🤙 The Official “You Down?” Weekend Lineup!

👋 Hey there !

Spring is in full bloom and this weekend’s got main character energy.

Want classy? There’s brunch at The Ritz.
Want chaos? Tim Tebow and 40,000 Easter eggs.
Feeling artsy? Garden Fest.
Sporty? LECOM Classic.
Rock ‘n roll? Jim & Carlos.

The only wrong answer is staying home. Scroll for your plans now! 👇

In this email:

⛳ LECOM Suncoast Classic (Korn Ferry Tour)

🗓 April 16–19 | ⏰ 7:00 AM – 5:00 PM
📍 Lakewood National Golf Club, Lakewood Ranch
🎟 Tickets Here (starting at $20, VIPs go fancy at $175)

Ever wanted to say “I saw that guy before he was famous” — and actually mean it? This is your chance.

The LECOM Suncoast Classic is back at Lakewood National Golf Club, bringing 156 hungry pros from the Korn Ferry Tour to battle for a cool $1M purse and one of 30 golden tickets to the PGA TOUR. Yes, $1 million. Yes, 30 TOUR cards. Yes, these are the same fairways once trod by names like Scottie Scheffler, Justin Thomas, and Tony Finau before they became golf gods.

👀 Come for the birdies. Stay for the fan zone with food trucks, lawn games, cold drinks, and local vendors. It’s basically a golf tourney meets a chill spring fest — minus the beer pong (we think).

🎟 General admission starts at $20. VIP gets you lunch, snacks, an open bar (!!!), and access to an elevated venue overlooking the 18th green. Bougie and beautiful.

🎤 Storm Riders: A Tribute to The Doors

🗓 Friday, April 18 | ⏰ 8:00 – 10:00 PM
📍 Troll Music, 628 E Venice Ave, Venice
🎟 $27.25 total (GA) | Grab Tickets Here

If your playlist leans “riders on the storm” and your soul craves some psychedelic rock magic, you’re gonna want to be at Troll Music this Friday night.

Storm Riders, the tribute band that channels The Doors so hard you’ll think you time-warped back to 1969, is hitting the stage in Venice — and yes, the energy is gonna be electric.

🎸 Expect all the classics:

And it's all going down inside Troll Music, a local gem with cozy vibes and surprisingly solid sound. Whether you’re a lifelong Morrison fan or just want to feel the good kind of weird for a night, this show is your chance to trip out — without leaving town.

🌿 Lakewood Ranch Garden Fest

🗓 Saturday, April 19 | ⏰ 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM
📍 Lakewood Ranch Library
🎟 More Info Here (free to wander, snack, and nerd out over native plants)

If your Pinterest board has ever said “cottagecore,” or if you’ve ever whispered “ooh, monarchs!” at a passing butterfly — this one’s calling your name.

LWR Garden Fest is blooming back to life with 31+ vendors, hands-on kid stuff, and just enough native plant wisdom to turn you into that person at dinner parties. (You know, the one casually dropping facts about pond health.)

🧠 Mini garden TED Talks, basically:
• 9AM – Native & Invasive Plants (so you know what not to plant)
• 10:15AM – Butterfly Basics 🦋
• 11:30AM – Right Plant, Right Place (aka why your succulents keep dying)
• 12:45PM – Pond Tips for Non-Aquatic People

🎨 Plus local crafts, landscaping goodies, and food trucks to keep you well-fed while you justify buying “just one more” potted thing.

Bring your sunhat. Bring the kids. Bring your curiosity. Leave with dirt under your nails and possibly a new obsession.

🐣 Easter Fest 2025 – Family Fun at Lakewood Ranch Park

🗓 Saturday, April 19 | ⏰ 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM
📍 Lakewood Ranch Park, Field #10 + Football Field, Bradenton
🎟 Free! But spots are limited — Pre-register here

Okay, Lakewood Ranch — grab your baskets and mark those calendars because Easter Fest 2025 is bringing the energy this Saturday! Hosted by Legacy Church, this is a totally free, community-wide party that’s all about family, fun, and yes, a whole lotta Easter eggs. 🥳

Here’s what’s on deck:

🥚 Egg Hunts by Age Group (0–2, 3–5, 6–12) — some eggs even have prize tickets 👀
🎈 Inflatables – bounce, climb, repeat
🎨 Face painting + temporary tattoos – your kid leaves with a butterfly on their cheek, it’s tradition
🍔 Food trucks – come hungry

🎟 IMPORTANT: This one’s limited to the first 500 signups, so if you’re even thinking about going, hit that pre-reg button now. No walk-ups if it fills up!
🧺 Don’t forget your basket!

This one’s got all the spring vibes and small-town heart — definitely a Saturday well spent 💛

🥂 Easter Grand Ballroom Brunch at The Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota

🗓 Sunday, April 20 | ⏰ 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM
📍 1111 Ritz-Carlton Dr, Sarasota
🎟 Reserve on OpenTable - $170 adults | $60 kids (12 & under) + tax & gratuity

If you’ve been looking for an excuse to dress up and brunch like royalty — here it is. The Easter Grand Ballroom Brunch at The Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota is back and bringing main character energy to your Sunday plans.

🌸 The spread? Unmatched. We’re talking:

🥂 Mimosas, Bellinis, and Bloody Marys will be flowing (for purchase, obviously).

This one’s classy, delicious, and notoriously popular — so if you’re even thinking about going, hit that reservation button now. Easter doesn’t get more iconic than brunching at The Ritz.

⚾️ Rays vs. Yankees – 4-Game Weekend Series

📍 George M. Steinbrenner Field, Tampa
🎟 Get Tickets | (Prices change constantly, so refresh like you’re trying to get Taylor Swift tickets.)

The Bronx Bombers are in town, and whether you’re there for the home runs, the throwback jerseys, or just the hot dogs, the Rays vs. Yankees series is a vibe this weekend.

Here’s the full schedule so you can start crafting your baseball-and-beer strategy:

🗓 Thursday, April 17 | ⏰ 7:05 PM
Standard showdown. First pitch, beer in hand, life is good.

🗓 Friday, April 18 | ⏰ 7:05 PM
🔥 City Connect Night – Players will be rocking the Nike MLB City Connect uniforms. Yes, they look cool. Yes, you’ll probably want to buy one.

🗓 Saturday, April 19 | ⏰ 4:10 PM
🌀 Devil Rays Throwback Day – Every Saturday home game = retro uniforms, peak nostalgia, and a good chance someone next to you will say “I had that hat in '98.”

🗓 Sunday, April 20 | ⏰ 1:40 PM
Sunday Funday energy. Day game. Classic vibes. Great way to close out the weekend.

It's four straight days of sunshine, homers, and retro jersey magic — don’t sit this one out.

🥚 40,000 Easter Eggs + Tim Tebow – Good Friday at Payne Park

🗓 Friday, April 18 | ⏰ 5:00 PM
📍 Payne Park, 2072 Adams Ln, Sarasota
🎟 Free! | Hosted by First Sarasota

File this one under “wait, did you say forty thousand eggs?” Yep. You read that right. 40,000 Easter eggs. Inflatables. Live music. Free food. And oh yeah — Tim Tebow is showing up.

This massive Good Friday community event is going down in the middle of downtown Sarasota at Payne Park, and it’s shaping up to be part egg hunt, part concert, part inspirational gathering, part “oh my gosh, is that actually Tim Tebow?”

Bring the whole crew — kids, neighbors, folks visiting from out of town — and expect an evening full of high-energy fun, big smiles, and a powerful message of hope to lead into Easter weekend.

🎉 Highlights:

Then on Easter Sunday, you can continue the celebration with First Sarasota:
⛪ 9:30 AM – Modern Service
⛪ 10:30 AM – Classic Service
⛪ 10:30 AM – Spanish Service

Whether you’re team sunrise worship, team brunch, or team “I’m just here for the joy,” this weekend is stacked with meaning and memories.

🍷 Busch Gardens Food & Wine Festival

🗓 April 18–20 | ⏰ 12:00 PM – Park Close
📍 Busch Gardens Tampa Bay
🎟 Included with park admission | More info + passes

This isn’t just a theme park visit — it’s a foodie day trip with roller coasters. Yes, Busch Gardens’ Food & Wine Festival is back, and it’s kind of a big deal.

Here’s the vibe:
🎤 Live concerts every weekend (pop, rock, Latin, country, etc.)
🍴 85+ dishes and drinks to sample — from bite-sized apps to sweet treats and wine pairings
🍷 Sampler lanyards let you try 10, 15, or 18 items if you’re a Pass Member (a.k.a. snack like a pro)

🎶 This weekend’s performers include:

🔥 Bonus: concerts are totally free with park admission. Seating is first-come, first-snagged. No folding chairs, but blankets are welcome if you want to chill picnic-style near the stage.

Come for the churro cheesecake. Stay for the live music. Ride a roller coaster with a full belly if you dare.

🎸 Santana Tribute + British Blues Show

🗓 Saturday, April 19 | ⏰ 7:00–9:00 PM (doors open at 6:00)
📍 Venice Community Center, 326 Nokomis Ave S, Venice
🎟 Tickets here – $30 in advance | $35 day of

Calling all fans of smooth Latin rock and British-infused blues — this one’s basically your dream Saturday night.

🎶 Moonflower: The Spirit of Santana is bringing all the fire of a full-on Santana concert — think “Black Magic Woman,” “Oye Como Va,” “Smooth” — with the kind of talent that makes you do a double take. Seriously, close your eyes and you’d swear Carlos himself was on stage. Open them and… still kind of convincing.

🎸 Opening the night is Alex Lopez & The Xpress (ALX) — a Billboard-charting blues/rock group with serious chops and serious swagger. If British blues, modern rock, and the occasional funk breakdown are your thing, these guys deliver.

🍷 The Venice Community Center is pulling out all the stops with food, drinks, and adult beverages on deck. It's a beautiful venue and has a rep for packing out — this show sold out last time, so don’t risk showing up empty-handed.

🎟 Ticket scoop:

Venice, your Saturday night plans are officially sorted 🎶🔥

“You Down?" Wrap-Up

Whether you’re sipping sangria, catching golf legends-in-the-making, or wrangling sugar-hyped kids post-egg hunt, it’s a solid weekend to get out and do something fun.

Screenshot what speaks to your soul. Forward this to your weekend crew.

We’ll see you out there 🐣
— The Waves Pest Control Team 🌊