Star-Spangled Spectacular tests the limits of Waterside

Sometimes, things just go right.

Consider Schroeder-Manatee Ranch's decision to host a July 4 event at Waterside Place.

In the past, it never seemed to be an issue, letting that holiday pass without anything special being held on Lakewood Ranch ground.

It's hot on July 4. Real hot, and often humid. Who wants to be sweaty?

And then, there's that pesky lightning, and rain.

But the residents let SMR know they wanted something special right here so they didn't need to cross Interstate 75 to attend someone else's celebration. SMR listened, and then delivered.

It's not popular to give a developer a pat on the back for a job well done, but come on people, this was a major win.

Star-Spangled Spectacular was a hit, and I would imagine it is an event that will be held on an annual basis for years to come.

Thousands of people jammed into Waterside Place to enjoy carnival games, the restaurants, a magical circus show, and a drone show to cap the evening. 

Was it crowded? Yes. Think of walking down Main Street at Walt Disney World an hour before closing.

I'm not joking. It was like pushing your way past shoppers in the Detwiler's produce aisle at noon on Saturday.

When you are talking about attending a special event, though, that's not a bad thing.

Sure it would be nice if roller-skating sensations Anita and Karoly Zeman would do their act in your backyard, but that isn't likely. To see them, for free, it's going to be a packed house. That's not to mention all the other Circus Arts Conservatory entertainers who gave us a taste of what makes them so very special.

I am sure over the next few weeks, you are going to hear some parking horror stories. Think of UTC's annual holiday parade, where the moans and groans last for weeks after one of the region's premier and beloved events. It's like the Yogi Berra quote, "Nobody goes there anymore because it's so crowded." 

The residents wanted this event, and they kept coming until Waterside Place could hold no more. SMR has estimated that more than 8,000 people attended the event.

About 9:15 p.m., when I went to my car, which was parked in the lot that at one time was supposed to be the Players Theatre, I had to weave through cars that were parked in areas that weren't meant for vehicles. If there was an opening in the landscape, there was a car on it.

If they could have parked in the trees, there would have been cars there, too.

After leaving the lot and heading down Deer Drive, there were lots of cars parked on the median, and in grass areas on each side of the road ... again, places that weren't meant for cars. Traffic was so heavy coming out of Waterside Place — and I beat most of the crowd to my car — that I couldn't turn toward Lakewood Ranch Boulevard on Deer Drive. Instead, I went the opposite way, eventually hitting University Parkway and making my way to Lorraine Road. It was a bit out of the way, but it worked well.

Popular events can get crazy, so you just need to be prepared, and having a bit of a plan.

I arrived at Waterside Place about 5 p.m. for the event, which was billed as a 6 p.m. starting time. The lot where I parked was empty, other than perhaps a car or two. There had been threats of storms all day, so I admit that I was a bit worried that the first Star-Spangled Spectacular was going to be a flop in terms of attendance.

SMR had a strong social media presence, making sure as many people as possible knew the event was rain or shine. I guess the message got through.

I knew I was going to be early for the entertainment, so I headed to Agave Bandido for happy hour tacos. Along the way, I came upon Lakewood Ranch Communities' Grace Flowers, Nicole Hackel and Taylor Riffle, who helped deliver the event. They were a bit nervous, too, that Waterside Place was virtually empty at the time.

In the time it took me to eat two tacos, the streets of Waterside Place filled to capacity.

I loved walking past the families who were enjoying all those carnival games. Parents stood outside the inflatables, patiently waiting for their children to bounce their final bounce. You could swing the hammer and try to ring the bell, negotiate the twisty ladder, throw the plastic ax or win a small prize in a host of other games.

People who had the drone show at the top of their list began setting up chairs along Kingfisher Lake by 6 p.m. Some actually sat for three hours waiting for the show. Many of them arrived on shuttles that took them back and forth between off-site parking lots.

The point is, that if you planned ahead, and arrived early, you had no problem parking at Waterside Place or taking in any of the entertainment.

I am a big fan of fireworks, although I knew the close proximity of all those homes along Kingfisher Lake makes that a tough proposition for Star-Spangled Spectacular in the future. After attending the first event, I would imagine any thought of fireworks is likely dead.

At 8,000 people or more, Waterside Place had to be close to capacity, if not at the limit, so fireworks would likely create a situation where people would have to be turned away.

The possibilities, though, for Waterside Place in general are interesting, and exciting. If you can host more than 8,000 spectators for July 4, what would it be like for a major concert, or festival?

What will SMR do next?