The band Funky Bonez brings a "Neon New Year Party" to the Green at UTC on Jan 2.
Photo by Lesley Dwyer
East County
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University Town Center was lit up with more than Christmas lights Jan. 2.
Funky Bonez brought a “Neon New Year Party” to 2025’s first installment of UTC Live on The Green.
Dressed in head-to-toe neon, the band members glowed on stage. Their headdresses crossed punk rock Mohawks with Day of the Dead sugar skulls.
More importantly, the band had nearly everyone dancing.
Who can sit through the 1980’s hit “Celebration” by the Kool & the Gang? During “Rapper’s Delight” by the Sugarhill Gang, lead singer Johnny Bonez stepped off the stage and danced with the crowd.
“The people sitting, we don’t know them,” joked Sarasota’s Nan McArthy. “Everybody from our group is on the dance floor.”
McArthy was with the Sarasota Over 50 Meetup Group. She said it’s not a singles group, but a social group of over 6,000 residents.
The activities go way beyond dancing. Members meet to bowl, play pickleball, watch football games, you name it.
“Whatever your interest, you’ll find something,” McArthy said.
The band Funky Bonez brings a "Neon New Year Party" to the Green at UTC on Jan 2.
Photo by Lesley Dwyer
Johnny Bonez steps off stage and into the crowd to perform "Rapper's Delight" by the Sugarhill Gang.
Photo by Lesley Dwyer
Sarasota's Johnny Luciano spins Laura Harper on the dance floor.
Photo by Lesley Dwyer
East County's Tay Johnson holds 11-year-old Sully.
Photo by Lesley Dwyer
The Funky Bonez perform at the Green at UTC on Jan. 2.
Photo by Lesley Dwyer
Cathy Watkins, Wayne Brockman, Kenneth Barley, Nan McArthy and Doug Hudson belong to a meetup group for Sarasota residents who are 50 and older.
Photo by Lesley Dwyer
Bradenton's Jody Reynolds and Sarasota's John Burgstiner take a quick break from dancing.
Photo by Lesley Dwyer
The Meadows Donna Scully dances in her seat.
Photo by Lesley Dwyer
Bradenton's Sonia Wolfe and Sun City's Shelley Hughes dance in front of the stage.
Photo by Lesley Dwyer
Chuck Reedy is the bass player for Funky Bonez.
Photo by Lesley Dwyer
The drummer's neon mohawk commands attention from the back of the stage.
Photo by Lesley Dwyer
The Meadows Cathy and Greg Zaremba snag a table next to the dance floor.
Photo by Lesley Dwyer
The Green at UTC was transformed into a disco on Jan. 2.
Photo by Lesley Dwyer
Residents danced into the new year at 2025's first installment of UTC Live on The Green Jan. 2.
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.
