Downtown Sarasota will look a little different Monday morning — and if you’re planning to drive or park near Main Street, you’ll want to plan ahead.
The City of Sarasota, in partnership with the Sarasota Patriotic Observance Committee, will host its annual Memorial Day parade at 10 a.m. Monday, May 25, beginning on Main Street at Orange Avenue and concluding at Chaplain J.D. Hamel Park at Main Street and Gulfstream Avenue. Several road closures and tow-away zones will be in effect throughout the downtown area for much of the morning.
The earliest closures go into effect at 4 a.m. and remain in place until 12:30 p.m.
Those streets include Main Street from Links Avenue to Gulfstream Avenue, Osprey Avenue from Fruitville Road to Ringling Boulevard, Gulfstream Avenue from Cocoanut Avenue to McAnsh Square, Central Avenue from Main Street to First Street, and the intersection of Pineapple Avenue, Central Avenue and Main Street.
A second round of closures takes effect at 9 a.m. and also lifts at 12:30 p.m., covering Links Avenue from Second Street to Ringling Boulevard, Goodrich Avenue from Main Street to Second Street, Adelia Avenue from Main Street to Second Street, Orange Avenue from State Street to Second Street, Lemon Avenue from Main Street to First Street, Mira Mar Court from Main Street to McAnsh Square and South Palm Avenue at its intersection with Main Street.
Drivers should note that vehicles parked in tow-away zones not removed by 8:45 a.m. will be towed at the owner’s expense. Anyone whose vehicle is towed can contact Upman’s Towing at 941-365-7084.
The parade is free and open to the public. It will include performances by the Sarasota Military Academy band and participation from local law enforcement agencies, first responders, color guards, veterans’ groups, community organizations and dignitaries.
The ceremony is scheduled to feature guest speaker Charlie Halley, a U.S. Army veteran who served in active duty and reserves for nearly 11 years, and is known locally as The Comet on his WSRQ weekday morning show and the founder of DD-214 Jeepers, a Sarasota veterans nonprofit.
For more information, contact the Sarasota Police Department’s Public Information Office at SPDNews@SarasotaFL.gov or 941-263-6099.
Jimmy Geurts contributed to this report.
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This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Sarasota Memorial Day parade brings downtown road closures
Reporting by Samantha Gholar, Sarasota Herald-Tribune / Sarasota Herald-Tribune
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