The holiday season in Sarasota arrives with plenty of sparkle, but few places lean into the celebration quite like The Ritz-Carlton. This year, the waterfront resort is serving up a full slate of festive, flavor-driven events that turn the most wonderful time of the year into a truly delicious affair. Foodies of all ages can find something to enjoy at The Ritz this holiday season.

On Sunday, December 14, from 12pm to 2pm, guests and locals can celebrate the magic of the season at a Nutcracker Tea with The Sarasota Ballet School and Studio Company, where festive treats meet enchanting characters. Enjoy a lively tea service featuring signature blends and seasonal sips paired with menu items like truffle chicken salad on mini croissants and smoked salmon tartlets. The menu also includes sweet treats like Grand Marnier cream puffs and Dulce cheesecake, and whimsical children’s favorites, including Rice Krispies “sushi” and “Mad Hatter” marshmallow teacups.

“Our partnership with The Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota, is a special way to bring the magic of The Nutcracker to life for our community. This festive tea experience allows families to enjoy the artistry and storytelling of the ballet while creating cherished holiday memories together. It’s especially meaningful for our dancers, who take great joy in sharing the beauty and spirit of ballet with new audiences,” said Christopher Hird, Education Director at The Sarasota Ballet School and Studio Company.

The Ritz also started a new coastal tradition this year with S’Mores on the Beach. The final evening of this holiday event will be Friday, December 19, from 5:30-7:30 pm. Attendees can gather around the bonfire on Lido Key and enjoy an upscale take on the campfire dessert with artisanal chocolate, gourmet graham crackers and handcrafted marshmallows, all paired with curated wine, beer and hot chocolate.

The Ritz-Carlton Sarasota, 1111 Ritz Carlton Dr., Sarasota, 941-309-2000, ritzcarltonsarasota.com.

On Sunday, December 21, from 9am-12pm, bring your kids to enjoy Breakfast with Santa on the Bay. Partake in a delicious breakfast buffet, and enjoy kid-friendly activities like face-painting, cookie decorating and photos with Santa Claus. And speaking of buffets, The Ritz will be offering their Holiday Grand Ballroom Brunch on Christmas Day. Skip the cooking (and the dishes), and let the talented culinary team at The Ritz-Carlton Sarasota delight your taste buds with an exquisite array of Christmas and Hanukkah delicacies. Learn more about these events on The Ritz-Carlton website, and make reservations while there’s still room!

The Ritz-Carlton Sarasota, 1111 Ritz Carlton Dr., Sarasota, 941-309-2000, ritzcarltonsarasota.com.  

Pictured: Enjoy a festive and beachy holiday season with an array of events at The Ritz-Carlton Sarasota.

It’s the last Limelight pop-up market of the year! Happening this Saturday, Dec 20th from 10-3pm at The Bazaar on Apricot & Lime.  Discover guest vendors outside, shop from 40+ local creators inside, unwind with delicious  lunch and enjoy live music. The Bazaar is located at 821 Apricot Ave, Sarasota. Free admission and parking. Come shop, eat, and do a little good for the community. www.Bazaaaronapricotandlime.com  

The Chicago Athenaeum: Museum of Architecture and Design, together with The European Centre for Architecture Art Design and Urban Studies, have awarded Marie Selby Botanical Gardens with the 2025 American Architecture Award® for Phase One of its transformational three-phase Master Plan. Now celebrating the 31st year, The American Architectural Awards® are the nation’s highest and most prestigious building awards program that honor new and cutting-edge design in the United States. This annual program, organized by both institutions, also promotes American architecture and design to public audiences in the U.S. and abroad. This year, the Museum received a record number of projects for new buildings, landscape architecture, and urban planning from the most important firms practicing in the U.S. and globally. From a short list of over 1,500 submissions, the 2025 Jury for Awards selected over 200 projects by the best and foremost American design firms in the United States. 

To learn more, visit

Soundbox Ventures announces its 2025–26 season, unveiling a bold new structure that reimagines how audiences engage with contemporary music, artist development, and creative collaboration. The upcoming season, which spans December 2025 through July 2026, marks a major evolution in the organization’s mission-driven programming. 

Building on a wave of recent growth—including a new office, the hiring of a development director, and expanded programs—the Jazz Club of Sarasota will soon implement a modern customer relationship management (CRM) system thanks to a $6,200 grant from the Carolyn Caruthers Fund II at the Community Foundation of Sarasota County. The new platform, called Join IT, introduces a suite of features designed to make the membership registration process simpler and more intuitive. With self-service tools, members will be able to log into a personal portal to update their information, renew memberships, and make donations directly. Join It also integrates an interactive events calendar linked to Eventbrite, allowing members to access tickets more easily while automatically applying member discounts—streamlining what has historically been a cumbersome, multi-step process. Digital membership cards will also be available, enabling quick access through mobile phone wallets. 

Florida Studio Theatre (FST) is proud to announce its 2026 Stage III Series, featuring three compelling productions that center on human resilience, deep reflection, and fiery rebellion. Known for pushing boundaries and offering audiences unique, offbeat experiences, FST’s Stage III Series returns with a powerful lineup: Eisenhower: This Piece of Ground by Richard Hellesen, Grandma Gatewood Took a Walk by Catherine Bush, and A Night with Janis Joplin with music and lyrics by Janis Joplin and book by Randy Johnson. With an ongoing commitment to producing theater that challenges audiences as much as it entertains, FST’s Stage III Series is an unmissable opportunity to experience three extraordinary productions for as little as $49. Subscriptions for the 2026 Stage III Series are now available at FloridaStudioTheatre.org or through the Box Office at (941) 366-9000. 

Sarasota County Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources has acquired property formerly owned by the West Coast Inland Navigation District (WCIND). This is part of the county’s ongoing commitment to environmental preservation and parkland acquisition under the Land Acquisition and Management Program (LAMP). The closing date was Dec. 10, 2025. Located on South Tamiami Trail on Venice Island, the 3.59-acre property overlooks the Intracoastal Waterway. It has functioned as part of the Venetian Waterway Trail where residents can bike and walk on a paved trail. The property contains 1.52 acres of remnant coastal hammock habitat and 2.15 acres of freshwater wetland. Protecting these habitats helps provide safe spaces for many threatened and native species such as gopher tortoises. For more information on the Sarasota County Land Acquisition and Management Program, visit bit.ly/landacquisitions.