Premier Sports Campus – Local Festivals
If you’re headed to the Premier Sports Campus in Lakewood Ranch, Florida, you’re probably attending a sporting event, such as soccer, lacrosse, rugby, or football. When you have some downtime, you might be in luck and find a local festival taking place.
This tight-knit community hosts events throughout the year, so check out the festivals below to see if one will be happening while you’re in Lakewood Ranch. All of the events are within driving distance from the Premier Sports Campus.
Seafood & Music Festival
Florida is well known for seafood, so it should come as no surprise that they have an entire festival dedicated to oceanic cuisine. In late November the Seafood & Music Festival takes place in Lakewood Ranch. General admission to the event is free. Festivities happen on Main Street, which is a 15-minute drive from the Premier Sports Campus.
At this festival, you can enjoy seafood dishes prepared by local restaurants. Ingredients are fresh and the seafood comes straight from Florida’s coast. Throughout the festivities, guests can try grouper, mahi, stone crabs, oysters, shrimp, and soft-shell crabs. If you are attending with friends but don’t care for seafood, there are other dishes available, such as Italian and Polish sausage, steak sandwiches, and chicken. There are also a few vegetarians items offered.
While you eat you can relax and listen to the live musical performances happening on stage. The genres range from R&B and jazz to big band and Caribbean sounds. As you listen and eat, you can walk around the festival’s marketplace as well.
Lakewood Ranch Spring Fine Art Festival
The free Lakewood Ranch Spring Fine Art Festival happens in late April. This event also runs on Main Street, putting it at about six and a half miles from the Premier Sports Campus. The event is open to everyone, artists and art enthusiasts alike. Whether you’re looking for artwork to put in your home or you simply want to support artists, all are welcome to come and appreciate art!
The artwork on display at this art festival is created by local, regional, and national artisans. Even the outdoor space is used, making it a gallery of original artwork. The pieces range from paintings and photography to sculptures and wearable art. Artists are there in case you have any questions or would like to purchase a piece.
Irish Celtic Festival
If you guessed that the Irish Celtic Festival happens in March around St. Patrick’s Day, you would be correct! We’re all Irish on St. Patty’s, so come out, dress in green, and enjoy the party. This one-day celebration takes place at Greenbrook Adventure Park. To get there, take a nine-minute drive from the Premier Sports Campus.
There’s a lot of entertainment at the Irish Celtic Festival. Traditional Irish food, craft beers, and hard ciders are for sale. As you eat, you can listen to live music performances. Children can partake in the Pot of Gold Scavenger Hunt and face painting. Men are encouraged to enter into the Best Legs in a Kilt contest.
There is also a relay race you can participate in. This isn’t your average relay race, however. Four stations set up every quarter mile. Run to the station and drink one 12-ounce beer. When the beer is finished, the next team member can begin. The team entry fee is $10.
It’s not just people invited to this event either. Dogs are invited too for the Lucky Dog Parade. Awards are handed out for the Most Irish Dog and Cutest Dog and Owner Look-Alike. All proceeds from the Lucky Dog Parade go to the Humane Society of Lakewood Ranch.
Exotic Car Festival
The Exotic Car Festival is a bit of a drive from the Premier Sports Campus because it is in Sarasota. Driving to Saint Armands Circle will take about 40 minutes, but it is worthwhile if you are a car enthusiast. It is also for a good cause since all the proceeds go to charity.
When the first Exotic Car Festival started in 2017, it was held in Lakewood Ranch and was a major success. The Ferrari Drivers Group of Sarasota moved the festival to Saint Armands Circle the following year. With its continued success comes raising even more money for charity. In 2018, the festival raised $50,000 for Flight To The North Pole.
Flight To The North Pole aims to bring gifts, lunch, and entertainment to terminally ill children in the Sarasota and Bradenton area. Volunteers dress as elves and clowns, and Santa is flown in on a helicopter to greet families and deliver presents.
At the Exotic Car Festival, you can view streets lined with stunning vehicles from Ferrari, Mercedes, BMW, Volkswagen, Porsche, Ford, and more. Attendees will even see a guest appearance from Santa. If you want to see some cool cars and donate to a meaningful cause, swing by Sarasota in late September.
Sarasota Pirates & Rum Festival
The rum is never gone at the Sarasota Pirates & Rum Festival. Celebrate international rum day in early October at The Van Wezel, which is about a 35-minute drive from the Premier Sports Campus. Tickets for this festival can be purchased online, and the prices vary depending on what package you opt for. This event also accepts donations to fight cancer.
Dress like a pirate and dive into this fantasy celebration. You can enjoy food and rum brands from around the world. There is live music playing throughout the night from reggae and jazz to R&B.