Early November brings a full calendar to Dunedin, and this week most of it sits within a short walk of Main Street. The Downtown Market is back at Pioneer Park on Fridays and Saturdays, starting November 6. The Art Harvest fills Highlander Park on November 7 and 8, during what the Dunedin Fine Art Center calls Dunedin's Premier Art Weekend. The Dunedin History Museum hosts a hands-on toy soldier painting night for Veterans Day on November 12, and then leads a guided sunset walk along Victoria Drive on November 13. Between November 5 and November 13, here are four picks for getting out and enjoying Dunedin.
Downtown Market
Why It Stands Out
Friday, November 6, Saturday, November 7 and Friday, November 13, from nine in the morning until two in the afternoon, the Dunedin Downtown Market sets up at John R. Lawrence Pioneer Park, 420 Main Street. After a summer of Saturdays in the City Hall parking lot, the market moves back to Pioneer Park and runs on both Fridays and Saturdays from November through June. Vendors bring fresh produce, eggs, meats, artisanal cheeses, breads, honey and baked goods, along with soaps, candles, plants, lunch bites and live music. The City of Dunedin lists the market, which is presented by Tampa Bay Markets.
Best For
Neighbors stocking up for the weekend, anyone looking for an easy lunch downtown, and visitors who want a feel for Main Street on a Friday or Saturday morning.
Timing and Planning
No price is listed. The city notes that the market may be canceled on certain holidays, weekends or downtown event days, and none of these three dates is marked as canceled. The city page does not list parking details, but it links to its Getting Around Dunedin guide.
Art Harvest
Why It Stands Out
Saturday, November 7 and Sunday, November 8, from ten in the morning until four in the afternoon, the Junior League of Clearwater-Dunedin hosts its annual outdoor juried arts festival at Highlander Park, 903 Michigan Boulevard. This is the 62nd Art Harvest, and the city lists more than 200 artists, with fine art, handcrafted goods and local food. The Dunedin Fine Art Center, which presents the weekend together with the Junior League, says this year's featured artist is Larry Moore, known for bold color and dynamic perspective. The park will also have artisan booths, a VIP Lounge and a dedicated children's craft area.
Best For
Families with kids who like to make things, art collectors, and anyone who wants to get an early start on holiday shopping with handmade gifts.
Timing and Planning
Admission is free, and donations are encouraged. The city lists a five dollar parking fee and posts a parking map and an event map on its event page. VIP tickets are sold through the Junior League, and no VIP price is listed on the city page. Just up the road, the Dunedin Fine Art Center at 1143 Michigan Boulevard is open from ten until five both days and offers free admission to its Children's Hands-On Museum during the weekend.
Revolutionary Remembrance: Painting Toy Soldiers Workshop
Why It Stands Out
Thursday, November 12, from six until 7:30 in the evening, the Dunedin History Museum at 349 Main Street hosts a hands-on Veterans Day workshop set in the Revolutionary era. Guests paint their own miniature toy soldiers inspired by the American Revolution. It is part of the museum's Freedom in Focus exhibit and is the final program before that exhibition closes.
Best For
History fans, people who enjoy a small creative project, and anyone looking for a relaxed weeknight plan downtown.
Timing and Planning
Tickets are sold through the Get Tickets button on the museum's event page, and no price is listed on the page. The workshop needs at least five participants, or it may be rescheduled or canceled. All ticket sales are final. No age policy is listed. For questions, call the museum at 727-736-1176.
Victoria Drive Sunset Stroll
Why It Stands Out
Friday, November 13, from 5:30 until seven in the evening, the Dunedin History Museum leads a guided walk that starts at Edgewater Park, 51 Main Street. The route follows Victoria Drive, the original bumpy crushed clam shell road along the waterfront, at sunset. The guide walks the group past the outside of each historic home and shares the story of the homes and the families who built and lived in them from 1878 to 1903.
Best For
Couples looking for a low-key date night, new residents who want to know the story behind the waterfront homes, and anyone who loves old houses.
Insider Tip
The museum asks guests to wear closed-toe shoes and bring a flashlight. Tickets are sold through the Get Tickets button on the event page, and no price is listed on the page. The walk needs at least six sign-ups. If it does not reach that number, your payment goes toward the next walk. All ticket sales are final. The Downtown Market runs earlier the same day, so this is an easy way to make a full Friday of it.
Event Q&A
Which event is best for families?
The Art Harvest on November 7 and 8. Admission is free, there is a dedicated children's craft area, and the Dunedin Fine Art Center down Michigan Boulevard offers free admission to its Children's Hands-On Museum that weekend.
Which event feels most on-brand for a date night?
The Victoria Drive Sunset Stroll on Friday, November 13. A guided walk past historic waterfront homes at sunset, followed by dinner on Main Street, makes for an easy evening.
Which event is worth planning ahead for?
Both Dunedin History Museum programs. The toy soldier workshop needs five participants and the Sunset Stroll needs six, tickets are bought ahead online, and all sales are final. For the Art Harvest, plan on the five dollar parking fee.
Which event gives the best sense of local community?
The Downtown Market at Pioneer Park. With local produce, baked goods, lunch bites and live music right on Main Street, it is where neighbors run into each other on a Friday or Saturday morning.
What else is happening in Dunedin?
The Dunedin Fine Art Center opens its Deck the Halls & Walls 40th Annual Holiday Show on Friday, November 6, from six until eight in the evening at 1143 Michigan Boulevard. Tickets are fifteen dollars online or twenty dollars at the door, and members get in free with early entry at 5:30. During the Art Harvest weekend, the center also offers free access to two exhibitions, The Only Lasting Truth and Intimate Monument.
What is coming right after the window?
The Dunedin History Museum leads a Downtown Dunedin Walking Tour on Friday, November 20, from ten in the morning until noon, starting at the museum at 349 Main Street. The Downtown Market also continues at Pioneer Park on Friday, November 20 and Saturday, November 21, from nine until two.
