The wonders of the wild are not entirely out of reach. At Sarasota’s Big Cat Habitat and Gulf Coast Sanctuary, visitors can explore, learn about and even interact with some of the world’s most exotic animals. The animal rescue and conservation center was founded in 1987, the familial operation of the Rosaire’s, a longtime Sarasota circus family. “I had stopped doing circuses at a certain point, because I was concerned about the plight of the endangered tigers and lions in the wild–they were really in trouble. There were also a lot of cats in this country that needed homes,” says Kay Rosaire, who founded the sanctuary with her family and manages it today with her son Clayton. “We’d taken in a tiger, Nadu, from some people that had planned on taking him to another country and they asked us if they could keep him at our place for a couple of weeks while they got the permits – well they never got the permits and they never returned. People heard that we’d taken him in and started asking if we’d adopt other animals in need.”

Word of mouth–and the roars of lions echoing throughout the neighborhood–quickly made Big Cat Habitat a go-to destination for both animals in need of a home and visitors looking to lay eyes on these unique creatures. The sanctuary has grown ever since, incorporating into a non-profit in 2005, building new animal enclosures including a conservation area and expanding their experiences offered to visitors. Today, the sanctuary is home to over 300 animals across 62 species. Everything from Himalayan and Brown Bears to the African Caracal, Bengal Tigers, Clouded Leopards, the Florida Panther, all types of lemurs, exotic birds and monkeys are cared for on the organization’s campus.

Some of the experiences offered at the sanctuary include wild yoga with capybaras, Bengal Tigers, foxes and lemurs as well as animal encounters with mammals such as the Arctic Wolf, Two Toed Sloth, Bennett Wallaby and African Caracal. “The whole purpose of the animal encounters is that when you get up close and personal with an animal, it’s an entirely different story,” says Clayton Rosaire. “It’s that contact, that interaction when a little kid goes in there and gets to give a Ruffed Lemur praise and touches them and learns about them and where they’re from and how incredible their species is, that little kid might just leave our facility and tell their parents that they want to be a veterinarian.”

Big Cat Habitat, 1701 Palmer Blvd, Sarasota, 941-371-6377, info@bigcathabitat.org 

Pictured: Big Cat Habitat is home to over 300 animals across 62 species, including the Florida Panther.

Area residents are invited to experience the culinary delights of Sarasota while supporting and celebrating the 40th anniversary of the Sarasota Youth Opera. Local restaurants will serve up tasty samples of food and wine at Sarasota Opera’s Annual Food and Wine Festival. The event will take place from 1- 4 p.m., Saturday, September 21 at the Opera House downtown. The Youth Opera chorus and Sarasota Opera artists will perform during the festival. There will be drawings for prizes and other fun activities throughout the afternoon. Tickets are $75 per person for general admission and are available for purchase in advance at www.sarasotaopera.org/foodandwinefest, at the Box Office, 61 N. Pineapple Ave., or by calling 941- 328-1300. A limited number of tickets will also be available at the door for $85. All proceeds go to support the Youth Opera & Education programming. Sarasota Opera’s events are produced by Mary Kenealy Events.

Sarasota Opera Food and Wine Festival, Saturday, September 21, Sarasota Opera House, 61 N. Pineapple Ave., Sarasota, VIP: $100 (sold out) | $75 purchased in advance | $85 purchased at the door, www.sarasotaopera.org/foodandwinefest 

the 2nd Anniversary Celebration of The Bay Park - a month-long celebration offering nearly 70 free events that bring the best of The Bay to life and recognize the two-year milestone of the park. The celebration includes free waterfront concerts by headlining musical acts like: World-renowned Scottish soul and funk group, Average White Band, with opener Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe “Sistas in the Name of Soul” (Oct. 18); The Breakers: A Tribute to Tom Petty (Oct. 19). Other Signature Events include fan favorites like: 3rd annual Taste of The Bay food festival Presented by Sarasota-Manatee Originals (Oct. 20); Boo! at The Bay Family Halloween event (Oct. 25); Park-toberfest (Oct. 6); Bark-toberfest (Oct. 12); Second Anniversary Community Celebration (Oct. 16) celebrating all things TWO (twins, couples, 2-year olds). This is truly a momentous occasion for our community - not only because of the great free events but because it celebrates an iconic community asset - what will be a signature 53-acre public park, right along Sarasota Bay, that preserves and restores precious waterfront land for the enjoyment of future generations. 

To learn more, visit.

The Bucket Fillers’ books use the concept of an invisible bucket to encourage positive behavior and warm hearts. Each book shows children how rewarding it is to express kindness, appreciation and love to others. Sign-up as a volunteer reader for Bucket Fillers Reading Day on Tuesday, November 19! If you are able, please consider selecting these areas that have a higher need. South Sarasota County (Venice / Englewood / Nokomis / North Port) and Northwest Manatee County (Palmetto / Ellenton / East of I-75).

When & Where: Tuesday, November 19, 2024, Manatee & Sarasota elementary school buildings and early learning centers. Time Commitment: 30 minutes. Questions: Contact readingday@embracingourdifferences.org. 

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College students can ace their commute this year with fare-free rides with Breeze. New College, Ringling College, Suncoast Technical College (STC) and University of South Florida (USF) Sarasota-Manatee have continued long-standing partnerships with Sarasota County’s Breeze Transit Department to provide students with fare-free bus rides. New College, Ringling College and USF Sarasota-Manatee are accessible by Breeze Route 99. The route, jointly operated by Sarasota County’s Breeze and Manatee County’s Area Transit, provides service to downtown Sarasota and downtown Bradenton every 20 minutes. By showing their school ID, students can board the bus to explore shopping, dining, theater and outdoor events in the heart of Sarasota. STC has a similar arrangement with Breeze Transit. The STC campus is served by Breeze Route 6, which travels between downtown Sarasota and the Sarasota Square Mall.Breeze Route 99 and Breeze Route 6 run Monday through Saturday from 5 a.m. – 11 p.m. Breeze buses can be tracked in the Breeze Rider mobile app or via the breezetransit.net/breezerider website. MCAT buses on Route 99 can be tracked in the MCAT myStop app. For more information on Sarasota County’s transit services, visit scgov.net/breeze. 

Lights at Spooky Point, the Halloween-themed light show introduced to Selby Gardens’ Historic Spanish Point campus, returns in October for a third season. This year’s show kicks off on Wednesday, October 9 and remains on view nightly through Halloween. Tickets for Lights at Spooky Point can be purchased through Selby Gardens’ website at selby.org or in person at either of its two campuses. Member tickets go on sale September 3; Non-member tickets go on sale September 10. To become a member, visit selby.org. Visitors to Lights at Spooky Point will follow an eerily lit path through the wooded campus and past several of its historic structures. Along the way, they will encounter fantastically fun creations and unique Halloween light displays around every bend. Highlights that return for the second year include spectral “ghost orchids” floating above the Pioneer Graveyard, giant “Dracula orchids” draped with Spanish moss, and colorful “spider orchids” clinging to their webs in the trees. These and other decorations are inspired by actual plants of the same names, a creative nod to Selby Gardens’ botanical and horticultural mission. Guests also will find plenty of pumpkins, scores of skeletons, and other Halloween classics at “Spooky Point.” The show is designed for all ages, with just a few minor jump-scare opportunities to keep older kids happy. A limited number of tickets will be sold for each night of the show, with two entry times available—6:30 and 7:45 p.m. Guests with young children or mobility issues are encouraged to consider the earlier entry. Those who want the full “Spooky Point” experience can opt for the later slot, after dark. Ticket prices for Lights at Spooky Point are $34 for adults ($24 for Selby Gardens members), $19 for ages 5-17, and free for children 4 and under. Advance ticket purchase is encouraged, as some nights may sell out prior to opening time. Food and beverages will be sold on-site throughout each evening of the show. To learn more and purchase tickets, go online to selby.org or visit the Welcome Center at either the Downtown Sarasota campus or the Historic Spanish Point campus. 

The Education Action Team of the League of Women Voters of Sarasota County is partnering with Sarasota County Public Schools for the third year on its YVote contest.  This year’s theme, Your Vote is Your Voice, invites public high school students to create an essay, 2D artwork, or video in which they share their thoughts on how their voices are expressed through their votes. The contest is funded by Gulf Coast Community Foundation – Ruth and James Whitney Charitable Fund.  All students in Sarasota County’s public charter and district public high schools are eligible to enter, regardless of whether they are yet able to register to vote. Each winner in the essay, poster, and video categories will receive a $500 award. Second-place winners will receive $300 and third-place winners will receive $200. The deadline for submissions is October 25, 2024, and winners will be announced on November 21, 2024 on social media and elsewhere. Winning entries are exhibited at Sarasota County libraries. To receive this year’s YVOTE Contest Application and additional material, including a look at last year’s winning entries, visit www.lwvsrq.org . Contest information is available in both English and Spanish.