- July 26, 2024
Loading
Keisha Boyd of Armed Forces Brewing Co. offers a brew to Sarasota's Pam Hogan.
Photo by Ian SwabyRick Mongaya performs with Mylon & The Pop-Ups.
Photo by Ian SwabyKara Nally of The Kara Nally Band dances to live music by Kettle of Fish.
Photo by Ian SwabyThe Jet's Pizza stand was staffed by Sarasota's Dan Hogue and Kathy Hogue, and the restaurant's owner, Sarasota's Michelle Gregg
Photo by Ian SwabyVenice's Caitlin and Michael Rennell meet Noodles, a Goldendoodle who is part of the family of Bradenton's Veronica and Neil Anderson.
Photo by Ian SwabyKelly's Roast Beef franchise owner for UTC, Jeff Doward, prepares sample sandwiches.
Photo by Ian SwabyThe festival was held at Nathan Benderson Park.
Photo by Ian SwabySarasota 16-year-old Olivia Bains enjoy the nice weather with her mother Patty Ordonez, who decided to attend the event because it fell on her birthday this year.
Photo by Ian SwabyKarissa Souza and Dennis Németh of The Love Vault speak with Sarasota's Katie Petrovich.
Photo by Ian SwabyMyakka City's John Matson, Bradenton's Frank Reyes, and Sarasota's John Saporito
Photo by Ian SwabySarasota's Joseph King and Lakewood Ranch's Karen Mann
Photo by Ian SwabyVenice's Veronica and Neil Anderson, their children, 2-year-old Michaela Anderson, 2-year-old Makenna Anderson, and 3-year-old Helena Anderson, and their Goldendoodle Noodles
Photo by Ian SwabyThe Hancock Whitney stand was staffed by Sarasota's Tony Gabriel, Sarasota's Amy McKenna, and Lakewood Ranch's Cherri Kessler.
Photo by Ian SwabyThe Merly Mae's Filipino Catering stand included Kerwin Arnejo, business owner Merly Mae Soliano, Nora Stevens, Phoebe Perez, and Kristel Stroble.
Photo by Ian SwabyManatee Technical College student Paula Cardenas creates watermelon and feta offerings.
Photo by Ian SwabyLakewood Ranch's Greg Broderick and Bradenton's Sarah Moore
Photo by Ian SwabyJill Michel of Vermonti Cannoli offers a cannoli sample to Dennis Németh of The Love Vault.
Photo by Ian SwabyLakewood Ranch's Jay and Jennifer Doward
Photo by Ian SwabyTarts made by Manatee Technical College students await the public's consumption.
Photo by Ian SwabyTim Self, the membership chair at the Sertoma Club of Greater Sarasota, said when he reached his 50th birthday 10 years ago, he began thinking about the need to attract younger people to the club to help children and adults with speech, language and hearing challenges.
To raise awareness, the club eventually added a festival that could offer something for everyone, bringing in Gold Coast Eagle Distributing to organize the event.
The eighth annual My Hometown Fest was held at Nathan Benderson Park in Sarasota on March 25.
“This is not just Sarasota — it’s your hometown, my hometown, their hometown,” he said while enjoying the event.
Self said food and beers from around the country are available at the festival. He said this year's fest featured about 25 restaurants and 75 craft beers and has raised over $100,000 across the previous seven years for Sertoma Club of Greater Sarasota and Sertoma Kids Speech and Language Center.
Merly Soliano, a former manager at Patricks 1481 on Main Street in Sarasota, said she came to the festival to spread the word about Merly Mae’s Filipino Catering, a Sarasota catering service she hopes to open by May, filling what she said was a need for Filipino food in the area.
"Every time I have a party at the house, all of my friends — Filipino and American friends — all love my food,” she said.
Doug Wagner, deputy superintendent of operations of the School District of Manatee County, said the festival offered an opportunity for students at Manatee Technical College to showcase their culinary skills. The wide array of light bites and desserts at the college’s food stand, he said, were the students’ own creations.
“It’s nice to be able to demonstrate what you learned at school,” said an MTC student, Bradenton’s Crystal Solano. “It’s also nice because it helps the foundation.”
Sarasota’s Jill Michel said the festival was an opportunity for her to promote her newly established business, Vermonti Cannoli, which she found was a hit with her friends in her former home of Vermont. She said her cannoli are distinguished by their unique flavors including chocolate peanut butter, lemon, pistachio and coconut.
“It’s a mutual benefit,” said Sarasota’s John Saporito, who was attending the event. “The businesses get the word and their product out, and people get to come and see what they have to offer. There are a lot of hidden gems in Sarasota.”