watch anywhere, any time! Follow @watchrhstv and share your favorite highlights with us! #BigTenSarasota

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Sarasota International Dragon Boat Festival
2024-04-21
Looking for an event in Florida’s Gulf Coast? Join us in Sarasota, welcoming both competitive and recreational teams.
Don’t have a team? We have the Experience Dragon Boat Program. Click here for more information.
In what will promise to be a fiercely competitive Sport Division and widely attended Community Division, the event offers racing for established and entry-level teams alike looking to gain competitive experience by competing in a world-class sports facility. Nathan Benderson Park features a 400-acre lake built to FISA specifications. In 2017, the multi-use sports venue hosted the World Rowing Championships, so teams can expect the best racing conditions come race day!
Race distances include 200m, 500m, and the ever-thrilling 2k pursuit for Sport Division teams, while Community Division teams will race 3x500m.
Festival grounds offer something for everyone. Spectators can take in the action and follow the excitement of racing while learning about the sport of dragon boat. Another point of interest is the Health and Wellness Village, where participants and spectators can receive products and services to help maintain a healthy lifestyle. Families are invited to bring their children to come to spend time at the races and enjoy the outdoors.

2024 Americas Continental Olympic Qualifier & Panam Canoe Sprint Championships
2024-04-23 - 2024-04-25
The Pan American Canoe Federation (COPAC), the American Canoe Association (ACA) and Canoe Kayak Canada (CKC) are pleased to welcome you to Nathan Benderson Park in Sarasota, Florida, USA for the 2024 Canoe Sprint Americas Continental Olympic Qualifier and Panam Championships!
With over 20 countries represented from North, Central, and South America, this event marks the last opportunity for athletes to secure their spots for the 2024 Paris Olympics. Following last month’s World Championship event where American athletes earned one quota, this event serves as the final chance for countries to secure their spots for Paris.
The competition will feature Olympic qualification events for both men and women, including the MK1 1000m, MC1 1000m, WK1 500m, and WC1 200m, where 1st and 2nd place in each event may secure qualification. Additionally, 1st place in the MK2 500m, MC2 500m, WK2 500m, and WC2 500m events will also earn qualification spots. Alongside the Olympic qualifiers, the Panam Championship Events will showcase thrilling races such as the MK1 500m, MC1 500m, WK1 200m, WC1 500m, MK4 500m, and WK4 500m.

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Sunshine State Conference Rowing Championships (NCAA Div. II women)
2024-04-26
Women’s Rowing, hosted by Barry University

Dragon Boat 101 - May
2024-05-01 - 2024-05-31

USA Swimming Open Water Nationals & Juniors
2024-05-03 - 2024-05-05
Watch the best open water national and junior national swimmers take the waters of Nathan Benderson Park as they swim for the national championship titles in various distances.
Click here for Schedules & Maps for the event.
