Circus Sarasota

Feb. 7-March 1

Plenty to razzle-dazzle you in this year’s production under the Big Top at Benderson Park. In the line-up: The Alanian Riders, flag pole artist Dima Shine, balancing act Dire Boys, trapeze stars Duo 19 and Kaely, jugglers Get the Shoe!, clown Renaldo and Russian bar performers Trio Dandy. And about that circus tent…

Salvador Dalí: Gardens of the Mind

Opening Feb. 9

Selby Gardens’ newest art-meets-botanica exhibit opens Sunday with 10 photolithographs of flowers by the famed Spanish Surrealist painter, photographs from Florida Hall of Fame photographer Clyde Butcher’s Visions of Dalí’s Spain, and Dalí-themed plant displays. Butterflies figure in mightily in Dali’s floral paintings, so the Gardens is constructing its first-ever butterfly house to fill with Florida native butterflies and plants. 

Braves on Miami: Mardi Gras Style

Feb. 8

The Atlanta Braves invite you to kick off spring training and greet the newest MLB team to train in Sarasota County at this family-friendly street party. Meet Braves superstar alum Andruw Jones, enjoy New Orleans’ Grammy award-winning Rebirth Brass Band, try your hand at cornhole and other games, and more. Proceeds from the $5 admission benefit Venice Challenger Baseball and Venice MainStreet.

Chicago Symphony Orchestra

Feb. 12

The classical music event of the season. The Sarasota Concert Association celebrate its 75^th anniversary by bringing the blockbuster orchestra, under the direction of Riccardo Muti, to the Van Wezel. On the program are Prokofiev’s Suite from Romeo and Juliet and the Symphony No. 3 in C Minor, Op. 44. Gramophone magazine calls the Chicago Symphony Orchestra “one of the world’s top five orchestras in the world.”

La bohème

Feb. 8 

Puccini’s tragic masterpiece about a group struggling artists and intellectuals in 1830s Paris opens the Sarasota Opera winter season. Twelve additional performances through March 21. 

Lewis Black

Feb. 8

The curmudgeonly comedian brings his “It Gets Better Every Day” tour to the Van Wezel.

GuitarSarasota presents the Sergio and Odair Assad Duo

Feb. 8

Next up for GuitarSarasota’s international artists series is Grammy Award winning Brazilian guitarist and composer Sergio Assad and his brother Odair. At the Riverview Performing Arts Center.