Black Friday Block Party offers post-Thanksgiving excitement

By Ian Swaby
| 9:10 a.m. December 2, 2024

Alyssa Saggese, Justin Fiedler and Cameron Dempsey

Sarasota
Neighbors

At a time that many were heading to stores on Black Friday, Nov. 29, others were heading downtown to 99 Bottles Taproom & Bottle Shop for its first Black Friday Block Party.

"It's a good alternative to shopping," said Cassie Louise. "They should keep doing it."

Featuring the release of the Goose Island 2024 Bourbon County Brand Stout, the event also included vendors Clean Plate Club SRQ and Vesuvius Wood Fired Pizza, live music by three bands, a cornhole tournament by SoCo Club Sports and more.

"Our intention was to celebrate the one of the kings of craft beer — that is Goose Island Brewery out of Chicago, Illinois, and we wanted to give a fun outdoor community event for everybody that is in town to celebrate Thanksgiving and looking for something to do the day after," said " 99 Bottles Owner Mark Tuchman.

While the event was underway, he said turnout had been excellent, with a little rain from 5 to 6 p.m., but with everyone ready to have "a lot of fun" until 9 p.m.

Stephanie Springstroh talks with Johnny and Michele Mouradian.

Sarah Guerino, Hugo, Adam Guerino and Aldo Guerino

Janet Guzman brought along her pugs Kiwi and Kalua.

Kaitlyn Fusco and Kathryn Gentile represented Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium.

Jason Chupp, and Steve Arsenault, owner of SoCo Club Sport, which provided the cornhole games, play a round of cornhole.

The block party took place during the afternoon and evening of Black Friday.

Allie Walbrown pours a Goose Island beer.

Sal Piccolo and his dog Maggie May see Piccolo's friend Melissa Ehrmann.

Mark Tuchman and former city manager Marlon Brown

Christina Olson and Ryder Olson, 5, visit Allie Walbrown at the counter.

Cletus Beechy and Andrew Gonzalez show the mugs they received as the champions of the cornhole torunament.

author

Ian Swaby

Ian Swaby is the Sarasota neighbors writer for the Observer. Ian is a Florida State University graduate of Editing, Writing, and Media and previously worked in the publishing industry in the Cayman Islands.