Winterfest returns for second year encore

EAST COUNTY — For The Doobie Brothers vocalist and guitarist Tom Johnston, there’s something special about performing at small-town venues.

The four-time Grammy Award-winning band has performed at a range of national and international venues throughout its five decades of existence.

But the musician-fan connection is amplified at smaller venues, Johnston says.

“We build off each other,” Johnston says. “The band feeds off the energy of the crowd. We put the music out there and we see how people react to it. Shows in small towns, especially, have that great interaction between the audience and the group.”

The band is adding Lakewood Ranch to its list of smaller town venues. The Doobie Brothers will visit the Ranch for the first time when its members play at the second Winterfest, which begins at 1 p.m. Feb. 28, at Premier Sports Campus.

The festival will deliver in musical diversity, says Antonio Saviano, an event organizer.

WAR, Les Sabler, Sam Woolf, The Doobie Brothers and Thompson Square will perform throughout the event.

“This Winterfest will have a little bit of something for everyone’s music taste,” Saviano says. “This music is relatable to anyone, 16 to 65 or older.”

Students from the Del Couch Music Foundation will perform on the community stage throughout the day, as well.

A change from last year, this event will feature constant music.

“There won’t be any down, quiet time, even between sets,” Saviano says. “We will have music playing the whole day.”

Woolf, an 18-year-old Braden River High School graduate who landed a top-five spot on “American Idol” last year is the youngest performer.

“Having Sam Woolf will definitely give the festival a different, younger feeling this year,” Saviano says. “He has a younger following and that will help give us a good mix, alongside The Doobie Brothers and WAR fans.”

Winterfest will be Woolf’s last performance in the Ranch for a while, as he focuses on his music career in Nashville.

WAR and The Doobie Brothers have each sold more than 40 million albums worldwide throughout their careers.

This year’s event will feature an expanded children’s play area. Children can sprint through an inflatable obstacle, climb a rock wall, have their faces painted or maneuver around an obstacle course.

The event will also feature rides this year.

Saviano hopes the additional options will extend families’ stay at the all-day festival, which is designed to last until about 9 p.m.

To capture patrons’ attention when they arrive at the festival this year, stage placement is different: Musicians will face the entrance, and the main stage will face south toward State Road 70, instead of west toward Interstate 75.

Saviano says the slight change allows families to see the main attractions  immediately, rather than craning to see who’s on stage when they arrive.

Last year’s event drew 4,000 people, but this year, Saviano hopes more than 8,000 will attend.

“I would say we definitely took the festival up a notch this year,” Saviano says. “Our goal is to always kick it up one more notch.” If we have this event again next year, we’ll kick it up again.”

Contact Amanda Sebastiano at [email protected].

If you go
Winterfest at Lakewood Ranch
When: Gates open at noon; music starts at 1 p.m. Feb. 28

Where: Premier Sports Campus, 5895 Post Blvd., Lakewood Ranch

Cost: $45 for regular adult admission; $30 for seniors and veterans; free for children 12
and younger. VIP packages are also available.

Info: The all-day music festival features food, games
and performances by The Doobie Brothers, Sam Woolf, Les Sabler and Thompson Square, along with other local musicians.

Visit Lwrwinterfest.com