• Alternate Text
  • Loading

  • Sand Bucket List
  • Health Observed
  • Crossword
  • Contests
  • Newsletters
  • e-Newspaper App
  • Longboat
    • News
    • Cops Corner
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Opinion
  • East County
    • News
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Schools
    • Sports
    • Opinion
  • Sarasota
    • News
    • Cops Corner
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Schools
    • Sports
    • Opinion
    • Siesta Key
  • Arts + Entertainment
    • Eat + Drink
    • Arts + Culture
    • Reviews
    • Things To Do
    • Black Tie
    • Spotlight Partners
  • Elections
  • Galleries
  • More
    • Hurricane Season
    • Health Observed
    • Sand Bucket List
    • Celebrations
    • Contests
    • Tributes
    • Submit a Celebration
    • Submit a Tribute
    • Public Notices
    • Classifieds
  • Longboat
    • Longboat
    • News
    • Cops Corner
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Opinion
  • East County
    • East County
    • News
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Schools
    • Sports
    • Opinion
  • Sarasota
    • Sarasota
    • News
    • Cops Corner
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Schools
    • Sports
    • Opinion
    • Siesta Key
  • Arts + Entertainment
    • Arts + Entertainment
    • Eat + Drink
    • Arts + Culture
    • Reviews
    • Things To Do
    • Black Tie
    • Spotlight Partners
  • Elections
  • Galleries
  • More
    • More
    • Hurricane Season
    • Health Observed
    • Sand Bucket List
    • Celebrations
    • Contests
    • Tributes
    • Submit a Celebration
    • Submit a Tribute
    • Public Notices
    • Classifieds
  • Sand Bucket List
  • Health Observed
  • Crossword
  • Contests
  • Newsletters
  • e-Newspaper App

Crowd jams final Ranch Nite Wednesdays of the season

The weekly event runs October through May at Waterside Place in Lakewood Ranch.


  • By Madison Bierl
  • | 12:38 p.m. May 30, 2026
For the final Ranch Nite Wednesdays of the season, Randy Bordon and Bri Rivera of the Bri Rivera Band perform for the crowd.
For the final Ranch Nite Wednesdays of the season, Randy Bordon and Bri Rivera of the Bri Rivera Band perform for the crowd.
Photo by Madison Bierl
  • East County
  • Neighbors
  • Share

For Lakewood Ranch's Rich and Tarin Turner, Ranch Nite Wednesday was the event that sold them on their decision to move to Lakewood Ranch two years ago.

They loved the family-friendly vibe.

Coming to the event with two children, 4-year-old Bryce and 2-year-old Tatum, they said Ranch Nite Wednesdays checks every box for them in that it provides play areas, food trucks, shops, music, and cornhole. 

Ranch Nite Wednesdays, which runs from October through May, had its final event of the season May 27. The event will return Oct. 7. 

"The break is understandable as the stormy, heat season kicks in, but it gives us something to look forward to come fall," Rich Turner said. 

Lorraine Lakes' Jenn Robert agrees that Ranch Nite Wednesdays is a favorite for her family. It gives her a chance to break up her week and spend quality time with her husband (Joe) and two sons (8-year-old Josh and 9-year-old Jacob).

"The kids especially love the cornhole games and my husband (Joe) and I always enjoy the live music and atmosphere," Jenn Robert said. "We’re definitely going to miss it over the summer, but we already have it on our calendar for October!"  

Ranch Nite Wednesdays is especially exciting for Lakewood Ranch's River Haedke, who is celebrates turning 6 years old May 27.
Ranch Nite Wednesdays is especially exciting for Lakewood Ranch's River Haedke, who is celebrates turning 6 years old May 27.
Photo by Madison Bierl
Star Farms' Bell Geisler, 6, and her dad, Tim Geisler, dance the night away to the music of the Bri Rivera Band at Ranch Nite Wednesdays May 27.
Star Farms' Bell Geisler, 6, and her dad, Tim Geisler, dance the night away to the music of the Bri Rivera Band at Ranch Nite Wednesdays May 27.
Photo by Madison Bierl
Lisa Beckett is happy to dance with her granddaughters, 2-year-old twins Noah and Navy Clerfond, at Ranch Nite Wednesday May 27.
Lisa Beckett is happy to dance with her granddaughters, 2-year-old twins Noah and Navy Clerfond, at Ranch Nite Wednesday May 27.
Sarasota's Liberty Lyon, 5, and her dad, Jack Lyon, came to Ranch Nite Wednesdays for the first time and couldn't help but dance.
Sarasota's Liberty Lyon, 5, and her dad, Jack Lyon, came to Ranch Nite Wednesdays for the first time and couldn't help but dance.
Photo by Madison Bierl
Bradenton's Dottie Willis gives a big thumbs up to her boyfriend, Tom Pratt, after he scores at Ranch Nite Wednesdays May 27.
Bradenton's Dottie Willis gives a big thumbs up to her boyfriend, Tom Pratt, after he scores at Ranch Nite Wednesdays May 27.
Photo by Madison Bierl
To the tunes of the Bri Rivera Band, Sarasota's Brian King and Nancy Davis feel
To the tunes of the Bri Rivera Band, Sarasota's Brian King and Nancy Davis feel "good and groovy" to be dancing at Ranch Nite Wednesdays May 27.
Photo by Madison Bierl
Lakewood Ranch's Tatum Turner, 2, combines his love of trucks and dancing at the last Ranch Nite Wednesdays of the season May 27.
Lakewood Ranch's Tatum Turner, 2, combines his love of trucks and dancing at the last Ranch Nite Wednesdays of the season May 27.
Photo by Madison Bierl
Lorraine Lakes' Jenn Robert and Jacob Robert, 9, say Ranch Nite Wednesdays has become one of their favorite activities in Lakewood Ranch.
Lorraine Lakes' Jenn Robert and Jacob Robert, 9, say Ranch Nite Wednesdays has become one of their favorite activities in Lakewood Ranch.
Photo by Madison Bierl
Lakewood Ranch's Christa Haedke, River Haedke and Dan Haedke look forward to the return of Ranch Nite Wednesdays as they love mini golf, dancing and more.
Lakewood Ranch's Christa Haedke, River Haedke and Dan Haedke look forward to the return of Ranch Nite Wednesdays as they love mini golf, dancing and more.
Photo by Madison Bierl
Levi Argo, 1, and his canine buddy, Dexter, an 8-year-old chihuahua, are visiting from Alabama and couldn't pass up Ranch Nite Wednesdays at Waterside Place.
Levi Argo, 1, and his canine buddy, Dexter, an 8-year-old chihuahua, are visiting from Alabama and couldn't pass up Ranch Nite Wednesdays at Waterside Place.
Photo by Madison Bierl
Sarasota's Scott Sellmer and Phyllis Overton, along with their dog, Finn, are glad to attend Ranch Nite Wednesdays, especially to hear the tunes of the Bri Rivera Band.
Sarasota's Scott Sellmer and Phyllis Overton, along with their dog, Finn, are glad to attend Ranch Nite Wednesdays, especially to hear the tunes of the Bri Rivera Band.
Photo by Madison Bierl
Myakka City's Tara Fullmer and her husband, John Fullmer, show off their dance moves to the Bri Rivera Band at Ranch Nite Wednesdays May 27.
Myakka City's Tara Fullmer and her husband, John Fullmer, show off their dance moves to the Bri Rivera Band at Ranch Nite Wednesdays May 27.
Photo by Madison Bierl

 

author

Madison Bierl

Madison Bierl is the education and community reporter for the East County Observer. She grew up in Iowa and studied at the Greenlee School of Journalism and Communication at Iowa State University.

Latest News

Kristen Little plays with Jubilee.
  • July 15, 2026
Sarasota County Animal Services seeks adoptions as it nears capacity
Utility lines are strung along rear yards on some streets on Lido Key.
  • July 15, 2026
Burying power lines on barrier islands tops City Commission agenda
A firefighter sprays the roof of a Dock on the Bay condo building Wednesday morning, July 15.
  • July 15, 2026
Fire engulfs Dock on the Bay condo units
At 15 stories, the Islands West condominium building constructed in 1972 is one of the tallest buildings on Longboat Key. Driving north on the island, it’s the last taller condo building, as the north end features more single family homes and shorter hotel buildings like Four Winds Beach Resort pictured to the right.
  • July 15, 2026
The great freeze of 1985 still impacts Longboat Key today

Sponsored Health Content

Sponsored Content

The best of Your Observer, delivered directly to your inbox

Get the latest in news, sports, schools, arts and things to do in Sarasota, Siesta Key, Longboat Key and East County.

Sign Up

Latest in Neighbors

Linda Matte, Theresa Langston and Rosemary Cummings of Stitchers welcome people of all skill levels to join the group on Mondays and learn about sewing, quilting and more.
  • July 15, 2026
Neighbors create threads of friendship with Lakewood Ranch club
Coastwise student development team members Charles Mesia, Justin Kim (back), Colton McGill, Gabi Otera (back) and John Onesti gather to utilize a NASA STELLA Q-2 VNIR spectrometer, a handheld device that measures light intensity and plant health.
  • July 14, 2026
Free Coastwise summer camp seeks more Manatee student sign-ups
Boston's JJ Maguire, 4, Ariel Maguire, 6, and their mom, Kasha Grabowski, wear funky hats while enjoying treats from Jeremiah's Italian Ice at the Farmers' Market at Lakewood Ranch.
  • July 13, 2026
Despite the heat, the Farmers' Market at Lakewood Ranch is still the place to be
Keith Pandeloglou took over as the president of the board of the Lakewood Ranch Community Foundation in June.
  • July 10, 2026
New leader set to guide the Lakewood Ranch Community Foundation
Deborah Callahan-Stratton, Joy Stone, Barbara Najmy and Jennifer Alokeh are collecting sneakers for the fifth annual Sneakin Back to School Sneaker Drive to benefit The Twig.
  • July 8, 2026
The Lake Club Women's Giving Circle transitions to a nonprofit
Lakewood Ranch's Harper Fraser, 7, Jack Fraser, 5, and their mom, Melissa Fraser, test out the Royally Cosmic photo booth at the Star-Spangled Spectacular at Waterside Place.
  • July 5, 2026
Star-Spangled Spectacular lights up Lakewood Ranch

App

Download the Your Observer app

Stay in the know with the latest local news. Any device, anytime, anywhere.

DOWNLOAD NOW

Contact

  • 1970 Main St.
  • Third Floor
  • Sarasota, FL 34236
  • Phone: 941-366-3468
  • FPN Verified

Extra, Extra!

  • Newsletters
  • App
  • Crossword
  • Contests

more

  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Classifieds
  • Advertise
  • Rack Locations
  • Jobs
  • Privacy Policy
  • Accessibility Options

sister sites

  • Business Observer
  • Jax Daily Record
  • Orange Observer
  • Accessibility Options
  • Copyright © 2026 Observer Media Group Inc., All Rights Reserved
Sign Up for Daily Headlines

A daily dose of news from Longboat Key, East County, Sarasota and Siesta Key.

Sign Up for In Case You Missed It

A Saturday dose of the week's top stories from Sarasota, Longboat Key and East County.


Anytime. Anywhere. Observer.

From in-depth local reporting to real-time breaking news, stay connected to the stories shaping our community with the Your Observer app.

Download Now for Free