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Arts + Entertainment

Raleigh Moseley II and Jazzmin Carson star in Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe's "Purlie," which runs through Nov. 9.
    By
  • Marty Fugate
  • October 22, 2025
A theater critic presents his picks for the fall season

A Black preacher, movie monsters and stranded travelers are among the characters on Sarasota stages.

  • Arts + Culture
Pepper shrimp is just one of many cross-cultural dishes popular in Trinidad and Tobago and available on the menu at Flambo, the newest restaurant to open on St. Armands Circle.
    By
  • Dana Kampa
  • October 22, 2025
Trinidadian cuisine on the menu at new St. Armands spot

A new family-run Caribbean restaurant called Flambo quietly opened on St. Armands Circle and looks forward to bringing energy to its new home.

  • Arts + Entertainment
  • Eat + Drink
The Sarasota Players' "The Legend of Sleeping Hollow" returns to the Sarasota Polo Club for its annual October run.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • October 21, 2025
The best things to do in Sarasota, Lakewood Ranch, Longboat for Oct. 23-29

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

  • Arts + Entertainment
  • Things To Do
George Nickson and Samantha Bennett, co-founders and co-artistic directors of enSRQ, kick off their 10th season with "Tangled Whispers" on Oct. 27.
    By
  • Monica Roman Gagnier
  • October 20, 2025
A contemporary classical music troupe grows in Sarasota

Samantha Bennett and George Nickson are kicking off enSRQ's 10th season.

  • Arts + Culture
Texas-inspired barbecue has officially landed in Lakewood Ranch with Twisted Pit BBQ.
    By
  • Emma Burke Jolly
  • October 18, 2025
Take a trip to hog heaven for National Pork Month

Here are three tasty spots to pig out during October — or any other month.

  • Arts + Entertainment
  • Eat + Drink
Englewood firefighters Mason Adkins and James Farley prepare cups of chili in 2024.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • October 17, 2025
Morton's Firehouse Chili Cook-Off still going strong in 25th year

The event features over a dozen fire stations from Sarasota and beyond, competing for the awards for best chili and best booth.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Ricardo Graziano, Sierra Abelardo and other members of the Sarasota Ballet will perform the premiere of Jessica Lang's "The Lorenz Butterfly."
    By
  • Monica Roman Gagnier
  • October 15, 2025
How Sarasota Ballet Director Iain Webb puts the pieces together

The Royal Ballet veteran likens programming a season to assembling a puzzle.

  • Arts + Culture
Daniela and Giuseppe Fornieri, owners of La Norma, recently brought some homegrown design touches to the Italian restaurant on Longboat Key.
    By
  • Dana Kampa
  • October 15, 2025
La Norma brings homey feel to restaurant renovation

The Longboat Key restaurant brings an authentic Sicilian flair to the restaurant scene, backed by thorough financial planning.

  • Arts + Entertainment
  • Eat + Drink
Don Walker, production manager of the 2025 Theatre Odyssey One-Act Play Festival, and Olivia Yagy starred in “Tagged” by Jim Moss, winner of Theatre Odyssey's 2018 One-Act Play Festival.
    By
  • Monica Roman Gagnier
  • October 14, 2025
Theatre Odyssey revives its One-Act Play Festival

The festival returns to the Jane B. Cook Theatre after a two-year hiatus.

  • Arts + Culture
"Twilight in Concert" comes to the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall Oct. 17.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • October 14, 2025
The best things to do in Sarasota, Lakewood Ranch, Longboat for Oct. 16-22

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

  • Arts + Entertainment
  • Things To Do
Col. Ben Knisely, who served 28 years in the U.S. Army and was honored as Veteran of the Year, interacts with the public during the 2024 Veterans Day parade.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • October 14, 2025
Veterans Day parade set for Nov. 11 in downtown Sarasota

The city's annual Veterans Day parade will begin at 10 a.m. Nov. 11, culminating in a ceremony at J.D. Hamel Park.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Ariel Aparicio-Jerro has taken over the reins of WSLR/Fogartyville from founders Arlene Sweeting and David Beaton.
    By
  • Monica Roman Gagnier
  • October 10, 2025
Fogartyville hosts free concert and annual open house

Walter Parks and the Unlawful Assembly will perform Sunday, Oct. 12.

  • Arts + Culture
  • By Observer Advertising Content Staff
  • October 9, 2025
An Exciting New Season for PMP Suncoast

Experience the Magic at the PMP Winter Residency Celebration Concert & Gala: A Night of Music, Mastery, and Inspiration with Maestro Itzhak Perlman.

  • Arts + Entertainment
  • Spotlight Partners
Sponsored Content
Early attendees beat the heat at last weekend's St. Armands Circle Craft Festival, which featured artisans in a variety of specialties.
    By
  • Dana Kampa
  • October 9, 2025
Get ready for a free art fest on St. Armands Circle

St. Armands Circle is set to host a free fine art festival this October.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Kuro Sushi, owned by Daniel Dokko, is set to open on Nov. 1 on Lakewood Ranch Main Street.
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • October 8, 2025
New sushi restaurant brings multiple cultural influences to its menu

Restaurateur Daniel Dokko tests the Main Street at Lakewood Ranch market with Kuro Sushi, opening Nov. 1.

  • Arts + Entertainment
  • Eat + Drink
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Latest in Arts + Entertainment

1
CEO Mike Bisaha says the new equipment will at least triple Big Top Brewing Co.'s beer production.
  • December 3, 2025
Big Top to open expanded brew house at Sarasota's Fruitville Commons
2
Anne Vose and Jackie Donnelly peruse the works of artist Marie Therese Lacroix, center.
  • December 3, 2025
Check out these artists at Lawn Party by the Bay
3
Lijana Wallenda perches on a chair balanced on a shoulder bar carried by her brother Nik Wallenda and Paul Matthew Lopez in the "Wonderland: Believe" circus, which runs through Jan. 4 in a big top near the UTC Mall.
  • December 3, 2025
At the Wonderland circus, it's a Wallenda-ful life
4
The Shaelyn Band, which opens the Lakewood Ranch Blues Fest Dec. 6 at Waterside Place, is led by singer Shaelyn Mulberry.
  • December 2, 2025
This musical soul search leads to Lakewood Ranch
5
Sarasota Opera Artistic Director Victor DeRenzi and General Director Richard Russell.
  • December 2, 2025
Sarasota Opera artistic director will step down after 44 years

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