We have a terrific first weekend of August ahead of us on the Gulf Coast. The Florida State DanceSport Championships bring world-class competition to the Ritz-Carlton, Laser Light Nights keep lighting up the dome at The Bishop Museum, the Taste of the Ranch culinary event wraps up its final weekend at Waterside Place, and Music on Main returns on Friday, August 7. Here is my full guide to what is happening and why you should get out there.
Florida State DanceSport Championships at the Ritz-Carlton
The Florida State DanceSport Championships take place Friday, August 1 through Sunday, August 2 at the Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota (1111 Ritz-Carlton Drive). This is a spectacular event featuring professional and pro-am ballroom dancers from across the country and around the world. Think glittering gowns, sharp tuxedos, and some of the most athletic dancing you will ever see live.
The competition runs from morning through evening both days, with different divisions and age categories taking the floor throughout the weekend. The Ritz-Carlton's bayfront ballroom is a stunning setting, with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking Sarasota Bay. Even if you have never seen competitive ballroom dancing before, the energy is infectious. I went for the first time a few years ago and ended up staying for hours. Tickets are available at the door. If you are a dancer yourself, you can register to compete -- but even as a spectator, it is a memorable way to spend a summer weekend.
Laser Light Nights at The Bishop Museum
Laser Light Nights continue at The Bishop Museum of Science and Nature (201 10th Street West, on the bayfront south of downtown) on Saturday evenings through August. These are immersive laser concerts projected onto the 60-foot dome of the Planetarium, with shows set to music from classic rock to pop to hip-hop. The 7 p.m. and 8 p.m. shows are family-friendly, while the 9 p.m. show is a 21+ adults-only experience.
The Bishop Museum itself is worth a visit before the show -- the Parker Manatee Rehabilitation Habitat is home to resident manatees, and the current "Forests of the Sea" exhibit explores the vital role of mangrove ecosystems in Florida's coastal environment. It is the perfect combination: explore the museum during the day, grab dinner nearby, and end the evening under the stars of the Planetarium dome. Tickets are $12 for members and $15 for non-members.
A Taste of the Ranch: Final Weekend at Waterside Place
A Taste of the Ranch wraps up its run on Saturday, August 1 at Waterside Place in Lakewood Ranch (7500 Island Cove Terrace). This culinary event features prix-fixe menus from 16-plus restaurants: two-course brunch or lunch for $25 and three-course dinner for $45. It has been running since July 18, and this is your last chance to participate.
Participating restaurants include the Waterside Place mainstays like Freckled Fin, Overture Coffee, Ford's Garage, and several others. The $25 lunch and $45 dinner prix-fixe menus are an incredible value for exploring new places. I have been twice during the event -- once for brunch at Overture and once for dinner at Freckled Fin -- and both were excellent. Waterside Place is about 15 minutes from Palmer Ranch up University Parkway, and the plaza is lovely in the summer evenings with its fountains, green space, and outdoor seating.
Music on Main Returns August 7
Looking ahead to next week, Music on Main returns to Main Street Lakewood Ranch on Friday, August 7, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. This is a free monthly street party that closes down Main Street to traffic and fills it with live music, food vendors, beer trucks, and the whole community dancing in the street. This month's featured band is Ya Ya & The Diamond Chasers, and the event benefits HOPE Family Services.
Music on Main is one of my favorite recurring events in the area. The energy is always fantastic, the food is great, and it is a wonderful way to spend a summer evening. Bring a chair or a blanket, grab dinner from one of the food trucks, and settle in for live music under the stars. It is about 15 minutes from Palmer Ranch up University Parkway.
Saturday Sarasota Farmers Market
The Sarasota Farmers Market continues every Saturday from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Main Street and Lemon Avenue. August is the peak of summer produce season: local sweet corn, tomatoes, mangoes, figs, peaches, and fresh herbs are all abundant right now. The market has a wonderfully relaxed pace in the summer months, with smaller crowds than the winter season and live acoustic music adding to the atmosphere.
If you are thinking about making a move to the Gulf Coast, now is a wonderful time to explore what the area has to offer. Browse the communities or reach out to me directly. I would love to help you find your place on the Gulf Coast.