Civic Leadership to Family Fun: Charlotte & Sarasota Counties Roll Out Fall Events for All Ages

Need ideas to keep the kids engaged? We’ve got educational outings, creative camps, and some old-fashioned summer fun…

Charlotte County Junior Commission Program
High school juniors and seniors in Charlotte County are invited to apply for the Fall 2025 Junior Commission Program, a youth civic education initiative hosted by the Charlotte County Commission. Applications are now available online at CharlotteCountyFL.gov/juniorcommission or in person at the commission office on the fifth floor of the Charlotte County Administration Center, 18500 Murdock Circle, Port Charlotte. This immersive program runs from Tuesday, September 9 to Tuesday, December 16 and includes meetings with county commissioners, tours of government facilities, attendance at public meetings, and a mock commission session. Open to students enrolled full-time in a Charlotte County high school or accredited home school, applications must be submitted by Thursday, August 21. They may be emailed to Diane.Whidden@CharlotteCountyFL.gov, hand-delivered to the commission office, or mailed to Diane Whidden at the address above. For more information, contact the commission office at 941•743•1300 or email Diane.Whidden@CharlotteCountyFL.gov.

Toddler Time
Bring your toddlers on Wednesdays from 10am to noon to play, socialize, and learn! This is a drop-in program located at Ann & Chuck Dever Regional Park Recreation Center, 6961 San Casa Drive. There is a $2 fee per visit. For more information, go to CharlotteCountyFL.gov or call 941•681•3760.

Rootin’ Tootin’ Toddlers
Giddy up and join the fun! Rootin’ Tootin’ Toddlers invites little cowboys and cowgirls to gallop, tumble, and play in a lively and safe environment every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 10am to noon at Tringali Park Recreation Center, 3460 North Access Road. From hobby horses and mats to blocks and more, this $2-per-child program helps toddlers develop social and motor skills while making new friends. For more information, call 941•681•3742 or visit CharlotteCountyFL.gov.

Preschool Prep Registration
Registration for Charlotte County Libraries’ Preschool Prep closes August 29 at 11:59pm. This program is designed for children ages 3 to 4 and helps improve listening, social, and group interaction skills while preparing children for a classroom setting. Children must be 3 years old by September 1. Weekly attendance is expected through the school year, beginning the week of September 7. This program is offered at Englewood Charlotte Library, 3450 N. Access Road on Fridays at 1pm, with the first session beginning on Friday, September 12. This program is also offered at Port Charlotte and Punta Gorda libraries. Space is limited and registration is required. To register or learn more, visit charlottecountyfl.gov/libraries or call 941•681•3736. If a class is full, please register for one waitlist only. You’ll be contacted if space opens or a new session is added.

Free Movie Night: “I Can Only Imagine”
Join Grace Community Church of Englewood on Friday, August 15, 6pm to 9pm for a special showing of “I Can Only Imagine”, the powerful 2018 biographical drama inspired by the best-selling Christian song by MercyMe. The event takes place at 278 South Mango Street, Englewood, and is free and open to all. Enjoy pizza and soft drinks before the movie begins. Recommended for ages 10 and up. Come early, grab a slice, and settle in for an uplifting night of film and fellowship.

Dungeons and Dragons: Character Creation
Get ready to embark on your first Dungeons and Dragons adventure by learning how to build your very own character on Monday, August 18 from 4:45 to 5:45pm in the Meeting Room at Elsie Quirk Library, 200 West Dearborn Street. This fun and engaging session is open to tweens and teens ages 9 to 18 and will cover the basics of gameplay and character design. Registration is required and limited to 20 participants; one name per registration. Sponsored by the Friends of Elsie Quirk Library. Sign up at scgovlibrary.librarymarket or call 941•861•1110.

Free Acting Workshop for Kids and Teens
As part of Wellen Park’s Solis Hall Summer Series, students in grades 3–12 are invited to a free “Test Drive” Acting Class on Monday, August 18 from 6:30 to 8:00pm at Solis Hall, 19745 Wellen Park Boulevard, North Port. Led by instructor Kelly Duyn, this one-day workshop introduces beginners to the excitement of acting. Perfect for children and teens curious about theatre and looking to explore something new. To learn more, call 941•486•8679.

EQ Craft Crew: Puppet Making
Children ages 5-9 are invited to the Elsie Quirk Library, 100 W. Dearborn Street, on Tuesday, August 19, from 3:45 to 4:30pm for a fun and creative puppet-making session. In this hands-on art program, participants will use recycled materials along with craft supplies to design and build their very own puppet friend. Sponsored by the Friends of Elsie Quirk Library, this program combines creativity with sustainability for an engaging afternoon. For details, call 941•861•1110 or visit scgovlibrary.librarymarket.com.

Let’s Pretend Day
Children ages 2 to 8 and their caregivers are invited to “Let’s Pretend Day” at Elsie Quirk Library, 100 W. Dearborn Street. Drop in for free-play time with toys and props designed to spark young imaginations on Wednesday, August 20 and Wednesday, August 27 from 10:30 to 11:30am in the Program Room. No registration needed. For more information, visit scgovlibrary.librarymarket.com or call 941•861•1200.

Toddler Craft
Bring your little ones for a themed craft time at the Englewood Charlotte Public Library, 3450 North Access Road, on Wednesday, August 20, from 10:30 to 11:15am. Held every third Wednesday of the month, this fun, hands-on program is designed for toddlers ages 1-4, so come dressed for a mess! Registration is required, and each child must be registered separately. For questions, contact Holly.Gaines@charlottecountyfl.gov. For details or to register, call 941•681•3736 or visit charlottecountyfl.libcal.com.

Little Adventures Story Time
Toddlers and preschoolers ages 2 to 5 are invited to Little Adventures Story Time on Thursdays, August 21 & 28 from 10:30 to 11:30am in the Program Room at Elsie Quirk Library, 200 West Dearborn Street. This lively program blends early literacy fun with music, stories, movement, crafts, and activities that help prepare little ones for school. No registration required. For more information, visit scgovlibrary.librarymarket or call 941•861•1110.

Thursday Night Magic: Library Edition
Calling all Magic: The Gathering fans! On Thursdays, August 21 & 28  join fellow players for Thursday Night Magic: Library Edition, a casual weekly meet-up held every Thursday from 5 to 7pm at the Englewood Charlotte Library, 3450 North Access Road. Whether you’re a seasoned planeswalker or brand new to the game, all skill levels are welcome. Bring your own deck or borrow one from the library to dive into epic battles, trade strategy tips, and meet fellow adventurers in a laid-back, supportive environment. Open to teens and adults. For details, call 941•681•3736 or visit charlottecountyfl.libcal.com.

Kids’ Craft
Children ages 7 to 12 are invited to enjoy a fun, hands-on craft session at the Englewood Charlotte Public Library, 3450 North Access Road, on Friday, August 22, 4:30 to 5:30pm. Registration is required for this free activity—please register each child separately online at charlottecountyfl.libcal.com or by calling 941•681•3736.

Family Art Day
Bring the whole family to Family Art Day, Saturday, August 23, 9:30am to noon, at 927 N. Lime Avenue, Sarasota. Enjoy creating art together with Traci Keggereis. Projects are suitable for all ages and skill levels. All supplies are included. This is a free program, made possible by generous funding from the Johnson Singer Arts & Education Fund. To learn more visit CreativeLiberties.net or call 941•799•6634.

Family Day at the Sarasota Opera House
Sarasota Youth Opera invites families to explore the magic of opera at the Sarasota Opera House, 61 N. Pineapple Avenue, Sarasota, on Saturday, August 23, from noon to 2pm. This free event offers an introduction to opera for children and adults alike. Visitors can enjoy singing sessions, acting games and workshops, and a behind-the-scenes tour of the historic opera house. Other hands-on activities include costume and makeup demonstrations, crafts, a photo booth, and the chance to win fun prizes. Ice cream and an on-site food truck will also be available to enjoy throughout the afternoon. Attendees will get a taste of the creativity and talent fostered by the Youth Opera and learn about opportunities to get involved in the Youth Opera program and the Youth Opera fall production. Free admission, no registration required. To learn more visit SarasotaOpera.org/FamilyDay or call 941•328•1300.

Dungeons and Dragons: Set the Scene
Gear up for your next campaign at Dungeons and Dragons: Set the Scene, a creative hands-on workshop on Monday, August 25, 4 to 5pm in the Meeting Room at Elsie Quirk Library, 200 West Dearborn Street. Tweens and teens ages 9 to 18 will design and build character tokens, battle maps, and monsters for their D&D adventures using arts and crafts tools including the Chompsaw. (Participants with sound sensitivities are encouraged to bring headphones.) Registration is required and limited to 15 participants—one name per registration. Register at scgovlibrary.librarymarket.com or call 941•861•1110. Sponsored by the Friends of Elsie Quirk Library.

Dog Tales
Readers of all ages are invited to the Englewood Charlotte Public Library, 3450 North Access Road, on Wednesday, August 27, from 3:30 to 4:30pm to read aloud to a friendly therapy dog. Each child will enjoy one-on-one time with their pet partner, building reading confidence and having fun while gaining literacy skills. This is a drop-in event—no registration required. For more information, call 941•681•3736 or visit charlottecountyfl.libcal.com.

Midday Hangout for Homeschool Students Returns to North Port
North Port Parks & Recreation invites homeschool students in kindergarten through eighth grade to join Midday Hangout, a fun and engaging program held monthly at the George Mullen Activity Center, 1602 Kramer Way. Each session runs from 12:30 to 2:30pm and features rotating activities like archery, creative arts, and friendly competitions designed to keep kids active and social. Upcoming dates include Wednesdays, September 3 (Archery), October 1 (Fish Frenzy), November 5 (Build & Battle), and December 3 (Coloring Hoops). Admission is $5 for North Port residents and $6 for non-residents. Children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult. Drop-ins welcome. For details, visit NorthPortFL.gov/General-Interest or call 941•429•7275.

Agents of Discovery’ Outdoor Exploration App
Turn screen time into green time with “Agents of Discovery”, a new interactive app now available at select Sarasota County parks. Developed in partnership with Sarasota County Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources and the UF/IFAS Extension and Sustainability office, this free mobile app invites families to complete nature-based missions that uncover local history, wildlife, and conservation stories. Explore site-specific challenges with Field Agent Forest Parker and earn digital badges along the way. Designed for kids ages 6 to 12, the app turns parks into engaging outdoor classrooms. Three Sarasota County Parks have adventures available now: Venice Area Audubon Rookery, 4006 S. Tamiami Trail Venice; Pinecraft Park, 1420 Gilbert Avenue, Sarasota; and Red Bug Slough Preserve, 5200 Beneva Road, Sarasota. Registration is required at bit.ly/SRQAgents. Download the app at linktr.ee/DownloadAgentsofDiscovery. Please check park hours before visiting. Note that pets are not permitted at some locations. For more details, visit SarasotaCountyParks.com/AOD or call Sarasota County Parks and Rec at 941•861•9930.

Congressional App Challenge
Members of the U.S. House of Representatives host district-wide Congressional App Challenges for middle school and high school students, encouraging them to learn to code and inspiring them to pursue careers in computer science. Each challenge is district-specific. Each winning app may be put on display in the U.S. Capitol Building for one year. The competition deadline is October 30 at noon. Students can register and learn more at https://www.congressionalappchallenge.us/students/student-registration/.

Note: Event listings are published as accurately as possible. We recommend contacting the numbers provided to confirm details or request further information. To submit an event for consideration in “Keeping Up with the Kids,” please send details and/or a photo to The Englewood REVIEW, 370 W Dearborn St, Suite B, Englewood, FL 34223, or email us at info@englewoodreview.com. And visit our interactive calendar, where you are invited to add your event.