Sarasota Calendar 4.21.16

Sarasota and Siesta Key events for the week of April 21.

By Amanda Morales
| 6:00 a.m. April 21, 2016

Kennan Wilson hugs a tree that he helped decorate with his mother Gina at the Hug-a-tree event last year at the Sarasota Children's Garden.

Sarasota
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Community

Friday, April 22
Florida and the Civil Way
Starts at 7 p.m. at the Sarasota Garden Club, 1131 Blvd. of the Arts. James Denham, Florida Southern College history profes- sor, will present little-known facts about Florida and the Civil War. The event is presented by the Friends of Sarasota County History Center. Admission is free. Visit foschc.org.

Saturday, April 23
Hug-a-Tree
Starts at 2 p.m. at the Sarasota Children’s Garden, 1670 10th Way. Celebrate Arbor Day with education programs, storytelling and by hugging trees with ribbons, fabrics and wishes. Plant an oak tree to take home to watch grow. Admission is $5 for ages 3 to 12, $10 for 13 and older. Visit sarasotachildrensgarden.com.

Saturday, April 23 and Sunday, April 24
Volley America Spalding Big Shot Volleyball Tournament
Runs from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and starts at 9 a.m. Sunday at Siesta Key Beach, Beach Road. The Volley America Spalding Big Shot Volleyball Tournament features 25 nets, with open men’s, women’s, junior and collegiate levels. Registration is $100 for men and women’s open with $60 for all other divisions. Visit volleyamerica.com.

Sunday, April 24
Family Spring Fling
Runs from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, 777 N. Tamiami Trail. Spend your Sunday having fun and getting valuable safety information with face painting, a bounce house and food. Admission is free. Call 365-1277.

Friday, April 29
YMCA Healthy Kids Day
Runs from 10 a.m. to 1p.m. at the Frank G. Berlin, Sr. Branch, 1075 S. Euclid Ave., and 5 to 8 p.m. at the Evalyn Sadlier Jones Branch, 8301 Potter Park Drive. The Sarasota YMCA is holding community events to inspire more kids to keep their minds and bodies active. Admission is free. Visit sarasotaymca.org.

The Argus Foundation Annual Low Country Boil
Runs from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. at Sarasota Outboard Club Inc., 1604 Ken Thompson Parkway. Meet and greet your elected officials in a casual setting for an all-you-can-eat outdoor feast. The menu includes shrimp, crab, sausage, corn, potatoes, Morton’s Market BBQ chicken, potato salad, desserts, soda, beer and wine. Tickets are $90 for members and $100 for non-members.Visit argusfoundation.org.

Saturday, April 30
Seagrass Fest
Runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Ken Thompson Park, Ken Thompson Parkway. The event celebrates the importance of Sarasota Bay with live music, food vendors and more than 60 local exhibitors. There will also be a beer and wine garden, art zone and dragon boat races. Admission is free.

LOOKING AHEAD:

Sunday, May 1
Food and Travel Festival
Runs from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Sweetgrass Farms, 8350 Carolina Road. The first Food and Travel Festival will benefit All Faiths Food Bank. More than 30 restaurants in two food and wine tents will have samples for guests to enjoy. Tickets are $60. Visit the Food and Travel Festival Facebook page.

Wednesday, May 4
Blues by the Bay
Runs from 5 to 7:30 p.m. at the Powel Crosley Estate, 8374 N. Tamiami Trail. The Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce and the Manatee Chamber of Commerce team up for an evening on the bay. Enjoy complimentary non-alcoholic beverages and light appetizers from seven Chamber member restaurants with a cash bar cocktail reception. Food samplings will be from the Anna Maria Oyster Bar, Cedar Reef Fish Camp, Chicken Kitchen, Daily Eats, Fast & Fresh, Fresh Kitchen and Sugar Cubed. Tickets are $25 for chamber members until May 2 and $35 for future members or guests. Visit sarasotachamber.com

Entertainment

Friday, April 22 to Saturday, April 23
Poetry Life Spring Festival
Times vary by event at Florida Studio Theatre, 1241 Palm Ave. This one-of-a-kind celebration brings together nationally-recognized poets, students, teachers and community members all in one place to celebrate poetry. Visit sarasotapoetry.com.

Saturday, April 23
SFF Moonlight Movie
Starts at sunset at Siesta Key Beach, Beach Road. The Sarasota Film Festival Moonlight Movies 2016 season concludes with Disney’s “Wall-E.” Bring blankets and lawn chairs for seating. Admission is free. Call 861-5000.

Saturday, April 23
Singer-Songwriters in the Round
Starts at 8 p.m. at Fogartyville Community Media and Arts Center, 525 Kumquat Court. The performance will feature three local talented songwriters: Dean Johanesen, Rebekah Pulley and Ed Woltil. The format involves three songwriters taking turns singing their own songs, adding comments about the music and occasionally accompanying each other instrumentally and on vocals. Tickets are $8 in advance and $10 at the door. Visit www.wslr.org.

Sunday, April 24
Stolen Idols
Starts at 7 p.m. at Fogartyville Community Media and Arts Center, 525 Kumquat Court. Stolen Idols present a potent cocktail of beatnik bongo jazz, Latin jazz and exotica. They are one of only a small number of ensembles in the world currently presenting exotica authentically, with acoustic instruments and a Latin jazz sensibility. Tickets are $10 in advance and $12 at the door. Visit wslr.org.