A free block party on Main Street, a hands-on AI class at the library and the award-winning Farmers' Market at Waterside Place top a packed week of community events across Lakewood Ranch.

Here's what's happening Aug. 27 through Sept. 4.

Thursday, Aug. 27

Casual Cornhole: 10–11 a.m. at Waterside Place, 7500 Island Cove Terrace. The weekly drop-in game is open to all skill levels.

Readin' at the Ranch Book Club: 1 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. at Lakewood Ranch Library, 16410 Rangeland Parkway. The group is discussing "The Correspondent" by Virginia Evans.

AI Workshop: 6–7:30 p.m. at Lakewood Ranch Library, 16410 Rangeland Parkway. The session covers ChatGPT's interface, prompting techniques and image generation basics. Registration is required at manateelibrary.libcal.com/event/16410722.

Thursday Live Music Nights: 6–9 p.m. at Remy's on Main, 8138 Lakewood Main St. Pianist Joe Thayer, a full-time local musician since 2008, performs classics from the American Songbook alongside hits from Billy Joel, Elton John and Van Morrison.

Saturday, Aug. 29

Karate Zoo: 9:30–10 a.m. at Bob Gardner Community Park, 2710 White Eagle Blvd. The progression-based martial arts program for children runs weekly through Sept. 26 (no class Sept. 5).

Sunday, Aug. 30

Yoga in the Park: 8–9 a.m. at Waterside Place, 7301 Island Cove Terrace. Free outdoor yoga, held weekly.

Farmers' Market at Lakewood Ranch: 10 a.m.–2 p.m. at Waterside Place, 1560 Lakefront Drive. More than 100 local vendors sell organic produce, flowers, specialty spices, honey, fresh bread, baked goods, prepared foods and jewelry. Live music and a Kids' Zone round out the morning. The market won Gold for Best Local Farmers Market in SRQ Magazine's Best of 2026 awards, and vendor Sarasota Honey Co. took Platinum for Best Booth.

Wednesday, Sept. 2

Sunset Volleyball: 6–8 p.m. at Waterside Place, 7301 Island Cove Terrace. Weekly pickup volleyball for players ready to jump in without instruction.

Friday, Sept. 4: Music on Main

The biggest draw of the stretch lands on Friday, Sept. 4: Music on Main, 6–9 p.m. on Main Street, Lakewood Ranch. The free concert series and block party features food vendors, beer trucks, sponsor booths, inflatables and kids' activities. Jump Start Band will perform classic danceable rock from the 1960s through the 1980s. Proceeds will benefit Save Our Seabirds.

The Lakewood Ranch Community Foundation served as the beneficiary at the April 3 Music on Main, where board members, staff and volunteers managed a refreshment truck and operated a tent and spin wheel, according to the foundation's newsletter. In 26 years, the foundation has distributed more than $1.8 million to area nonprofits and planned to grant $250,000 in 2026, according to its June newsletter.

Kate Mulligan, the foundation's executive director, said in June that the organization is focused on broadening its donor base: "It's terrific because we're trying to reach new people and tell them about the work that we do."

Looking ahead

A 9/11 Commemoration is set for 8:30–10 a.m. Friday, Sept. 11, at Greenbrook Adventure Park Pavilion, 13010 Adventure Place. Complimentary coffee and donuts will be provided; registration at tinyurl.com/3ffmumns. That evening, Movie in the Park screens "Toy Story 5" at 7 p.m. at Waterside Park, 7301 Island Cove Terrace, with inflatables for kids and a free frozen banana from Nana's Bananas for the first 163 attendees courtesy of Grace Community Church.