Thousands jam Lakewood Ranch Main Street for anniversary block party

LAKEWOOD RANCH -- For a 10th anniversary block party, Lakewood Ranch Main Street had all it could wish for Friday night.

Lots of people, thousands of them.

They jammed the street to listen to the band Shaman, or sign up for a club or organization. Some came to meet friends, have something to eat and drink, and maybe high-five a fellow in an 8-foot tall sandhill crane suit.

Barbara Knierim of the Empty Nester Club overheard someone say they had been at Lakewood Ranch two years and didn't know anyone.

"How can that happen? Everyone is so friendly," Knierim said while standing next to the women's soccer booth.

Roni Duthie, tossing a soccer ball in the air, said "moms and non-moms" can get out of the house and have fun and get fit.

"It's lovely," Duthie said.

The three-hour block party started at 6 p.m. and Main Street parking lot was already full at 5:59 p.m. Overflow parking was directed across the street.

In the first 10 minutes of the party, Gloria Kaminsky said she had already signed up two potential art club members.

Last year, she signed up for the art club and angler's club, and now was bringing in new members who paused at her table to look at the paintings.

Sally Cestero, who moved to East Manatee in 2014 from Virginia, attended the block party with her mother, daughter and chihuahua, who wore a glowing green collar.

"I love it," Cestero said, citing the crowd and small businesses on the street, especially the art studio where her daughter, Sara, spends a lot of time.

The party was a combined effort of the Main Street Merchants, Lakewood Ranch Community Activities and the Lakewood Ranch Business Alliance, which is celebrating its 10th anniversary.

Community Activities piggybacked its annual club day on the block party bringing out about 30 clubs looking for new members.

It's a month for anniversaries. Lakewood Ranch will celebrate its 20th anniversary from 6-9 p.m. Oct. 23 at Premier Sports Campus with a free party, complete with live music and fireworks.

James A. Jones Jr., East Manatee reporter, can be contacted at 941-745-7053 or on Twitter@jajones1.

This story was originally published October 16, 2015 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Thousands jam Lakewood Ranch Main Street for anniversary block party ."