In 2026, the Sarasota Paradise will enter into its inaugural professional season in the United Soccer League’s (USL) League One. For the organization, that means new players, new jerseys and yes, a new leader on the pitch. Last week, the club announced that Mika Elovaara had been appointed as the newest Head Coach and Technical Director heading into 2026. The 50-year-old Elovaara, who hails from Finland, has spent his entire life in soccer, from his days playing at UNC Wilmington to coaching throughout the NCAA Division 1 and professional ranks. He most recently worked for USL League One’s Richmond Kickers, where he has served as Head Assistant Coach and Director of Player Development and Methodology since 2019.

“As I learned about the club’s core values and ambition over the interview process, it became clear that I’d love to be a part of it,” says Elovaara. “It is an incredible opportunity that is actually unique in the whole world of sports. It’s very American to be able to have an expansion club and start building a professional roster from scratch. It just doesn’t happen elsewhere.”

Elovaara, who describes himself as "ridiculously competitive”, relays that he is a players’ coach, through and through. "More so than other sports, soccer is the players’ game, because there are no moments in the match where the coach can really take the time to talk to the team, other than at the half. It’s a game where the coach’s job is to make themselves unnecessary over the course of the match,” says Elovaara. “For me, the best approach over the years has been to truly get to know the players as people, to actively engage in conversations with them—sometimes getting a win on Saturday requires far more of those in-person meetings than just the X’s and Os.”

Success for the Paradise in its first year in USL League One cannot be measured by merely the club’s win-loss record. Growing the Paradise’s status within Sarasota, further ingratiating the city’s only hometown professional sports team to a rapidly growing fanbase is also a goal of the club’s. “When you go to a game as a fan, you’re gambling with your emotions. You’re saying, ‘here’s my heart, let’s see if you’ll break it or boost it tonight,’” says Elovaara. “Since the fans are willing to go through that with the team, I want to make sure that we do everything we can to truly be part of the community, so that the people that are a part of our match day experiences live through that roller coaster of pain, patience and winning with us.” 

Sarasota Paradise's new Head Coach Mika Elovaara. Provided photo.

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The Sarasota Players is thrilled to announce the return of its beloved Halloween tradition, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, galloping onto the stage this October for its ninth consecutive year at The Sarasota Polo Grounds. This family-friendly adaptation of Washington Irving’s classic ghost story has become a fall favorite for audiences of all ages. With just the right mix of spooky fun and theatrical charm, the production brings the sleepy village, awkward schoolmaster Ichabod Crane, and the mysterious Headless Horseman to life in an engaging and accessible way. Audiences are encouraged to come in costume; a costume contest will take place half an hour before each show. Photos with the Headless Horseman will take place after the performance. As always, The Players remains committed to offering accessible programming and community-focused storytelling. With plenty of laughter, just enough fright, and a touch of theatrical magic, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow promises to be a highlight of this year's spooky season. Audiences should bring their own chairs and blankets for the show. This is an outdoor event.

The Sarasota Polo Club, 8201 Polo Club Ln, Sarasota, Oct. 23-25 at 6pm , Oct. 25 at 4pm. 

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The month-long Three Years and Thriving at The Bay Third Anniversary Celebration culminates with a Grand Finale Weekend featuring the park’s most ambitious lineup yet — two days of live music, delicious local fare, and community celebration. On Saturday, November 1 (7:00–10:00pm), a free Sunset Headliner Concert spotlights An Evening with Brian Kelley and Ghost Hounds — featuring diamond-selling country star Brian Kelley (first known as the Florida half of Florida Georgia Line) and internationally renowned Ghost Hounds (who have toured with The Rolling Stones, Garth Brooks and ZZ Top). On Sunday, November 2 (1:00–7:00pm), a FREE Best of The Bay Music Fest brings Sarasota’s top talent to two stages, featuring Bri Rivera & Friends (Latin, Funk, Blues), The Wandering Hours (Bluegrass, Folk), Matthew Frost Band (Blues, Rock), Clover’s Revenge (Irreverent Irish), and a finale by Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe’s Soul Sistas & Soul Crooners Unite (Soul, R&B). Additional performances and surprise moments from community partners will be woven throughout the day. Local food trucks will serve fan favorites during both of these Signature Events. Guests are encouraged to bring lawn chairs, family, and friends to enjoy this memorable milestone weekend together at The Bay. 

The Palmetto Marriott Resort & Spa invites the community to celebrate the magic of fall at its first annual Fall Festival, taking place Saturday, October 25, from 2:30 PM to 6:30 PM at Palmetto Marriott. This family-friendly event offers festive fun for all ages with live entertainment, fall-inspired activities, and seasonal treats. Located in the heart of Palmetto, The Yard at the Palmetto Marriott provides a vibrant open-air space for live events, markets, and celebrations year-round. Attendees are encouraged to come dressed in their best costumes and bring their seasonal spirit for an unforgettable afternoon of fall festivities.

Saturday, October 25, 2:30–6:30pm, The Yard at Palmetto Marriott Resort & Spa, 600 US-41, Palmetto, Open to the public. 

It's time to clean out the garage and gather discarded household items, yard waste, tree trimmings and other garbage as Sarasota County hosts a free community cleanup in the South Venice area from 8 a.m. to noon, Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025. Dumpsters for residential customers will be available at the following location: South County Courthouse, 4004 S. Tamiami Trail, Venice. Appliances and car tires will be accepted, with a limit of four 25 inches X 16 inches or smaller tires per household. Hazardous waste, such as paint, oil, gas, electronics, appliances and computers will not be accepted. Hazardous materials may be taken to the Sarasota County Chemical Collection Center, 8750 Bee Ridge Road, Sarasota, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Saturday. For more information, visit scgov.net. 

Artist Series Concerts of Sarasota presents bassoonist Eleni Katz and double bassist Nina Bernat in How Low Can You Go? on November 13 at Palm Aire Country Club, the genre-defying Astral Mixtape in their Florida debut on November 20 at Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, and Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition winner Fry Street Quartet on November 23 at First Presbyterian Church. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit ArtistSeriesConcerts.org or call (941) 306-1202. 

Tom Edwards, a Sarasota County School Board Member and executive director of Project Pride, has joined the Boxser Diversity Initiative (BDI) Advisory Board. He becomes one of 14 national leaders helping guide BDI’s work to promote inclusion and connection across the Sarasota-Manatee region. Elected to the Sarasota County School Board in 2020 and re-elected in 2024, Edwards has been recognized for his leadership on behalf of students, educators and public education. He brings to BDI a career spanning entrepreneurship, civic engagement and nonprofit leadership. As executive director of Project Pride, Edwards has led the organization’s new focus on community impact programming. Before his election to the School Board, he co-founded and operated two successful New York businesses and spent more than a decade advocating for small businesses in the New York State Assembly. 

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Embracing Our Differences (EOD) has received a $50,000 Empowering Arts Grant Award from Gulf Coast Community Foundation, made possible through the Youth Foundation Endowment Fund and the Charlotte Ellis Charitable Fund. The grant will strengthen EOD’s year-round educational initiatives and further its mission of using art to inspire kindness, respect, and understanding. 

The Hermitage Artist Retreat today released photos from the workshop presentation of newly commissioned work by Chris Bush, the fourth recipient of the $35,000 Hermitage Major Theater Award (HMTA). On October 10th, Bush shared a London workshop presentation of her newly commissioned play Orlando (FL), with support from the National Theatre New Work Department. Chris Bush is an award-winning playwright, lyricist, and theater-maker based in the United Kingdom. Her comprehensive body of work includes Standing at the Sky’s Edge, which won her an Olivier Award and a UK Theatre Award for Best Musical.  

This month, All Faiths Food Bank has launched its annual ThankFULL campaign. This effort helps the food bank/hunger relief organization to provide thousands of complete Thanksgiving dinners and millions of holiday meals to our neighbors who are experiencing hunger. This year, AFFB's goal is to distribute 14,500 Thanksgiving dinners and 4.1 million holiday meals through the fundraising effort, which continues through December.