Plenty of people fly into Sarasota for the beach. Some come for the music. And once a year, a different crowd shows up — capes packed, foam swords stowed in checked bags — for SiestaCon, Sarasota’s homegrown comic book and pop culture convention.
SiestaCon 2026 lands at Robarts Arena on Saturday, May 9, and if you’ve got kids in the comics-and-cosplay age range (roughly 6 to 16, but really, ageless), this is the kind of weekend they’ll talk about until next summer.
What To Expect
SiestaCon isn’t San Diego Comic-Con. It’s better, actually, for one specific thing: it’s small enough to be navigable. You can see everything in a few hours without losing a child or your sanity. The lineup typically includes:
- Vendor floor packed with comics, vintage toys, custom art, and the kind of weird collectibles that turn into family stories.
- Cosplay everywhere — the costume creativity at this event punches way above the venue’s size.
- Celebrity guests from comics, animation, and the occasional cult-favorite TV cast.
- Panels and workshops for the deep-cuts crowd: artists demoing process, writers talking shop, costuming tutorials.
- A kids zone that keeps the youngest attendees happy while the bigger fans dig through the long boxes.
Why Bring The Family Down For It
A few practical reasons we recommend this one over a generic family beach week:
- Saturday-only. You don’t need to plan a long weekend around it. Fly in Friday, do SiestaCon Saturday, and have all of Sunday for the beach.
- It’s air-conditioned. Mid-May in Florida is gorgeous, but a few hours indoors with snacks and superheroes is exactly what kids need around 2 PM when the sun is at its peak.
- Robarts Arena is centrally located — about 15 minutes from Siesta Key, 20 minutes from Anna Maria, and walking distance from a handful of restaurants the kids will actually like.
Properties That Make This Weekend Easy
For a comic convention weekend with kids, you want a couple of bedrooms, a pool to burn off energy in the afternoon, and a quick drive to Robarts. A few rentals that fit:
- Casa Covella — three bedrooms, pool, on Siesta Key. Plenty of space to spread out the haul of comic books on Sunday morning. See it →
- A Shell House Getaway — three bedrooms, four baths, sleeps eight. Walkable to the beach for the rest of the weekend. See it →
- Browse all of our Sarasota and Siesta Key rentals for more options.
Make It A Weekend
SiestaCon is the spike in the middle of an otherwise relaxed weekend on the islands. Saturday for the convention. Sunday for the beach. Monday morning for one last walk on the sand before you fly home with a duffel bag full of new comics.
Event details are accurate as of publication; check SiestaCon’s official channels for guest announcements, ticket info, and schedule changes.
