Music on Main provides entertainment for all ages in Lakewood Ranch

By Liz Ramos
| 9:15 a.m. February 3, 2024

Lakewood Ranch 6-year-old Aurlyn Esler holds on as tight as she can to see how long she can last on the bull.

East County
Neighbors

Lakewood Ranch 6-year-old Aurlyn Esler jumped onto a mechanical bull Feb. 1 at Main Street at Lakewood Ranch and held on as tight as possible.

As the bull started moving, she used all her strength to stay on.

After a few seconds, and with the bull's speed being cranked upward, Esler fell off.

"It was funny when I fell off," she said. "I felt like I was flying."

While the mechanical bull stayed busy, many other entertainment choices were available, including the main attraction — Kettle of Fish. People also came to support the Sarasota Manatee Association for Riding Therapy, which brought some mini horses.

Every Music on Main supports a regional nonprofit, and SMART benefitted on Friday.

Rudy Keezer, Andrea Keezer, Angela Williams and Rosemary Stack volunteer for Sarasota Manatee Association for Riding Therapy, which was the nonprofit that benefitted from Music on Main.

A sea of people in lawn and folding chairs take over Main Street at Lakewood Ranch.

Kettle of Fish draws a large crowd at Music on Main.

People are up moving and grooving as Kettle of Fish performs.

Dana Lawrence with Kettle of Fish performs at Music on Main.

East County's Phyllis Haan busts a move while Kettle of Fish performs.

East County 2-year-old Collette Harris and Rudy Jergovic dance the night away.

Lakewood Ranch 6-year-old Vivian Bodamer and 4-year-old Brody Bodamer feed Rocky, a mini horse, with the help of Ellie Wenzke, a volunteer for Sarasota Manatee Association for Riding Therapy.

Rhysand Heller, who is 14 months old, plays Connect 4 with Macala Heller, who is a volunteer for Grace Community Church.

Sarasota's Heather Venetta takes in Music on Main for the first time while Sarasota's Dave Votaw attends regularly.

Lakewood Ranch's Janice Cox and Donna Kochno make their way down Main Street at Lakewood Ranch.

Lola, a goat from Blissful Goat Yoga, visits people at Music on Main.

author

Liz Ramos

Managing Editor Liz Ramos previously covered education and community for the East County Observer. Before moving to Florida, Liz was an education reporter for the Lynchburg News & Advance in Virginia for two years after graduating from the Missouri School of Journalism.