Just like the vibrant arts and culture sector, sports are a similarly vital part of Sarasota’s recreational ecosystem. Sarasota County itself is home to two Major League Baseball Spring Training stadiums, Nathan Benderson Park has become one of the biggest rowing and paddling sport venues in the nation and Lakewood Ranch houses the area’s newest professional soccer team, the Sarasota Paradise. Earlier this month, Visit Sarasota County (VSC), in partnership with Sarasota BMX, announced that Sarasota County will host the two final rounds of the UCI BMX Racing World Cup in 2026 and 2027 at the Sarasota BMX track. First built in 1974, the Sarasota BMX track is the oldest continuously running BMX track in the United States. In 2016, the track underwent a major renovation, transforming it into a BMX Supercross track with higher ramps and better lighting and electrical systems capable of holding events like the UCI BMC Racing World Cup.

The UCI BMX Racing World Cup consists of eight rounds of racing across four international venues each year. The events at Sarasota BMX in 2026 and 2027 will serve as key qualifiers for the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, with athletes from all over the world competing for a spot on their respective national teams. “Each event for 2026 and 2027 will feature two days of competition,” says Pete Harvey, Visit Sarasota County’s Director of Sports. “It will probably be about 30 nations competing with around 230 athletes across the board.”

Harvey and the team at VSC worked together with Sarasota BMX and Sarasota County Parks, Recreation & Natural Resources to make a bid with the UCI to host the events. Harvey says that the ability to successfully get these bids lies largely in the relationship between VSC and Sarasota County Parks, Recreation & Natural Resources. “Most of these facilities are owned by the County. Our relationship with them and their vision to see that sports tourism can coexist within this community is what makes this possible,” says Harvey. “We work collaboratively to put together a long term plan, meeting monthly to see what’s out there. It’s not a relationship that a lot of communities have.”

UCI BMX World Cup Final Rounds, October 31 to November 1, 2026, October 2 to 3, 2027 

Riders compete in the USA BMX Sunshine State National at Sarasota BMX in 2018. Photo by Phil Diederich, Sarasota Herald-Tribune.

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Registration is open for the 2025 fall semester at the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) at Ringling College, which offers noncredit educational opportunities for adults to pursue new interests, expand intellectual horizons, and enrich their lives. The semester, which runs Sept. 29-Nov. 21, 2025, features more than 50 classes, events, and programs covering a wide variety of topics, including arts and entertainment, history, music appreciation, health, literature, philosophy, religion, and science. Semester highlights include The Artistic Role of the Audience; Healing in the Shade: The Art and Therapy of Florida Gardening;Eight Battles That Changed the Course of U.S. History; Strategies for a Healthy Home; Opportunities for Volatile Markets; The Biology of Cancer; and Tennessee Williams’ one-act play “Auto Da Fe.” OLLI at Ringling College is located in the Sarasota Art Museum of Ringling College of Art and Design, 1001 S. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota. To register, or for information about becoming an OLLI member, visit OLLIatRinglingCollege.org or call 941-309-5111. 

Marie Selby Botanical Gardens is pleased to announce the 10th anniversary of the annual Jean & Alfred Goldstein Exhibition Series, Alexander Calder: The Nature of Movement, which will be on view February 8 through May 31, 2026, at the Downtown Sarasota campus. The exhibitions in the Goldstein Series present the work of major artists and their connection to nature in the context of a botanical garden. The exhibitions combine original artworks in the galleries of the Richard and Ellen Sandor Museum of Botany & the Arts with horticultural vignettes, inspired by the featured artists and their work, in the Display Conservatory and throughout the outdoor gardens of the 15-acre Downtown Sarasota campus. The vignettes make use of Selby Gardens’ outstanding living plant collections, as well as our spectacular bayfront setting. 

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Join us for our 2025 Fall Master Gardener Volunteer Plant Sale on Saturday, October 4th. Purchase affordably priced plants that are grown by our Master Gardener Volunteers, including natives, flowering plants, wildflowers, herbs, vegetables, and many more Florida-Friendly selections! Master Gardener Volunteers will also be available to answer plant questions, provide information about the plants they have propagated, and make recommendations!

Early Bird (8–9 AM): $10 per person OR $15 for 2+ people, General Admission (9 AM–12 PM): free, plant purchases are cash or check only, 1303 17th St W, Palmetto. All proceeds from this event go to the operation and maintenance of the Master Gardeners’ Educational Gardens and Greenhouse, and to support Master Gardener educational and outreach programs. Pre-registration is required: 2025fallplantsale.eventbrite.com. 

Sarasota County Schools’ College Night is an annual event that connects students and families with representatives from colleges, universities, technical schools, and military programs. The evening is designed to help high school students explore their postsecondary options, learn about admissions requirements, financial aid & scholarship opportunities, and gather information to make informed decisions about their future. Attendees can speak directly with admissions counselors, ask questions, and collect resources, all in one convenient location. Whether students are planning to attend a four-year university, community college, trade school, or join the military, College Night offers valuable insights and guidance for every path. 

On September 5, 2025, for the 19th Annual IPG Leadership Breakfast, Boys  & Girls Clubs of Sarasota and DeSoto Counties welcomed philanthropic and business partners to celebrate  leadership, recognize impact, and invest in the future of our young people.  This year’s honorees included Dr. Larry Thompson, President of Ringling College of Art and Design, and Heather  Kasten, President and CEO of the Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce. Both leaders were recognized for  their dedication to education, business, making a lasting impact in our community, and their continuous support for the success of our youth. The sold-out event celebrated community leadership and highlighted the transformative impact of the Boys &  Girls Club experience. The morning also shined a spotlight on Club teens, who co-emceed the program and  shared personal stories of growth, advocacy, and leadership.   For more information, visit bgcsdc.org or call 941-366-3911.