July 1-3

Sarasota Powerboat Grand Prix

The summer’s big boating event clicks into high gear this weekend, with a Boats on Main downtown block party Friday night featuring band Luna Blue; qualifying races Saturday at Lido Beach; and the final big race events Sunday. It’s all to benefit Suncoast Charities for Children; get all the details at sarasotapowerboatgrandprix.org.  

July 4

Sarasota Bayfront Fireworks Spectacular

Boom go the fireworks Monday evening, set for a grand explosion around 9 p.m. along the bayfront at Sarasota’s Marina Jack. You can also catch the Siesta Beach fireworks set to go off around 9:15 p.m., or along the Riverwalk in downtown Bradenton, where the fireworks are launched from a barge in the Manatee River around 9 p.m. Happy Independence Day, everybody.

July 4

Selby Gardens All-American Barbecue

Yummy barbecue, craft cocktails and the Lauren Mitchell Band, all against a backdrop of Sarasota Bay and beautiful Marie Selby Botanical Gardens—that’s our idea of a Fourth of July party. $25 for members, $35 for nonmembers and special kids’ pricing, plus the cost of food and beverage. And this year, the Gardens is also offering a $150 VIP ticket, with valet parking, open bar and catering by Michael’s On East. Tickets at selby.org.

July 2

FST Improv presents When X Meets Y

An improvised musical love story set in the American Revolution? Sounds like the history lesson we wish we’d had in high school. FST Improv brings back this fun show for one night only. floridastudiotheatre.org

July 4

Gloria Musicae Patriotic Spectacular

The Gloria Musicae Singers gets you in the Independence Day spirit with a rousing late-afternoon concert of patriotic songs, great old standards like George M. Cohan’s Yankee Doodle Dandy Boy and You’re a Grand Old Flag, John Philip Sousa’s Stars and Stripes Forever and Julia Ward Howe’s Battle Hymn of the Republic. At First United Methodist Church in downtown Sarasota. Tickets at gloriamusicae.org

July 2

Bradenton Marauders Stars and Stripes 5K Home Run

Running the bases takes on a whole new meaning at McKechnie Field Saturday, with the Bradenton Marauders baseball team’s Stars and Stripes 5K Home Run race. It starts at 8 a.m., and includes part of the River Run golf course; runners cross home plate to end the race. Participants get a T-shirt and ticket to that night’s Independence Day celebration game against the Charlotte Stone Crabs. bradentonmarauders.com   

June 30

Ringling Museum Art After Five

As if The Ringling’s Thursday evening Art After Five events (half-price admission from 5-8 p.m.) weren’t interesting enough, this summer they’re also opening their Children’s Welcome Center art-making studio in the Visitors Pavilion to people of all ages. Stop by and use the art-making materials they provide to create something wonderful, for free. ringling.org