Englewood’s Hurricane Expo comes at just the right time, as hurricane season kicks off. Emergency officials and community groups are joining forces to help residents get ahead before the Gulf coast prepares for hurricane season.

The expo takes place this Saturday, bringing together nearly 300 people from all over. Thirty-two booths line the event, each staffed by emergency managers, first responders, utility companies, insurance professionals, and local groups. There’s a sense of community here, with experts ready to help you figure out evacuation plans, stock your emergency kits, operate generators safely, understand flood insurance, and review changes to local disaster plans.

Attendees get rare, face-to-face access to people like Matt Devitt. This is your chance to ask anything hurricane-related.

Officials keep repeating one message: After what we’ve learned from recent storms, waiting isn’t an option. Now’s the time to find out your evacuation route, put together that kit, double-check your insurance, and keep track of updates throughout the season.

The goal is simple: organizers want everyone leaving the expo with not just information, but proper tools and confidence to weather any storm Florida throws their way.

And if you can’t make the Englewood Expo or missed other hurricane preparedness events, don’t stress. Florida Tropical Training Week is right around the corner. From July 27th to 30th, 2026, you can join three daily virtual sessions led by National Weather Service meteorologists. It’s open to everyone, wherever you’re living. You’ll learn how to read weather forecasts, pick up lifesaving safety strategies, and turn all that info into solid plans for your family. 

Living in Florida means the weather is always part of the conversation. These sessions ensure you’re ready for whatever the tropics bring.

The Englewood Home & Hurricane Expo takes place on Saturday, June 13, 2026. It will be held at the Elks Lodge at 401 N. Indiana Ave., Englewood from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Admission is free and features local experts, weather resources, giveaways, and a blood drive.

To register for the online Florida Tropical Training Week, click here.

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Carroll Swayze, a well-known local artist, is running the show again this year as chairperson and curator. She’s called Englewood home for over fifty years, and by now, most people in the area recognize her bold acrylic paintings of ocean life. But she’s not just an artist; Carroll is a fierce advocate for original work, especially now that artificial intelligence keeps chipping away at what makes art truly personal. Her pieces land in collections all over the globe.

Creativity runs deep in Carroll’s family. She grew up at the Hermitage on Manasota Key, surrounded by creative energy. Her mom, Ruth Swayze, found success writing for TV, where she worked on “Taxi,” among others. Her dad, John Lund, made his mark as both an actor and director. Carroll and her mother both played key roles in saving and transforming the family home into The Hermitage Artist Retreat, which now draws artists from around the world.

“I’ve been an independent artist my whole life, and I believe in original art and the people who create it,” Carroll says. “Art lifts everyone it touches. We’re lucky to live in a community that really supports the arts. This year’s festival brings an incredible mix of work, and I’m proud to present Englewood’s 2026 Winter Art Festival.”

This festival is a dream for art lovers and collectors. You’ll find over 50 award-winning artists and craftsmen showing off everything from large watercolors, acrylics, and oils, to pottery, photography, mixed media, abstract paintings, creative crafts, sculpture, hand-blown glass, and one-of-a-kind jewelry. Honestly, there’s something for everyone.

Stop by from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. either day on January 24 or 25. The Englewood Elks Lodge will buzz with energy, and Beth Whisler’s Trucking Delicious food truck will be there both days dishing up homemade lunches, desserts, and drinks. Free parking makes things easy, too.

Round up your friends and family for a day of art, good food, and the chance to meet talented artists from around the country. You’ll be supporting original art and the people who pour their hearts into it.

Want directions or more details? Call Carroll Swayze at (941) 266-6434.

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