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Arts + Culture

Carlos Pagán, a fixture of the Sarasota jazz scene, passed away June 7 at age 78.
    By
  • Monica Roman Gagnier
  • June 12, 2026
Sarasota jazz crusader and filmmaker Carlos Pagán dies at age 78

The Bronx native served on the board of the Jazz Club of Sarasota and was a programmer at WSLR.

  • Arts + Culture
Venice Theatre hosts global theater showcase WorldFest
    By
  • Monica Roman Gagnier
  • June 10, 2026
Venice Theatre hosts global theater showcase WorldFest

The festival returns to Venice with the help of more than 1,300 volunteers.

  • Arts + Culture
Steven High is retiring as executive director of The Ringling, a position he has held since 2011.
    By
  • Monica Roman Gagnier
  • June 5, 2026
Steven High to retire as executive director of The Ringling

High has led the museum founded by circus magnate John Ringling and now administered by Florida State University since 2011.

  • Arts + Culture
Collin Purcell, Katie Blackwell and Brian Ott bring back the feel-good era of folk music in "Leaving on a Jet Plane."
    By
  • Monica Roman Gagnier
  • June 3, 2026
Cool off this summer with Florida Studio Theatre's cabaret shows

FST music shows provide a welcome respite from summer in the city.

  • Arts + Culture
Pianist and composer Michael Stephen Brown is a faculty member at the 2026 Sarasota Music Festival.
    By
  • Monica Roman Gagnier
  • June 1, 2026
A slimmer Sarasota Music Festival aims to be as satisfying as ever

Minus a music director, the festival has fewer concerts and fellows but more engagement between faculty and students.

  • Arts + Culture
Arts and Central, the Rosemary District restaurant opened in 2024 by father-and-son team Dan Henson Jr. and Dan Henson, is one of more than 50 restaurants participating in the 21st annual Savor Sarasota Restaurant Week.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • May 27, 2026
Savor Sarasota Restaurant Week kicks off its 21st edition June 1-14

More than 60 area eateries are offering two-course lunches for $25 and three-course dinners for $45.

  • Arts + Culture
Kallista Schneiderman and Kelly Haramis rehearse for their upcoming performance of "Grease is the Word" at the Squeaky Wheel Fringe Festival, which runs from June 2-7.
    By
  • Monica Roman Gagnier
  • May 27, 2026
Sarasota's Squeaky Wheel Fringe keeps making noise

The funky festival returns for its fourth edition from June 2-7 at the Jane B. Cook Theatre.

  • Arts + Culture
Hermitage Fellow and Grammy Award winner Rona Siddiqui teams up with Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe performers Raleigh Moseley II and Maicy Powell for Hermitage Sunset Music on the Beach on Thursday, May 28.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • May 26, 2026
The best things to do in Sarasota, Lakewood Ranch, Longboat for May 28-June 3

Don't miss these arts and entertainment events around Sarasota and Manatee counties this week.

  • Arts + Culture
Ann Morrison played the titular role in the Broadway touring production of "Kimberly Akimbo" for 10 months.
    By
  • Marty Fugate
  • May 21, 2026
Sarasota actor Ann Morrison is forever young

The 70-year-old just wrapped a national tour playing the teenaged lead in 'Kimberly Akimbo.'

  • Arts + Entertainment
Andrii Padkovskyi plays the titular role in Asolo Rep's "Fiddler on the Roof," which runs through May 24.
    By
  • Monica Roman Gagnier
  • May 20, 2026
A Ukrainian fiddler finds his roof in Sarasota

After a musical family escaped war in Ukraine, two brothers land at Asolo Repertory Theatre.

  • Arts + Culture
The annual Memorial Day parade kicks off on Main Street in Sarasota at 10 a.m. on Monday, May 25. Rebecca Souders, 10, Jessica Wilhelm and Beth Duranceau watch the parade in 2023.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • May 19, 2026
The best things to do in Sarasota, Lakewood Ranch, Longboat for May 21-27

Don't miss these arts and entertainment events around Sarasota and Manatee counties this week.

  • Arts + Culture
A camper explores hands-on marine science during Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium’s Mote SEA STEM Camp.
    By
  • Su Byron
  • May 19, 2026
Let the kids blossom creatively this summer at one of these art camps

These summer camps for children and teens open the door to self-expression, skill-building and the joy of discovery.

  • Arts + Culture
Samantha Bennett and George Nickson are the co-founders and co-artistic directors of ensembleNewSRQ.
    By
  • Monica Roman Gagnier
  • May 13, 2026
Two Sarasota arts groups team up to present an opera for our times

Artist Series Concerts and ensembleNewSRQ join forces for Matthew Aucoin's "Music for New Bodies."

  • Arts + Culture
Marina and Vladislav Yeliseyev pose in front of one of Vlad's paintings in their home in The Landings.
    By
  • Monica Roman Gagnier
  • May 12, 2026
Sarasota artist travels the globe painting outdoors

With his studio in The Landings, Vladislav Yeliseyev's world knows no boundaries.

  • Arts + Culture
Rod Brogan and Rachel Moulton star in Florida Studio Theatre's "Birthday Candles."
    By
  • Monica Roman Gagnier
  • May 6, 2026
Florida Studio Theatre actor is a woman for all seasons

In "Birthday Candles," Rachel Moulton ages from 17 to 107 as she bakes a cosmic confection.

  • Arts + Culture
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1
The roof of Sarasota Youth Sailing's future building is designed to direct rainwater into a cistern for washing boats.
  • July 25, 2026
Youth sailing building crests final regulatory wave
2
  • July 24, 2026
Legacy: Motown & More
3
Bradenton 3-year-old Zy'heir Curry, a lover of "Paw Patrol," shows off his trophy from playing flag football at The Learning Experience.
  • July 24, 2026
The Learning Experience in Lakewood Ranch tackles a flag football event
4
Larry Debb of GSP Development with a scale model of Saravela at the development's sales center.
  • July 24, 2026
City staff instructed to develop condo-hotel policy
5
Danae Tran plays the violin for Longboat Island Chapel attendees of the July 19 morning service before she and fellow scholarship recipient Michelle McLeod move to greet guests at the award reception.
  • July 24, 2026
Scholars celebrated at Longboat Island Chapel award reception

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