- December 11, 2024
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Booker High School senior Tristan Tran plays drums with the band Category 5.
Photo by Ian SwabyKay Wygal and George Hein meet Santa Claus.
Photo by Ian SwabyA student from Onyx Studio 2 performs in the courtyard of the Ringling Museum.
Donna and Dave Taylor
Photo by Ian SwabySisters Syx Stringer, 6, Shadeau Stringer, 8 Syerra Stringer, 10 and Sameerah Stringer, 12 performed with Onyx Studio 2.
Photo by Ian SwabyBrooks Pukajlo, 8, watches a performance.
Photo by Ian SwabyThe event helped to raise toy donations for Toys for Tots.
Photo by Ian SwabyFront Row: Vivienne Stickley, Zoya Marsicano, Genevieve Stickley and Grant Stickley. Back Row: Grandmothers Maggie Veeneman and Susan Stickley.
Photo by Ian SwabyBooker High School senior Kyle Ramon, of the band Category 5, offers a solo.
Photo by Ian SwabyGabriella Huff, 17, performs with Onyx Studio 2.
Photo by Ian SwabyStudents perform with Onyx Studio 2.
Photo by Ian SwabyStudents from Onyx Studio 2 offer a performance.
Photo by Ian SwabyBooker High School sophomore Piper Freeman offers a vocal performance alongside Arjan Sandhu on guitar, with the band Category 5.
Photo by Ian SwabySarasota Middle School freshman Eric Glushenkov performs on saxophone with the Southside Elementary band led by his father Sergei Glushonkov.
Photo by Ian SwabyStudents from Phillippi Shores Elementary School, including Fifth graders Matthew Vinson and Kadence Butler and fourth grader Genevieve Stickley offer a performance.
Photo by Ian SwabyThe Ringling Museum's Phoebe Scheidegger, Perez Oliveras and Hsuan Chi Liu staffed a table offering free children's books.
Photo by Ian SwabyThird grader Gwyneth Crawford said she felt welcomed by the audience's applause, as her choir from Phillippi Shores Elementary performed in the courtyard of the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art on Dec. 5.
She called the experience of Holiday Splendor at The Ringling "wonderful."
"I don't know what to say, because, honestly, it was pretty fun," she said. "It really just blew my mind that it was my first time here, and I did really well."
While showcasing student performances and offering families the chance for free photos with Santa, the event drove donations to Toys for Tots, a U.S. Marine Corps Reserve organization, who were present on site.
Admission fees were not required for attendees bringing an unwrapped toy.
Last year, the event brought in about $40,000 worth of toys, according to Marci Boland, director of events at The Ringling.
Students and organizations appreciated the chance for more community exposure.
Gabriella Huff, a student at Onyx Studio 2 who is a senior at Booker High, said she enjoyed looking out at the venue, while also having another chance to perform.
"We had Nutcracker two weeks ago, and the day after, I was so sad, so it was really nice to be able to do the pieces again, and I got to be a different part than I was," she said.
