While the star of Ranch Nite Wednesdays is a street full of food trucks, there are plenty of other reasons to visit Waterside Place on Wednesday nights.
The entire area was packed March 26.
Country Club East’s Cary Verasco took the opportunity to play miniature golf with his 5-year-old son Jack.
Sharky's Events & Inflatables sets up a 9-hole course in Gateway Park once a month for Ranch Nites.
In the plaza, Prodigal Sons was entertaining a huge crowd with some classic rock tunes, and the Sarasota Paradise soccer team had player Seth Heiland doing tricks in the street.
Heiland was also kicking the soccer ball to anyone who met his eyeline. The Paradise started setting up a tent at Ranch Nites in January.
“We just want to raise awareness and let people know we exist,” Director of Operations Tim Jansen said.
Around the corner, cornhole players lined both sides of the street for the MVP Sports & Social Cornhole league, which is the biggest in the nation.
Over the bridge, Waterside Park was abuzz with activity, too.
The Sarasota Surge Rugby Club was practicing on the lawn, and the playground was packed.
The volleyball courts were also full. Sunset Volleyball, a series of pickup games, is held every Wednesday, even after Ranch Nites end for the summer.
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East County's Seth Heiland launches a bean bag during a game of cornhole.
Photo by Lesley Dwyer
Country Club East's Cary Verasco teaches his 5-year-old son Jack how to putt.
Photo by Lesley Dwyer
Brenda Kenyon is working for her son Justin Kenyon, owner of Sharky's Events & Inflatables, which sets up a 9-hole miniature golf course at Gateway Park once a month during Ranch Nite Wednesdays.
Photo by Lesley Dwyer
Sarasota's Eyal and Lacey Ohana are ready to dig into some wood-fired pizza.
Photo by Lesley Dwyer
Tim Jansen, director of operations for the Sarasota Paradise soccer team, and player Seth Heiland entertain the crowd with a soccer ball.
Photo by Lesley Dwyer
Lakewood Ranch's Bob Monzione and Roy Mura play in the MVP Sports & Social cornhole league.
Photo by Lesley Dwyer
Sarasota band Prodigal Sons plays a Grateful Dead tune for the crowd in the plaza.
Photo by Lesley Dwyer
Glenn and Donita Galbraith's 2-year-old Black Mouth Cur mix Barney is ready for anything that drops out of a to-go box.
Photo by Lesley Dwyer
The Buonissimo truck offers samples to entice customers.
Photo by Lesley Dwyer
Wisconsin snowbirds Connie Wiersma and Sue Kennedy Kallio indulge in some ice cream from Kilwins.
Photo by Lesley Dwyer
Erika McNeill plays for the Sarasota Surge Rugby Club, which practices in Waterside Park on Wednesday nights.
Photo by Lesley Dwyer
Rugby players Odin LeRoux, 9, and Tucker Holowaychuk, 10, goof off in between drills.
Photo by Lesley Dwyer
Sunset Volleyball is a series of pickup games every Wednesday at Waterside Park.
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.
