Your Top 6 Things to Do: May 11-17

Fireworks over Ed Smith Stadium.
Image: Courtesy Sarasota Orchestra
Sarasota Orchestra Outdoor Pops at Ed Smith Stadium
May 12-13
The Sarasota Orchestra—yes, we’ll say it—hits a home run when it gets out of the concert hall and out to Ed Smith Stadium for “Hits and Home Runs,” its annual outdoor pops concerts, this year featuring American Idol Season 14 runner-up Clark Beckham and the All-Star Singers. Two shows Friday and Saturday nights, each followed by fireworks. Tickets on sale at the Baltimore Orioles box office.

Magic Sword
Image: Courtesy Photo
Harvey Milk Festival
May 11-13
Over eight years, the Harvey Milk Festival has grown from a fun celebration of LGBT rights into a multifaceted event with films, visual and performing artists, speakers and more. It’s also become a major draw for bands on the cusp of the cusp of breaking through to the mainstream, like Magic Sword, above. Here’s a look at them from our own Cooper Levey-Baker.

SCD's Melissa Coleman Sperber.
Image: Daniel Perales
Sarasota Contemporary Dance: Evolving/Revolving
May 11-14
Restaged favorites and new works fill the FSU Center’s Cook Theatre when Sarasota Contemporary Dance presents its season-ending performances, “Evolving/Revolving,” including something special from local hip-hop sensation Kris “Tetris” Powell.

Mote Aquarium's "The Teeth Beneath" exhibit.
Image: Conor Goulding
Mother’s Day special at Mote Aquarium
May 14
Treat Mom to a visit to the Mote Aquarium this Sunday, Mother’s Day, free with the purchase of a children’s ticket. While you’re there, check out Mote’s—yes, we’ll say this, too—gripping “Teeth Beneath: The Wild World of Gators, Crocs and Caimans” special exhibit.

Ringling Museum Family Day.
Image: Courtesy TheRingling
The Ringling Family Day: Summer Kick-Off
May 13
Celebrate the start of summer at The Ringling with art-making and activity stations geared around the museum’s Art of Our Time exhibits. Free for Ringling members at the Family Level and above.

Maria Wirries
Hot 'n' Cole: A Cole Porter Celebration
May 14
Young Maria Wirries, a favorite community theater actor who’s now a junior in the Penn State musical theater program, returns to Sarasota with seven fellow acting students to present this musical salute to the genius of songwriter Cole Porter (“Night and Day,” “It’s Too Darn Hot”). An Artist Series Concert production at the Sarasota Opera House.
Concerts, Sports
Sarasota Orchestra Hits and Home Runs
Special Events