The best things to do in Sarasota, Lakewood Ranch, Longboat for May 2-8

Thursday, May 2

Hermitage Sunsets @ Selby Gardens: ‘Sound and Silence’
6:30 p.m. at Historic Spanish Point, 401 N. Tamiami Trail, Osprey
$5
Visit HermitageArtistRetreat.org.

Hermitage Fellows Bill Bowers, a well-known mime and storyteller, and Kavita Shah, a multilingual singer, explore sound and silence in this collaboration between the Hermitage Artist Retreat and Selby Gardens.

Voices: Rising Choreographers
7 p.m. at Jane B. Cook Theater, FSU Center for the Performing Arts, 5555 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota
$20
Visit SarasotaContemporaryDance.org.

The program presents new works by choreographers selected from Sarasota Contemporary Dance’s Summer 2023 Intensive Program by SCD Artistic Director Leymis Bolaños Wilmott. Runs through Sunday.

Pinky’s Players present ‘Hee Haw’
7:30 p.m. at Venice Theatre, 150 Tampa Ave. W., Venice
$22
Visit VeniceTheatre.org.

Pinky’s Players, Venice Theatre’s community engagement program for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, presents a show inspired by TV's “Hee Haw,” featuring humor and country music. Runs through Sunday. 

Friday, May 3

Jazz @ 2: Rodney Rojas Jazz Ensemble
2 p.m. at Unitarian Universalists of Sarasota, 3975 Fruitville Road, Sarasota
$15-$20
Visit JazzClubSarasota.org.

Presented by Jazz Club of Sarasota, Rodney Rojas and his New Profiles in Jazz Ensemble will perform Big Band Jazz. 

Music on Main
6-9 p.m. at Main Street at Lakewood Ranch
Free
Visit LakewoodRanch.com.

The Heart tribute band Brigade is the featured performer for the monthly concert and block party series. The event features food vendors, beer trucks, sponsor booths and rides and activities for the kids. This month's event benefits the Camelot Community Care nonprofit. 

Robert Kelly
6:30 and 8:50 p.m. at McCurdy’s Comedy Theatre, 1923 Ringling Blvd., Sarasota
$31
Visit McCurdysComedy.com.

Robert Kelly hosts the top-rated podcast “You Know What Dude?” found on iTunes and Patreon, as well as co-hosting “Calta and Kelly” with Mike Calta, and ”Bone To Pick” with Paul Virzi, both on iTunes and YouTube. Runs through Saturday.

Fresh Fridays: Vibe on Palm 
7-10 p.m. at Palm Avenue, adjacent to the Art Ovation Hotel, 1255 N. Palm Ave., Sarasota
Free
Visit DowntownSarasotaDID.com.

In this month's Fresh Fridays street party, enjoy bluesy rock by The Alan Grant Band, cool beverages and light bites. 

‘Bank Job’
7:30 p.m. at Venice Theatre’s Pinkerton Theatre, 140 Tampa Ave. W., Venice
$15-$32
Visit VeniceTheatre.org.

After two brothers pull off a bank heist, their perfect crime gets thwarted in a comic romp with a dash of romance thrown in. Runs through May 19.

Courtesy image

Chuchito Valdés
8 p.m. at Fogartyville, 525 Kumquat Court, Sarasota
$16-$32
Visit WSLR.org.

The son of Chucho Valdés, piano master Chuchito Valdés and his band play a dynamic blend of Afro-Cuban and Latin jazz, bebop, Danzon, cha-cha-cha, Son Montuno and more.

‘Sancocho’ 
8 p.m. at Manatee Performing Arts Center, 502 Third Avenue W., Bradenton
$20
Visit CreArteLatino.org.

“Sancocho” takes its name from the traditional stew served in many Latin American countries. It’s CreArte Latino’s second venture into theater projects. The bilingual performance explores generational and national boundaries that separate us but still have the power to unite. Runs through Saturday. 

Image courtesy of Peter Acker

Outdoor Pops: 'Back to the ’80s'
8 p.m. at Ed Smith Stadium, 2700 12th St., Sarasota
From $20
Visit SarasotaOrchestra.org.

Sarasota Orchestra turns back the clock to the decade known for big hair, shoulder pads and exposed underwear (if you were a follower of pop icon Madonna). The Material Girl’s hit of the same name will be just one of many No. 1 songs from the decade performed by three different vocalists during the outdoor concert. Others are Cyndi Lauper’s “Time After Time” and “The Power of Love” by Huey Lewis & the News. Continues Saturday. 

Saturday, May 4

St. Armands Circle Art and Craft Festival 
10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at St. Armands Circle, 1 St. Armands Circle
Free
Visit ArtFestival.com.

The event offers art from a broad spectrum of mediums including sculpture, photography, glass, paintings, ceramics, jewelry, mixed media, and more. In addition to fine art, this festival will feature a craft marketplace on the street. Continues Sunday.

Photo by Ian Swaby

Be Fabulous Music & Arts Pride Fest
3 p.m. at Fogartyville Community Media and Arts Center, 525 Kumquat Court, Sarasota
Free
Visit FabAF.org.

Started 14 years ago, this festival brings together a lineup of artists to support the LGBTQ+ community. This year features Gracie Cespedes, NowInColor, Brittany Zeff, Zeta The Babe, Summer Hoop and MeteorEYES. Also featured are Jay Moore as emcee and speaker Jules Rayne, a DJ, drag performances and vendors.

Photo by Ian Swaby

Circo De Mayo Street Festival 
4 p.m. to midnight at Circo: A Taco & Bourbon Joint, 1435 Second St., Sarasota
Free; VIP $35
Visit Eventbrite.com.

Celebrate Cinco De Mayo in the streets with the restaurant Circo while enjoying live music, tacos, drinks and games. VIP access includes unlimited chips and salsa, free and reduced-price offerings and swag bags for the first 50 tickets. Continues noon to 9 p.m. Sunday. 

Sarasota Cuban Ballet School Recital
6 p.m. at Riverview Performing Arts Center, 1 Ram Way, Sarasota
$40
Visit SRQCubanBallet.org.

The Sarasota Cuban Ballet School presents its end-of-the-year performance. The school was founded in 2011 by the Cuban-born husband-and-wife team of of Ariel Serrano and Wilmian Hernández, who trained at the National Ballet School of Cuba and performed internationally with Ballet de Camagüey and Ballet de Monterrey. 

Sunday, May 5

Big Tiki Lounge Cinco De Mayo Cornhole Tournament
Noon to 4 p.m. at Big Tiki Lounge, 5311 Ocean Blvd., Siesta Key
$10
Visit Eventbrite.com.

Celebrate Cinco de Mayo at The Big Tiki Lounge with a cornhole tournament, as well as DJ Gigi and drink specials.

Spring Concert
2 p.m. at Peace Presbyterian Church, 12705 E. S.R. 64., Lakewood Ranch
$10; students $5
Visit LWRWindEnsemble.org.

The Lakewood Ranch Wind Ensemble plays its annual Spring Concert. The concert will feature "Man with the Horn" Joe Maciariello Miller, the group's founder and music director, doing a solo on the trumpet. The concert also features music by John Philip Sousa, Robert Sheldon, Alfred Reed and Paul Hindemith.

Miró Quartet
4 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church, 2050 Oak St., Sarasota
$40
Visit ArtistSeriesConcerts.org.

One of America’s most celebrated string quartets, the Miró Quartet has appeared in sold-out performances since 1995. The first half of the program will be Beethoven’s String Quartet No. 14, Op. 131, the piece on which the 2012 film “A Late Quartet” was based. In the second half of the program, violinist Sandy Yamamoto and pianist Julio Elizalde join the quartet to perform Chausson's Concerto for violin, piano and string quartet.

Courtesy image

Kenny G
7 p.m. at Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, 777 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota
$60-$85
Visit VanWezel.org.

In a career encompassing three decades and 23 albums, Grammy Award-winning saxophonist Kenny G has created a unique sound by weaving together elements of R&B, pop and Latin music. 

Monday, May 6

Monday Night Jazz at the Cabaret
7:30 p.m. at FST's John C. Court Cabaret, 1265 First St., Sarasota
$34-$39
Visit JazzClubSarasota.org.

Jazz Club of Sarasota presents Hot Club SRQ, made up of Keven Aland, Jon McLaughlin, Glenn Stevenson and Francois de Lima. The string ensemble plays what they call “Gypsy Jazz” inspired by Django Reinhardt and Stephane Grappelli. Doors open at 6:30 for dinner and drinks.