Editor’s note: In-person events are subject to change. Please check before venturing out.

Summer Circus Spectacular

July 31-Aug. 14

The circus is back! After a hiatus due to the pandemic, The Circus Arts Conservatory and The Ringling are once again presenting fun and thrills in this family-friendly show in the Historic Asolo Theater. Taking the stage will be comedian Mr. Robb, acrobat Darren Trull, juggler Noel Aguilar, hand balancer Elayne Kramer, unicyclists the Valla-Bertini Family and ringmaster Jared Walker. Showtimes are 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Monday-Friday, and 2 and 5 p.m. Saturdays. There’s also a special opening night celebration at 7 p.m. Friday. For tickets, call (941) 360-7399 or go to theringling.org.

Sarasota Cuban Ballet School: On Stage

July 31

Pre-professional dancers taking part in the school’s summer intensive program will be joined by the Washington Ballet’s principal dancers, Ariel Martinez and Gian Carlo Perez, and Ballet San Antonio’s Emma Town in this production featuring excerpts from Russian ballet classics and original works by the school’s choreographer, Tania Vergara. At the Manatee Performing Arts Center; for tickets, call (941) 748-5875 or go to srqcubanballet.com.

Music Elevating the Soul

July 30

Join two of the nation’s most versatile musicians—pianist and composer Courtney Bryan and harpist Ashley Jackson—as they share original work and talk about their creative processes, at 6:30 p.m. Friday at the Hermitage Artist Retreat on Manasota Key Road. Bryan mixes jazz with experimental music, gospel, spirituals and hymns; Jackson performs with the New York Philharmonic as well as the Harlem Chamber Players and contemporary music orchestra NOVUS NY. Registration required at hermitageartistretreat.org.

The Blue Light Special; And the Envelope, please...

July 29 and 30; July 31 and Aug. 1

Take in some more of Venice Theatre’s Summer Cabaret Festival, as songstress Ariel Blue weaves her tale of the blues in a sassy, funny show (tonight and Friday) and longtime VT stalwart Eric Watters sings and tells stories about Academy Award-winning tunes from 1934 to 1969 (Saturday and Sunday). For tickets, call (941) 488-1115 or visit venicetheatre.org.

Christmas in July

July 31

That’s right, you can have breakfast with Santa (and his favorite elf), as well as enjoy special kids’ activities and take advantage of special deals this Saturday at The Bazaar on Apricot & Lime, even though the real Christmas is a few months off. Food is from Hamlet’s Eatery., from 10 a.m. to noon. More info: (941) 445-1938 or hamletseatery.com.

2021 August Play Reading Festival

Aug. 2, 9 and 16

Florida Studio Theatre presents three staged readings of new work by members of its Playwright Collective—Thomas Gibbons, Kenneth Jones and Jason Odell Williams—live and in person. The plays are titled Last Call at the Old Slave Quarters Lounge (Jones), America in One Room (Williams) and Steal Her Bones (Gibbons), and readings are at 7 p.m. at the Keating Theatre. For more info and tickets, call (941) 366-9000 or head to floridastudiotheatre.org.

Songs on the Circle

Aug. 3

Relax to some live music all around St. Armands Circle from 6 to 9 p.m. Tuesday, as you browse and shop. For more info, click here.