A free block party with live music, food trucks and kids' inflatables takes over Lakewood Ranch Main Street on Friday, kicking off a stretch of community events running through mid-August at Waterside Place and Main Street.

Music on Main runs 6-9 p.m. The street fills with food vendors, beer trucks, sponsor booths and bounce houses, all open to the public at no charge, according to the event listing at LWRmainstreet.com. Proceeds will benefit a local nonprofit organization; the specific beneficiary has not been announced. At the April 3 edition, the Lakewood Ranch Community Foundation served as beneficiary, with board members and volunteers staffing a refreshment truck and prize spin wheel, according to the foundation's May newsletter.

Movie in the Park on Aug. 14

Families can cap the stretch with Movie in the Park on Aug. 14 at Waterside Park, 7301 Island Cove Terrace. Inflatables open at 7 p.m., and "The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie" screens 7-9 p.m.

Grace Community Church is providing a free serving of Not Your Momma's Mac from the Rollin With Hart food truck to the first 130 attendees. Bring blankets or lawn chairs. Seating is first come, first served, and concessions will be available.

Weekly events at Waterside Place

The nationally ranked Farmers' Market at Lakewood Ranch runs 10 a.m.-2 p.m. every Sunday at Waterside Place, 1561 Lakefront Drive, with more than 100 vendors, a Kids' Zone and live music. The market was ranked No. 1 in the nation by American Farmland Trust's 2025 celebration, topping nearly 1,300 markets, and won gold in SRQ Magazine's Best of 2026 awards.

"They stay for the live music. They bring their kids and bring them to do activities in the kids' zone. It's an all-inclusive location," Nicole Hackel, Lakewood Ranch's events and resident experience manager, told Sarasota Magazine in October when the market earned its national ranking.

Other recurring weekly events: Casual Cornhole, Thursdays 10-11 a.m. at Waterside Place (7500 Island Cove Terrace); Yoga in the Park, Sundays 8-9 a.m. (7301 Island Cove Terrace); and Sunset Volleyball, Wednesdays 6-8 p.m. (7301 Island Cove Terrace).

Coming up

  • Wednesday — Live Music at Remy's on Main, 6-9 p.m., 8138 Lakewood Main St. Pianist Joe Thayer plays Billy Joel, Elton John and American Songbook classics.
  • Friday, Aug. 7 — Music on Main, 6-9 p.m., Main Street. Free.
  • Aug. 14 — Movie in the Park, 7-9 p.m., Waterside Park. Free food for first 130 attendees.