SRQ DAILY Jan 22, 2026
Thursday Family and Recreation Edition
"Unless you are at our competition, the chances of being able to compete alongside an Olympian are basically zero."
This weekend, EVO Gymnastics will be hosting the third annual Sam Mikulak Men’s Gymnastics Invitational at the Sailor Circus Arena. Mikulak, coach of the Men’s team at EVO, is regarded as one of the greatest male gymnasts of all time—he is a three-time Olympian and a six-time U.S. All-Around champion. After retiring from competition in 2021, Mikulak has continued his illustrious career as a coach. He was a member of the 2024 USA Men’s Gymnastics Olympic Team Coaching Staff, helping Team USA win a Team Bronze medal and coached EVO gymnasts Brody Malone and Donnell Whittenburg to gold medals at the 2025 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships.
It makes sense, then, that the meet would be named after Mikulak. But what exactly is it and why is this tournament significant?
“The tournament will feature men's gymnasts from all over the country ages six through 18,” says Syque Caesar, meet director and Men’s Elite coach at EVO. “Over 500 gymnasts are registered and on top of that, we have a special marquee event on Saturday evening with two of the top men’s collegiate teams in the country with the University of Illinois and Penn State University and a team of EVO’s senior athletes as well. Our senior athletes will be competing head to head with the collegiate teams.”
Members of EVO’s Senior Men’s Elite Team include Malone, Whittenburg, Stephen Nedoroscik, Danila Leykin—who won multiple medals at the 2025 Junior World Championships—and others. The majority of the Senior Elite athletes are training for the 2026 Winter Cup later this month, from which Men’s Senior National team rosters will be determined. The invitational, which also features a few international gymnasts, includes an interesting wrinkle: the chance for Level 10 gymnasts—the highest level a junior athlete can compete at prior to collegiate or senior level —to compete alongside EVO’s senior athletes. “On Friday evening, there are two Level 10 sessions—the top six combined finishers from both sessions on each apparatus will qualify to compete alongside the seniors,” says Caesar. “Unless you’re at our competition, the chances of being able to compete alongside an Olympian are basically zero. We wanted to add something fun for the visiting athletes.”
EVO will also be hosting a girl’s competition concurrently at their facility in Sarasota. In the future, Caesar hopes that the Mikulak invitational will become even larger, with the ability to host multiple competitions at once in the same venue.
Sam Mikulak Men’s Gymnastics Invitational, January 23-25, Sailor Circus Arena, 2075 Bahia Vista St., Sarasota. 
EVO Senior Men's Elite Team member Danila Leykin performs a routine on the pommel horse. Photo by Wes Roberts.
Sarasota County Schools is pleased to announce that Mrs. Kaitlin Randlett has been appointed as the new Principal of Tatum Ridge Elementary School. She will assume her new role effective Wednesday, July 1.
Throughout her career, Randlett has demonstrated a strong commitment to instructional excellence, collaborative leadership, and cultivating safe, relationship-centered school communities. Sarasota County Schools looks forward to her leadership at Tatum Ridge Elementary School and the positive impact she will have on students and staff.
The Exchange (formerly the Woman’s Exchange) announced that it is now accepting applications for its 2026-2027 grants and scholarship program. Last year, the organization awarded $450,000 to 26 regionally based arts and cultural organizations and 11 high school and college students. Additionally, nine organizations received funding through the recent Elizabeth Lindsay Arts in Education grant. Additionally, nine organizations were recipients of the recent Elizabeth Lindsay Arts in Education grant, which encourages art organizations and educators to collaborate in designing and developing creatively innovative projects for K-12 students. To be considered, all applications must be received by no later than 4 p.m. on January 31, 2026. For guidelines and application information, visit The Exchange’s website at www.sarasotawex.com.
The New College Foundation is honored to announce a landmark $1 million gift from Dr. Michael C. and Ling Z. Markovitz to the New College Foundation, establishing the Markovitz Socratic Stage, a signature program dedicated to revitalizing civil discourse, classical learning, and the free exchange of ideas on campus. This extraordinary philanthropic investment—made directly to the New College Foundation—will help ensure that the Socratic Stage becomes a central, enduring pillar in the College’s commitment to rigorous inquiry, intellectual freedom, and high-impact liberal arts education. For more information on the Markovitz Socratic Stage, please visit www.ncf.edu/socraticstage.
January on Florida’s Gulf Coast doesn’t get much better than this. The Coquina Beach Party Seafood & Music Festival returns January 23–25, 2026, transforming Coquina Beach into a three-day seaside celebration filled with fresh-cooked seafood, live music, and laid-back beach vibes. With free admission and a spectacular beachfront setting, the festival offers the perfect excuse to kick off the year with toes in the sand and a plate full of coastal flavor. The weekend begins Friday from 4:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., continues Saturday from 11:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., and wraps up Sunday from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., giving festivalgoers plenty of time to soak up the sun, sample the food, and enjoy the music. Food is at the heart of the experience, with vendors preparing an array of seafood favorites onsite, from shrimp and crab to lobster, oysters, and other coastal classics. Guests can complement their meals with refreshing beverages, including tropical cocktails, cold beer, and non-alcoholic options, all enjoyed just steps from the shoreline. Live music provides the soundtrack all weekend long, with a rotating lineup of bands performing a mix of beach-inspired grooves, classic rock, island rhythms, and soulful sounds.
For two days this winter, Main Street in downtown Lakewood Ranch will transform into a walkable showcase of creativity as the 6th Annual Lakewood Ranch Fine Art Festival returns January 24–25, 2026. With free admission and a welcoming, village-style setting, the festival invites residents and visitors to explore original fine art, meet the artists behind the work, and discover pieces that inspire. Set along Lakewood Ranch Main Street, the festival creates an open-air gallery experience featuring handcrafted works by accomplished artists from across the country. From bold statement pieces to refined, collectible art, the curated selection spans a wide range of disciplines including painting, sculpture, jewelry, photography, glass, ceramics, fiber and wearable art, mixed media, and woodworking. For additional information and event updates, visit www.paragonfestivals.com.
Sarasota County's Fire Fest returns on Saturday, Jan. 24 to educate and inform the community about the importance of prescribed fire to the ecosystem and explore wildfire prevention.
Saturday, Jan. 24, 10am-2pm, T. Mabry Carlton, Jr. Memorial Reserve, 1800 Mabry Carlton Parkway, Venice.
Wellen Park is celebrating the beauty and vibrancy of visual art during the Wellen Park Fine Art Festival on Valentine’s Day weekend, Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 14-15, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The event, which is free and open to the public, will transform Wellen Park Boulevard into an outdoor gallery featuring stunning works by talented artists from Florida and throughout the United States. The Wellen Park Fine Art Festival is presented in partnership with Paragon Events. For more information about the Wellen Park Fine Art Festival, visitwellenpark.com/events/wellen-park-fine-arts-festival.
A gala performance by Summer Intensive dancers from around the world.
Sarasota Opera House, 61 N Pineapple Ave, Sarasota, FL 34236
There's much ado about something in this whip-smart, laugh-out-loud new romantic comedy from Lauren Gunderson. Lady Disdain is a fast-paced, razor-sharp riff on the deliciously dramatic world of Fantasy Romance novels (yes, those ones-you know them, you love them). Beatrice and Benedict, rival audiobook narrators with voices made for swooning and tempers made for sparring, are locked in a battle of wits, words, and wildly inconvenient attraction. Asolo Rep proudly presents this world premiere from one of America's most celebrated and funny playwrights.
Asolo Repertory Theatre, 5555 N Tamiami Trail, Sarasota
Matthew Aucoin’s “Music for New Bodies,” created in collaboration with acclaimed director Peter Sellars, is a bold operatic meditation on humanity’s shifting place in the natural world. Premiered in 2024, this one-act visionary operetta fuses the poetic texts of Jorie Graham with visceral soundscapes for five singers, an 18-piece chamber orchestra, lighting, and electronics. Aucoin crafts a work that is at once urgent and transcendent, while Sellars’ visionary staging brings the music into striking visual focus. Presented in a historic collaboration with Artist Series Concerts, this Sarasota premiere at the Sarasota Opera House invites audiences to imagine new forms of life, connection, and transformation.
Sarasota Opera House, 61 N. Pineapple Ave., Sarasota
ArtCenter Sarasota continues its Centennial Season with Medium Mutiny, a juried exhibition selected by Ed Swan Jr. that celebrates boundary-pushing works challenging tradition through bold experimentation in form, material, and concept. Solo exhibitions include Living by the Water by Cat Tesla, whose serene, abstract paintings reflect a journey of healing and transformation inspired by Florida's landscapes. A new body of work by Anja Palombo, blending her deep love of nature and art history into expressive visual narratives. In Architect as Artist, co-curated by Morris Hylton III, Sarasota-based architects including Carl Abbott, Jerry Sparkman, and Javi Suárez present multidisciplinary works that blur the line between design and fine art. This group exhibition honors Sarasota's architectural legacy and highlights the creative synergy between structure, space, and artistic vision.
ArtCenter Sarasota, 707 N Tamiami Trl, Sarasota
Delight once again in the inspiring performances of Pinky's Players, Venice Theatre's Community Engagement Program that partners with adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities to develop and share their artistic talents.
Venice Theatre, 140 Tampa Ave W, Venice, FL 34285
Two of Sarasota’s finest step into the spotlight with a program that basks in the magical sounds of their ancient instruments. Accompanied by strings and harpsichord, Sarasota Orchestra principal oboe Bobby Nunes and principal harp Phoebe Powell each perform a concerto for their instrument by baroque master G.F. Handel. The two also join forces for Debussy’s enchanting Album of Five Pieces for Oboe and Harp.
First Presbyterian Church, 2050 Oak Street, Sarasota FL 34237
A huge influence of Elvis Presley, Ray Charles, Johnny Cash and Jimi Hendrix, Sister Rosetta Tharpe was a legend in her time, adding fierce guitar and swing to traditional gospel music, becoming the Mother of Rock n Roll. Marie and Rosetta chronicles her first rehearsal with a young protégée, Marie Knight, as they prepare to embark on a tour that would establish them as one of the great duos in music history.
Asolo Repertory Theatre , 5555 N Tamiami Trail, Sarasota
The Images of Dance showcase features dancers from The Sarasota Ballet Studio Company and the Margaret Barbieri Conservatory.
Sarasota Opera House, 61 N Pineapple Ave, Sarasota, FL 34236
All levels of Sarasota Cuban Ballet School dancers and the Gulfcoast Studio Company featured in classical and contemporary works.
Riverview Performing Arts Center, 1 Ram Way, Sarasota, FL 34231
The Elizabeth M. Eaton Memorial Pipe Organ, installed in the SCF Neel Performing Arts Center, will be on full display for this special performance of orchestra and organ music. Featuring local acclaimed organists and the Pops Orchestra, this concert will delight all who have asked to hear this amazing instrument.
SCF Neel Performing Arts Center, 5840 26th St W, Bradenton, FL 34207
The Zota Quartet returns with a new, exciting program and a unique special collaboration. This ensemble, comprised of award-winning Perlman Music Program alumni, hail from around the world and Florida. They are committed to sharing their music with the next generation and celebrating the beauty and art of great music.
Church of the Palms, 3224 Bee Ridge Rd, Sarasota, FL 34239
Back by popular demand, Jazz Mass for a New Humanity, a groundbreaking work by Via Nova’s artistic director, Steven Phillips, sets the traditional texts of the mass in conversation with sacred writings from many traditions, along with poetry by Maya Angelou, Wendell Berry, and others. Performed with a first-rate jazz ensemble and acclaimed vocalist Maicy Powell, this stirring program entertains, uplifts, and inspires.
First Presbyterian Church, 2050 Oak Street, Sarasota FL 34237
Birthday Offering, Choreography by Sir Frederick Ashton, Music by Alexander Glazunov, Designs by Andre Levasseur. Checkmate, Choreography by Dame Ninette de Valois, Music by Arthur Bliss, Designs by E. Mcknight Kauffer. Summertide, Choreography by Sir Peter Wright, Music by Felix Mendelssohn, Designs by Dick Bird.
Sarasota Opera House, 61 N Pineapple Ave, Sarasota, FL 34236
Hailing from Siberia, classical saxophonist Valentin Kovalev is an ebullient and highly eclectic performer whose unique style was developed after studying in Russia, France and the United States. Valentin gave a sold-out debut recital at Carnegie Hall during the 2023- 24 season. Joined by Joseph Holt on piano, Kovalev’s program includes music by Bach, Rachmaninoff, Bizet, and Piazzolla.
Sarasota Yacht Club, 1100 John Ringling Boulevard, Sarasota FL 34236
Assassins closes the season with a haunting, darkly satirical look at those who sought infamy instead of glory—challenging the idea of the American Dream and who gets to define it.
The Sarasota Players, 3501 S Tamiami Trl Suite 1130, Sarasota, FL 34239
In celebration of our Centennial, ArtCenter Sarasota proudly presents the North County Spring Art Show, featuring artwork from over 1,500 K-12 students in Sarasota's public and charter schools. Organized by Angela Hartvigsen and Debra Markley, this cherished annual tradition showcases the creativity of young artists, many exhibiting in a gallery for the first time. The exhibition includes special award ceremonies for both elementary and high school students, with over $20,000 in scholarships and prizes. It's a joyful reminder that the future of art is already in motion.
ArtCenter Sarasota, 707 N Tamiami Trl, Sarasota
Jane Austen’s Emma gets a witty, high-energy makeover in this screwball comedy. Confident matchmaker Emma meddles in love lives—until she discovers her own heart may be the one most in need of guidance.
Venice Theatre, 140 Tampa Ave W, Venice, FL 34285
Annual juried show and graduating seniors’ capstone exhibitions in all media and disciplines.
Galleries of Ringling College of Art and Design, 2700 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, FL 34234
Celebrate the vibrant sounds of the nation with our last concert of the season. This concert features John Williams’ The Cowboys Overture, Leonard Bernstein’s Times Square: 1944, and Copland’s iconic Appalachian Spring along with much more. Our guest vocalist for this concert is Andrea Ross.
Venice Performing Arts Center, 1 Indian Ave Building 5, Venice, FL 34285
2026 brings a rare alignment of milestones: the 50th anniversary of Steve Reich’s “Music for 18 Musicians,” the composer’s 90th birthday, and enSRQ’s own 10th season. Reich’s groundbreaking 1976 work remains one of the most iconic statements in contemporary music—a luminous tapestry of interlocking rhythms, pulsing harmonies, and slowly shifting patterns that seem to suspend time. Presenting this masterpiece in celebration of its golden anniversary is both an homage to a living legend and a reaffirmation of enSRQ’s dedication to adventurous, transformative performance.
Sarasota Opera House, 61 N. Pineapple Ave., Sarasota
A magical and deeply moving musical that celebrates the power of storytelling, the love between father and son, and the extraordinary hidden in the everyday. As Edward Bloom’s fantastical life unfolds—featuring witches, giants, mermaids, and more—his skeptical son embarks on a journey to separate myth from memory. What he discovers is a story far richer than he ever expected. Based on the beloved novel and Tim Burton film, Big Fish is a whimsical, emotionally rich production filled with humor, heart, and unforgettable stagecraft.
Manatee Performing Arts Center, 502 3rd Ave W, Bradenton, FL 34205
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