Fresh Fridays block party helps kicks off the new year

By Ian Swaby
| 3:00 p.m. January 12, 2025

Cesar Lopez of The Danny Bub Combo plays the trumpet.

Sarasota
Neighbors

Not long after the Pineapple Drop on New Year's Eve, the public was in downtown again, to State Street, for January's Fresh Fridays event, "New Year on the Block."

Chris Voelker, chair of the Downtown Improvement District, called the experience of seeing the community celebrating together, to the music of The Danny Bub Combo, "amazing."

"I think there's some real jubilation about starting this year," she said. "It was a tough year last year, so to be able to celebrate the New Year with our whole community out here, with great music and dancing, it doesn't get any better."

Over 30 Fresh Fridays events have been held in Downtown Sarasota across the past four years, said Joseph Grano, Jr., president of Next-Mark, the marketing agency that organizes the events.

The current season of events, which concludes in June, will offer a variety of themes, with the love-themed Hearts & Soul on Palm set to take place on Palm Avenue next month.

Jonathan Miller of The Danny Bub Combo performs for the crowds.

Lisa Vila and Kia Ebr near the end of a game of Jenga.

Greg Kaiser, Chelsea Day and Jimmy Brunke watch the Jenga game from their seat at State Street Eating House + Cocktails.

Lisa Vila and Kia Ebr's game of Jenga comes to a close.

Madeleine Krebs of The Danny Bub Combo meets attendees Cindy Garren and Cecily Reading.

Otto Katona and Boglarka Veres watch the live music.

Mark Heffner and Race Arande enjoy a game of cornhole.

Scott Malouf, Christine Williams, living statue perfomer Joe Abel, Teri Tillaart and Terry Tillaart gather together.

Kathy Burke accepts a drink from Faith Railey.

Madeleine Krebs of The Danny Bub Combo sings a solo.

Brandon Rattray, Darin Hudak and Luke Evans play a game of Jenga.

The Danny Bub Combo performs on State Street.

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.