St. Patrick’s Day block party fills downtown streets with green

By Ian Swaby
| 10:00 a.m. March 18, 2024

Jennifer Bobkoskie, Paul Gilliland, Vicki and James Stewart, Jeffrey Scavinski and Cindy Bowman

Sarasota
Neighbors

On the eve of St. Patrick's Day, many residents of Sarasota were feeling lucky to call Sarasota home.

“It’s so much fun downtown,” said Cindy Bowman, who said she has enjoyed living in the area since 1991.

The Block Party at Gator Club on Saturday, March 16 invited the public to celebrate the holiday in downtown Sarasota.

Attendees, overwhelmingly dressed in green, packed the streets alongside the bar to enjoy some of the sights and sounds of the evening.

The event featured music by the band 22N, Johnny Diamond and DJ Kelly Crawford, as well as food by Smokin Momma Lora's BBQ, Fo'Cheezy Food Truck and Wings-N-Things.

Tents along the street also offered a plentiful supply of beer and other drinks.

“We’re looking forward to the band,” said Paige Haggbloom upon arriving at the event.

“We love it. We love to get the party started,” said Rita Mosor, expressing enthusiasm for the restaurants and open-air bars.

Valerie Wood's bird Taco (pictured with her brother, Parrish's Pohlen Lyle) brought a touch of green to the scene.

Attendees filled out the area around the stage.

Gord Maclean, Charlie Bloom and Tracy Brice enjoy a chat.

Michael Roberts, David Lay and Kristen Lee of the band 22N headlined the event.

Tommy Hill and Sarah Schmitz order a meal from Lora MIller of Smokin' Momma Lora's BBQ.

Jerome Sousa with his Long Haired German Shepherds Tuska and Kaiser

Pixie Ziegler enjoys the atmosphere of the event.

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.