- December 13, 2025
-
-
Loading
Loading
Florida Turkey Trot
8 a.m. at Nathan Benderson Park, 5851 Nathan Benderson Circle
Kids Dash $23.14; 5K $55.23
Visit NathanBendersonPark.org.
Join an expected crowd of 4,000 runners at the annual Florida Turkey Trot, presented by Lakewood Ranch Medical Center. All participants receive a finisher medal, a race shirt, food and beverages, and a special sweet treat to take home. The event benefits the Nathan Benderson Park Conservancy and the Big Bill Foundation. The Kids Dash begins at 7:15 a.m. with the 5K run/walk to follow at 8 a.m.
Wonderland Circus: ‘Believe’
2 and 7 p.m. at LECOM Big Top at UTC, 195 University Town Center Drive
$35-$125
Visit WonderlandCircus.com.
Just in time for the holidays, death-defying aerialist Nik Wallenda returns to University Town Center with his Wonderland Circus, featuring a new tent with plush seats, cupholders and lots of room between rows. Joining Wallenda will be his faithful sidekicks — daredevil clown Johnny Rockett and master of ceremonies Ty McFarlan — as well as new family-friendly circus acts and immersive video to help deliver the message: “Believe!” Runs through Jan. 4.
One Night of Queen
7 p.m. at Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, 777 N. Tamiami Trail
$41-$82
Visit VanWezel.org.
Gary Mullen has been performing the hits of the iconic glam rock band Queen for more than two decades along with his musical associates in the Works. They’ve taken their tribute band throughout the world, with tours in the U.K., U.S., Europe, South Africa and New Zealand. We can guarantee that Mullen and the Works will rock you.
‘Recipe for the Holiday’
7:30 p.m. at Tree Fort Productions, Crossings at Siesta Key mall, 3501 S. Tamiami Trail
$25
Visit TreeFortProductionsProjects.com.
Don't miss Tree Fort Productions founder Katherine Michelle Tanner's Yuletide show, “Recipe for the Holiday,” which follows a radio show shrink dispensing much needed advice during a very stressful time of year. Runs through Dec. 14.
‘Come From Away’
7:30 p.m. at FSU Center for the Performing Arts, 5555 N. Tamiami Trail
$35 and up
Visit AsoloRep.org.
Irene Sankoff and David Hein’s musical is based on a true story. When the U.S. shut down its airspace after the 9/11 attacks, thousands of inbound travelers wound up stranded in the small town of Gander, Canada. Newfoundland locals dubbed the travelers “Come From Aways” — and welcomed them with open arms. With its driving Celtic-rock rhythms and heart-wrenching humor, this ensemble production by Asolo Repertory Theatre reminds us how trying times can bring out the best in people. Directed by Peter Rothstein. Runs through Dec. 28.
Langston Hughes’ ‘Black Nativity’
7:30 p.m. at Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe, 1012 N. Orange Ave.
$54 adults, $24 students 25 and under and active military
Visit WestcoastBlackTheatre.org.
Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe offers a Nativity story that blends gospel, blues, spiritual and Christmas music with the poetry of Langston Hughes and the creativity of Nate Jacobs’ theater company dedicated to African-American stories. This is not just another Christmas show. Runs through Dec. 21.
‘Monsters of the American Cinema’
7:30 p.m. at Urbanite Theatre, 1487 Second St.
$5-$44
Visit UrbaniteTheatre.com.
In Christian St. Croix’ haunting play, Remy (Jon Gentry), gay Black widower bonds with his late husband’s straight, white teenage son Pup (Tyler Geva) over scary monster flicks until ghastly cinematic creatures seemingly escape the silver screen. Or are they monsters from within? Runs through Dec. 7.
‘The Amish Project’
7:30 p.m. at Venice Theatre, 140 Tampa Ave. W, Venice
$18-$38
Visit VeniceTheatre.org.
Written by Jessica Dickey, “The Amish Project” explores the forgiveness expressed by the Amish community after an outsider opened fire in 2006 on a schoolhouse in Nickel Mines, Pennsylvania, shooting 10 girls, five of whom died. There are seven fictional characters in the play, which are sometimes played by one actress. This Venice Theatre production is an ensemble project. Runs through Dec. 7.
‘Three Pianos’
7:30 p.m. at FST’s Gompertz Theatre, 1265 First St.
$18-$42
Visit FloridaStudioTheatre.org.
Under Producing Artistic Director Richard Hopkins, Florida Studio Theatre has grown into downtown music and theater campus with something for everyone. FST’s winter cabaret show “Three Pianos” is an ode to superstars of the keyboard such as Ray Charles, Elton John and Alicia Keys. These mavericks didn’t tinkle the ivories; they tore up the rulebook. Runs through April 5.
‘Deck the Halls’
10 a.m. at FST’s Keating Theatre, 1241 N. Palm Ave.
$12
Visit FloridaStudioTheatre.org.
Celebrate the holidays Florida-style with palm trees decorated with twinkling lights, sand snowmen and Santa on a surfboard. The family-friendly show returns this year with new sketches and songs. Weekends through Dec. 24.
Siesta Key Holiday Parade
5:30-9 p.m. at Ocean Blvd., Siesta Key
Free
Visit My.SiestaKeyChamber.com.
Businesses and community members of Siesta Key come together for the annual holiday parade, concluding with the arrival of Santa Claus. Santa will be available for a greeting, prior to the parade from 2 to 4 p.m. at Siesta Key Chamber of Commerce & Visitor Center at 5223 Avenida Navarra.
Christmas in the Garden
5-9 p.m. at Longboat Island Chapel, 6200 Gulf of Mexico Drive, Longboat Key
Free
Visit LongboatIslandChapel.org.
This month-long celebration of lights and music kicks off with special musical guest Island Breeze with Greg and Steve. Performances take place throughout the month.
Dave Koz & Friends Christmas Tour
7 p.m. at Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, 777 N. Tamiami Trail
$56 and up
Visit VanWezel.org.
After a career spanning nearly three decades, platinum-selling saxophonist Dave Koz has made a lot of friends and some of them are joining him for his 2025 Christmas tour. Celebrating the season with Koz will be Jonathan Butler, Hailey Reinhart, Kayla Waters and Casey Abrams.
'Ancient Art from Cyprus and the Mediterranean'
10 a.m. at The John and Mable Ringling Art Museum, 5401 Bay Shore Road
Free with $30 admission; Mondays free
Visit Ringling.org.
In 1928, circus magnate John Ringling moved beyond collecting Baroque paintings with a major acquisition of more than 2,000 pieces of Cypriot art at the Anderson Galleries in New York, where the Metropolitan Museum was selling parts of its ancient art collection. For the first time, Ringling's treasures have a permanent home in Gallery 12 after a decadelong project.
‘Art Deco: The Golden Age of Illustration’
10 a.m. at the Sarasota Art Museum campus of Ringling College, 1001 S. Tamiami Trail
Free for museum members; $20
Visit SarasotaArtMuseum.org.
The Sarasota Art Museum celebrates the 100th anniversary of the exposition that kicked off the Art Deco movement. More than 100 eye-catching posters from the Crouse Collection as well as industrial furniture, home furnishings and other objects loaned by the Wilsonian-Florida International University are on display. Through March 29, 2026.
Canadian Brass
7:30 p.m. at Sarasota Opera House, 61 N. Pineapple Ave.
$36-$81
Visit SCASarasota.org.
Kick off the holiday season with a concert by Canadian Brass, a pioneer in audience engagement long before it was in fashion. There isn’t an audience that Chuck Daellenbach and his band can’t connect with. Daellenbach has gotten a little practice since helping to found the band in Toronto in 1970. The legendary tuba player is joined this year by Joe Burgstaller on trumpet, Jeff Nelson on French horn, Keith Dyrda on trombone and Misio Sasaki on trumpet. They’ll play holiday favorites as well as signature tunes such as “A Closer Walk With Thee,” the traditional closing number of the Preservation Hall Jazz Band in New Orleans.
Hermitage Sunsets @ Benderson Park
5 p.m. at Nathan Benderson Park, 5851 Nathan Benderson Circle.
Free with registration
Visit HermitageArtistRetreat.org.
Two artists sponsored for fellowships at the Hermitage Artist Retreat by local arts groups — Shawn Allison and Tom Lubben — come together for the Hermitage Cross Arts Collaborative at Nathan Benderson Park. Allison, a clarinetist and music professor, has been collaborating with ensembleNewSRQ, a contemporary classical music group. Lubben, the middle triplet of The Lubben Brothers, has been creating choral arrangements of classic folk songs such as "If I Had a Hammer" for Key Chorale. Hermitage CEO and Artistic Director Andy Sandberg will act as master of ceremonies for the event. Bring your own chairs.
Brandenburg Concertos
7:30 p.m. at Sarasota Opera House, 61 N. Pineapple Ave.
$80-$205
Visit LaMusicaFestival.org.
La Musica Chamber Music opens its 40th season in Sarasota with a rare, complete performance of all of J.S. Bach’s Brandenburg Concertos. The concert will feature artists from the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, of which La Musica Artistic Director Wu Han and her husband David Finckel are co-artistic directors.
