Lakewood Ranch offers a taste of your hometown with new festival

The premise sounds a little odd, but the event sure sounds like a load of fun.

It's called My Hometown Fest, and it's set for Saturday at the Premier Sports Campus in Lakewood Ranch. The people from Lakewood Ranch Community Activities and the Sertoma Club of Greater Sarasota, who are teaming up to organize the festival, say the idea is to help you relive memories of your hometown, and they're doing that by re-creating "the sights, sounds and tastes of growing up in your hometown."

The festival features food from all over the country, more than 60 craft beers from around the United States -- many of which have never been available in the Bradenton area before now -- and regional food prepared by 24 Bradenton-area restaurants.

The festival also features "regional activities" such as a mechanical bull ride, a black ops obstacle course and a Rocky Mountain climbing wall.

There's lots of live music, all from right around here. Twinkle and RockSoulRadio, Strangeways, Shoredogs and Dean Johanesen are all scheduled to perform.

Plus, the Tampa Bay Bucs Street Team will be there along with the Tampa Bay Lightning cheerleaders and mascot.

So, with the local music acts and all the people from local sports teams, the festival is probably more hometown-ish if you grew up around here. But it should be pretty cool no matter where you're from.

Details: Noon-6 p.m. April 9, Premier Sports Campus, 5895 Post Blvd, Lakewood Ranch. Tickets: $10-$40. Information: 941-757-1582, premiersportscampus.com.

-- Marty Clear

This story was originally published April 6, 2016 at 5:38 PM with the headline "Lakewood Ranch offers a taste of your hometown with new festival ."