Join VAHS



Calendar of Events

If you "Switch to Calendar View" below, events are color-coded.  The following colors represent the type of event:  purple for the VAHS Traveling Exhibitions, tan for Events, red for Depot Campus schedule, teal for The Betty Intagliata Lecture Series and the Venice Centennial Lecture Series, and pink for Discover Sarasota Tours - The Venice Circus Tours.

Upcoming events

    • April 01, 2026
    • April 29, 2026
    • 13 sessions
    • 303 East Venice Avenue Venice, FL 34285

    PLEASE NOTE:  Tours are given between 10:00 am and 1:00 pm.


    • April 07, 2026
    • 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM
    • Venice Area Chamber of Commerce 597 S Tamiami Trail Venice, FL 34285


    Discover Sarasota Tours is pleased to announce the return of the beloved Venice Trolley Tours in 2026.  The Venice Circus Tour led by Bob Collins will run January through April.  This tour runs every other Tuesday starting at 1:00 pm.  It leaves from the Venice Area Chamber of Commerce which provides ample free parking.  It includes a stop at the 1927 Historic Venice Train Depot and the Circus Car Museum.

    Tour tickets and information are available online at

    DiscoverSarasotaTours.com

    or by calling 941-260-9818

    For Groups of up to thirty, email

    info@DiscoverSarasotaTours.com

    • April 12, 2026
    • 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
    • 303 E. Venice Avenue, Venice FL 34285
    Register

    The Venice Area Historical Society invites you to its New Member Orientation on Sunday, April 12th, from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm in the Freight Room at the 1927 Historic Venice Train Depot.

    Explore the Depot Campus while learning from our Board Members about the structure, captivating history, and special events this organization offers.  In addition, we will also provide a quick demonstration on navigating the VAHS website.  Most importantly, this is a great opportunity to meet other new members, Board Members, and learn about all of our volunteer opportunities.

    The event is FREE and light refreshments will be served.  The RSVP deadline is April 7th.  To register, please click New Member Orientation.

    We look forward to celebrating Venice history with you!

    • April 15, 2026
    • 12:00 PM
    • April 16, 2026
    • 12:00 PM
    • Online & Sharky's 1600 Harbor Drive S



    On Wednesday April 15, starting at noon through noon Thursday April 16 the Patterson Foundation will be matching your $25 to $100 donations dollar for dollar!  This is an excellent opportunity to double your donation in support of the Venice Area Historical Society.


    There are two ways to make your donation:

    Visit our page on the Giving Challenge website by

    CLICKING HERE

    Please save this direct link and share with friends.  Follow the prompts to make a safe and easy online donation

    OR

    Stop by our booth at Sharky's on April 15th from noon to 7:00 pm.

    Win prizes from Venice Pier Group when you donate onsite at Sharky's.


    A historical society is not preserving the past.  It is protecting the soul, stability, and future value of the place you call home.  Every beautiful historic street.  Every preserved façade.  Every story that gives a property meaning beyond square footage - exists because someone cared enough to protect it.  Without preservation, history disappears quietly.  Buildings are demolished.  Stories are forgotten.  Communities lose the character that made people want to live, invest, and build their lives there in the first place.

    But preservation is not only about protecting structures.  It is about educating and inspiring the people who will protect them next.

    Through lectures, walking tours, school partnerships, and community programs, historical societies bring history to life.  They help children understand the significance of the place they call home.  They help residents see their community with pride.  They turn passive observers into active stewards.

    Thank you in advance for your support of the Venice Area Historical Society!

    Sincerely,


    Bill Haberthur

    President


    VAHS is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and has registered with the State of Florida to solicit contributions.  A COPY OF THE OFFICIAL REGISTRATION AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER SERVICES AT WWW.800HELPFLA.COM OR BY CALLING TOLL-FREE WITHIN (800-435-7352) OR OUTSIDE (850-410-3800) FLORIDA.  REGISTRATION DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT, APPROVAL, OR RECOMMENDATION BY THE STATE.” Ch 32089

    • April 17, 2026
    • 12:00 PM - 2:00 PM
    • 303 E. Venice Avenue, Venice, FL 34285
    Register


    • April 21, 2026
    • 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM
    • Venice Area Chamber of Commerce 597 S Tamiami Trail Venice, FL 34285


    Discover Sarasota Tours is pleased to announce the return of the beloved Venice Trolley Tours in 2026.  The Venice Circus Tour led by Bob Collins will run January through April.  This tour runs every other Tuesday starting at 1:00 pm.  It leaves from the Venice Area Chamber of Commerce which provides ample free parking.  It includes a stop at the 1927 Historic Venice Train Depot and the Circus Car Museum.

    Tour tickets and information are available online at

    DiscoverSarasotaTours.com

    or by calling 941-260-9818

    For Groups of up to thirty, email

    info@DiscoverSarasotaTours.com

    • April 21, 2026
    • 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM
    • 1971 Pinebrook Rd, Venice, FL 34292

    Battle for the Big Top: The Death-Defying Saga of the American Circus

    Les Standiford is the author of 25 critically acclaimed books, including 10 novels and the New York Times best-selling non-fiction Last Train to Paradise, now in its 40th printing.  His novel Spill and his non-fiction work The Man Who Invented Christmas, a New York Times Editors’ Choice, were made into feature films.  The latter starred Christopher Plummer and Dan Stevens and was reviewed on MSNBC in 2024 as “the most underrated Christmas film of the 21st Century,” and has been listed by numerous publications, including Good Housekeeping and The San Francisco Chronicle, as among the Top Ten Christmas films of all time.

    He is a Distinguished University Professor of English and Founding Director of the Creative Writing Program at FIU, and holds the MA and PhD in literature and creative writing from the University of Utah.  In Spring 2024 he was named a “Florida Icon” by Florida Trend magazine, an honor awarded to individuals such as H. Wayne Huizenga, Janet Reno, Bobby Bowden, and Stetson Kennedy.  His book Battle for the Big Top, which examines the cultural influence of the American Circus, received the 2022 Gold Medal for General Interest Non-Fiction from the Florida Book Awards.

VAHS is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and has registered with the State of Florida to solicit contributions.  A COPY OF THE OFFICIAL REGISTRATION AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER SERVICES BY CALLING TOLL-FREE WITHIN (800-435-7352) OR OUTSIDE (850-410-3800) FLORIDA.  REGISTRATION DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT, APPROVAL, OR RECOMMENDATION BY THE STATE.” Ch 32089

Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey® and The Greatest Show On Earth® trademarks are used under license from Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Combined Shows, Inc.


© 2026 Venice Area Historical Society. All rights reserved.

Powered by Wild Apricot Membership Software