This Saturday, a one of a kind event will take place at Sarasota BMX. The oldest continuously running track in the country, Sarasota BMX will play host to the 2026 USA BMX Gold Cup Championship Series. The Gold Cup series is a regional championship tour, where predominantly amateur riders from six regions—North Central, North East, North West, South Central, South East and South West—compete in a season-long battle, culminating in the region finals this September. This Saturday’s event at Sarasota BMX kicks off the South East region, which features 15 stops on the tour. The top three finishers of each class in the Gold Cup region final earn the right to sport the prestigious Gold Cup 1-2-3 plates across their handlebars.

The Gold Cup kickoff on Saturday will be free to watch for spectators and will feature riders from across all age groups. Amatuer BMX riders are broken up into three classes, novice, intermediate and expert—there is an “open” class that competes, but not for points. For a rider to move in the class, they must accrue wins and points, solidifying them in the higher echelon of competition. Riders from Sarasota BMX, such as seven-year-old Caspian Reeves, have won the South East Gold Cup.

“He’s worn that little number 1 gold plate on his bike all year,” says Erma Miller, track operator at Sarasota BMX. “They earn those plates, so it’s pretty cool to see them on their bikes.”

Saturday’s event at Sarasota BMX, however, will include more than just racing. “From 8:30am to 10:30am, our Home Routes team is doing a special clinic for kids that want to spend some time on the track and get some tips on how to ride it. Practice starts at 11am and goes through 1pm and then the racing starts at 1:30pm.”

2026 USA BMX Gold Cup Championship Series, February 7, Sarasota BMX, 1500 N Tuttle Ave. 

Provided photo.

To learn more click here

This past Friday, Music Compound celebrated a decade of impact with its 10-Year Anniversary Celebration at The Grove. Approximately 220 members of the community came together to recognize the milestone, to pay tribute to the company's history and achievements, and to look forward to the music school's future. For more information, visit musiccompound.com.   

On February 14 from 11am-3pm, love is in the air at The Bazaar on Apricot & Lime, and this time it smells like creativity, confidence, and a whole lot of hustle. We’re thrilled to host our 7th Young Entrepreneur Market, a day dedicated to spotlighting some of the most inspiring makers and curators around… all 17 and under. Yes, really. These young entrepreneurs aren’t just dabbling. They’re designing, building, branding, pricing, and selling things they’ve made with their own hands or carefully curated with their own vision. Think art, accessories, handmade goods, vintage finds, and clever creations that prove talent doesn’t wait for adulthood.  Adding to the magic is live music from Music Compound, featuring performers who are also under 17. It’s a full-circle moment: young creatives supporting young creatives, filling the Bazaar with sound, energy, and serious talent. The Bazaar on Apricot & Lime, 821 Apricot Ave in Sarasota. 

The Lakewood Ranch Community Foundation (LWRCF) announces Tom Bergerat, a student at Out-of-Door Academy in Lakewood Ranch, has been named the 2026 Junior Humanitarian of the Year. Bergerat will be honored during the Polo with the Pros event, hosted by the Lakewood Ranch Community Foundation at the Sarasota Polo Club, on February 8. The Junior Humanitarian of the Year award was established in 2023. In the tradition of the prestigious C. John A. Clarke Humanitarian of the Year award, the Junior Humanitarian award was created to honor youths who embody the spirt of philanthropy in their daily lives. For more information about LWRCF, visit LWRCF.org, email info@LWRCF.org, or call 941-208-6799.

The Early Learning Coalition of Manatee County (ELC) has received a $108,000 Impact100 SRQ grant to expand early literacy efforts in Manatee County classrooms. The funding will support the growth of the ELC's ReadingPals initiative and the launch of Storytimers, a new early literacy program designed for 3-year-old classrooms, over the next 18 months. For more information, visit https://www.elc-manatee.org/ReadingPals.
 

Sarasota County Schools will soon be accepting school preference applications for its Voluntary Prekindergarten (VPK) program for the upcoming 2026-2027 school year. During VPK School Preference beginning on Monday, February 2, parents/guardians can select the VPK school site that best meets their child’s needs. VPK is an optional state program funded by the Florida Department of Education’s Division of Early Learning. Sarasota County Schools offers its own VPK program free of charge to families as either a 540-instructional hour school year program – 8:30 to 11:30 AM daily, with Extended Day options available from 11:30 AM until the end of the school day – or a 300-instructional hour summer program. Families may choose between enrollment in either program – though only one may be selected – for a given school year. Please contact the school district’s Office of Early Learning at (941) 927-9000 ext. 31267 or VPK@sarasotacountyschools.net with any questions, or visit www.sarasotacountyschools.net/page/prek-program. 

This spring, Florida Studio Theatre School (FST School) expands into North Manatee with new youth theatre classes and free library-based workshops, bringing high-quality arts education directly to local families. These offerings preview FST School’s planned off-site summer camps and strengthen creative connections across the region. For more information about classes, registration, and upcoming summer camps, visit FloridaStudioTheatre.org. 

Sarasota Art Museum of Ringling College of Art and Design (SAM) is pleased to announce its lineup of 2026 Summer Arts Camp programming. Designed for young artists ages 7 to 13, Summer Camp at SAM offers week-long themed art camps filled with hands-on creative exploration across a wide range of media, from drawing and painting to ceramics and mixed media. For the first time, this year’s camp experience will also allow participants to learn and express themselves through digital arts each day. Weekly camp sessions conclude with Friday art shows in the Museum’s Community Gallery, where students have the opportunity to install their own work for family and friends, celebrating all that they’ve created and learned during their art camp experience. Registration is now open on SarasotaArtMuseum.org. Due to small class sizes (maximum 15 students per session), early registration is highly encouraged. 

Parents and guardians of students in grades K-12 residing anywhere in the state of Florida will soon be able to apply for their children to attend a public school outside their regular attendance zone through the Controlled Open Enrollment (COE) process, more commonly known as K-12 School Choice. Sarasota County Schools invites parents and guardians of students in grades K-12 from any school district in the state of Florida – whose child is not subject to a current expulsion or suspension – to apply for a 2026-2027 K-12 School Choice assignment to a public school identified as having available capacity. Online applications for K-12 School Choice will be accepted from 8:00 AM on Monday, February 2, 2026, through 4:30 PM on Monday, March 2, 2026. To learn more visit www.sarasotacountyschools.net/schoolchoice.

Registration is now open for the 11th Annual RC Custom Car Open hosted by the Suncoast Science Center/Faulhaber Fab Lab. This hands on engineering competition invites students in grades K-8 to team up, customize a remote-control car, and race through an all-new theme: Four Seasons. Led by a dedicated high school student committee, the RC Car Competition is a beloved community tradition that has sold out every year for the last decade. Learn more and register now at www.suncoastscience.org/rc-car. 

Join Curator of Asian Art Dr. Rhiannon Paget as she introduces the exhibition In the Flesh: The Nude in Modern Japanese Art in this special exhibition-preview Viewpoint Lecture. The exhibition is focused on the nude form in 20th century Japanese prints and paintings. Tickets to this lecture include special access to the Citrin Gallery in the hour following the lecture to preview the exhibition before it opens to the public on Sat, Feb 21. 

To learn more, visit

The Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH) Manasota Branch and The Bradenton/Sarasota (FL) Chapter of The Links, Incorporated, will host an evening with award-winning journalist, author, and public historian A’Lelia Bundles on Sunday, March 1, 2026, from 6:00 to 8:00 PM at Westcoast Black Theatre’s Donelly Theatre (Main Stage) in Sarasota. For more information, please contact: Jada Wright-Greene at: 941-400-8454 or executivedirector@asalh-manasotafl.org 

 Manasota Beach Club has officially kicked off the season with an expansive lineup of educational and cultural programming set within its historic Gulf-to-Bay property on Manasota Key. With early events already drawing strong community engagement, the Club is building momentum for a season centered on learning, connection, and stewardship of Florida’s coastal environment. The season began with well-attended programs, including a presentation on regenerative aquaculture by Pine Island Redfish and a special lecture by renowned biologist and canopy ecologist Meg Lowman. These early events brought together residents, members, and visitors for education and inspiration, reinforcing Manasota Beach Club’s role as a gathering place for meaningful conversation in a truly unique natural setting. A full calendar of events and registration details can be found at www.manasotabeachclub.com/events-calendar. 

This is your final opportunity to experience Polo with the Pros — an unforgettable afternoon of championship polo, community, and celebration at the Sarasota Polo Club. Plus, the forecast is calling for beautiful weather, making it the perfect day to enjoy the match. Sunday, February 8, 12-4pm. 

For ticket information click here.

Sarasota Memorial Health Care System (SMH) opened a new Pregnancy and Wellness Center this week to ensure that every expecting mother, regardless of her medical or financial circumstances, has access to compassionate support and expert prenatal care. High-risk and underinsured patients, in particular, often struggle to find appropriate medical support during pregnancy. The center is designed to help close the gap, as a nationwide shortage of obstetricians delivering babies deepens, and hospitals increasingly close their labor and delivery (L&D) units due to financial strains and staffing issues. Reports indicate that as many as 86% of rural Florida hospitals have stopped delivering babies, creating "maternity care deserts" and forcing women to travel long distances for care, which increases health risks. 

To learn more, visit