Many residents would argue that every day is paradise on the Suncoast, but on Aug. 19, that status is official.Â
In 2024, the Sarasota Paradise soccer team won the South Florida Division title, so the city of Sarasota declared Aug. 19 as Sarasota Paradise Day.Â
The semi-pro team made the Premier Sports Campus its home for the 2025 season and won the title again. The Paradise is going pro in 2026 with the USL League One — an accomplishment worthy of a celebration.Â
Soccer fans and the community at large were invited to Premier Aug. 19 for an evening of music, food, face painting, carnival games and, of course, soccer.
There were two goals, multiple soccer balls and dozens of aspiring soccer stars running around the grass.Â
Bradenton’s Damon Haines, 3, normally loves to play soccer, but the party also included a popcorn machine. He opted to keep his eyes on his bag of popcorn instead of the ball.Â
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Adam Altman, account executive for the Sarasota Paradise, greets guests at the Premier Sports Campus Aug. 19 for Sarasota Paradise Day.
Photo by Lesley Dwyer
Soccer balls keep the kids entertained.
Photo by Lesley Dwyer
Bradenton's Leonardo Contreras, 6, plays cornhole.
Photo by Lesley Dwyer
Nat Keza is the party's DJ.
Photo by Lesley Dwyer
Waterside's Asani Simmons is a good kicker for 3 years old.
Photo by Lesley Dwyer
Felipe Rojas is a player for the Sarasota Paradise and also the team's head of Marketing.
Photo by Lesley Dwyer
Lakewood Ranch's Matthew DeFelic and Luca Di Meo dance near the DJ. The 10-year-olds play soccer for the Lakewood Ranch Chargers.
Photo by Lesley Dwyer
Andrew Sapienza draws a caricature of 7-year-old Gia Di Meo.
Photo by Lesley Dwyer
Palmetto's Demetri Murray, 3, and Tristan Murray, 2, can't stop smiling after having their faces painted.
Photo by Lesley Dwyer
Bradenton's Damon Haines, 3, can't get enough of the popcorn.
Photo by Lesley Dwyer
Lakewood Ranch's Gia Di Meo's carnival talent is to walk around in a backbend.
Lesley Dwyer is a staff writer for East County and a graduate of the University of South Florida. After earning a bachelor’s degree in professional and technical writing, she freelanced for the Sarasota Herald-Tribune. Lesley has lived in the Sarasota area for over 25 years.
