In addition to all day live entertainment, the festival has vendors selling a wide array of food, drink and crafts.
Concert producer Barbara Strauss took over the Sarasota Blues Fest in 1993.
The festival was originally held at the Sarasota County Fairgrounds but moved to Ed Smith Stadium Complex in 2006.
[2] In 2011 The Sarasota Blues Fest and all rights to the name and property was purchased by ExtremeTix Inc., a Houston-based Ticketing Solutions and Event Services company.
Past recipients of donations have included United Cerebral Palsy, Police Athletic League Sailor Circus Capital Campaign, United Way, Florida Center for Child and Family Development & All Faiths Food Bank.