Grand Ovation returns to Lakewood Ranch
At least 14 performing arts groups from around the Bradenton-Sarasota are scheduled to perform Saturday at Grand Ovation, the annual celebration of the arts at Lakewood Ranch.
It's the ninth installment of the popular festival along Main Street in Lakewood Ranch. The street will be closed to traffic and two stages with seating will be set up along the street.
The entertainment lineup features the area's finest professional performing arts companies (Florida Studio Theatre, Sarasota Opera and Sarasota Ballet, for example) plus community theaters (The Players Theatre), school groups (The Sarasota Cuban Ballet School. Lakewood Ranch Theatre Department) and clubs and amateur organizations (Lakewood Ranch Ballroom Dance Club, Sarasota Folk Club).
Besides the performers on stage, Grand Ovation will feature vendors and attractions all along the street. Back this year is the Mote Marine Touch Tank, a mobile exhibit that lets actually feel such saltwater creatures as sea urchins, crabs, horseshoe crabs, sea stars and snails.
Most of the festival's performing arts groups will have exhibits on Main Street, as will the Ringling Museum, Imagine School at Lakewood Ranch, the Lakewood Ranch Fine Arts Department, and more.
Admission and parking are free.
Details: 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Feb. 6, Main Street, Lakewood Ranch. Admission: Free. Information: 941-757-1548, lakewoodranch.com/grandovation.
-- Marty Clear
This story was originally published February 3, 2016 at 5:35 PM with the headline "Grand Ovation returns to Lakewood Ranch ."