Everything You Need to Know About the Siesta Key Drum Circle
Image: Chad Spencer
Thirty years ago, in 1996, David Gittens gathered a dozen friends to play drums and celebrate the vernal equinox on Siesta Beach. Today, the Siesta Key Drum Circle is an institution, attracting hundreds—some say up to a thousand during season—to the weekly Sunday sunset ritual. At first, the gatherings were spiritual, but as the years went by, the event began to feel more like a party of friends, musicians, tourists, families, dancers, hula-hoopers and hippie wannabes of all ages. The point is to let go, jump in the circle, clap, dance and celebrate being alive.
Mark Your Calendar
The Siesta Key Drum Circle starts an hour before sunset every Sunday on Siesta Beach. Cancellations only happen when the beach is closed due to natural disasters (mostly hurricanes), or an event like red tide.
Meet the Founder
Drum circle founder David Gittens has been described as an autodidact, a globetrotting artist, industrial designer and the maker of the Ikenga GT, a high-performance car, and the Ikenga Gyroplane 530Z, which is in the National Air and Space Museum. Now in his 80s, he still lives in Sarasota.
Image: Chad Spencer
Be Yourself
Costumes are welcome. Dancers use scarves, wings, lighted puppets, hula hoops and fans. We’ve even seen the black-hatted Suncoast Sand Witches dancing in unison to Michael Jackson’s “Thriller.”
Image: Chad Spencer
Let it Be
“It means whatever you want it to mean. It’s free. Just bring something to bang on.”—Dr. Marguerite Barnett, who’s been attending since the first gathering 30 years ago and loves to dance.
Outside the Circle
In addition to the circle on Siesta Beach, there’s also a more family-friendly drum circle Wednesday and Saturday starting one hour before sunset on Nokomis Beach, and a Sunday evening drum circle on Englewood Beach.
Image: Chad Spencer
Let the Music Move You
A core group of 20 musicians shows up to drum, and others bring their own instruments and join in, including drummer and dancer Annie Eng, a regular.
99 percent
Siesta Beach’s sand is 99 percent pure quartz crystals, reputed to have magical healing powers.
29,000
Number of followers on Siesta Key Drum Circle’s Facebook page.
