Pictured: Guests can enjoy a symphony of flavors at the Sarasota Opera Food and Wine Festival.

Looking for a new twist on dinner and a show? Check out the Sarasota Opera Food and Wine Festival, which combines live performances with gourmet food and fine wine. This annual event will take place this year on Saturday, September 21 from 1-4pm at the Opera House downtown. The festival is a unique fusion of Sarasota’s celebrated culinary scene as well as its rich performing arts community, making it a must-attend event for foodies and opera enthusiasts alike.

The Sarasota Opera Food and Wine Festival serves as a fundraiser for the Sarasota Youth Opera, one of the nation’s top youth music training programs. Local restaurants will be serving up delectable morsels of food along with samples of wine and other libations. Featured eateries include Jack Dusty, Michael’s on East, Pier 22/Grove, Wolfie’s Delicatessen amongst many others.

"The Food and Wine Festival is one of our most popular annual events at Sarasota Opera. It’s extra special this year because we are celebrating the 40th anniversary of our Youth Opera, which is the only opera education program in the US that stages full productions each year - come see their production of The Hobbit in November!” says Lael Mohib, director of marketing at Sarasota Opera House. “It’s a tremendous amount of fun to see the opera stage transformed into a space where our community can mingle and enjoy local flavors and libations all in one place. This year, we will have 23 restaurants offering everything from fresh donuts and bundt cakes, to classic pub fare and comfort foods, to fine, novelty dishes. And of course—a robust wine list to accommodate everyone’s tastes. Come for the food and wine, but please stay for the highlight - a performance by the kiddos who have worked so hard this year as part of our Youth Opera."

While VIP tickets for this event have sold out, general tickets are still available for $75 when purchased in advance. A limited number of tickets will also be available at the door of the Opera House on Pineapple Avenue for $85. All proceeds from the event will go to support Youth Opera & Education programming. To see the full list of participating restaurants and purchase tickets, visit www.sarasotaopera.org/foodandwinefest.

Sarasota Opera House, 611 North Pineapple Avenue, Sarasota, 941-328-1300, sarasotaopera.org/foodandwinefest.

Pictured: Guests can enjoy a symphony of flavors at the Sarasota Opera Food and Wine Festival.